Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-29
MEMPHIS, TENN: WEDNESDAY EVENING MARCH 49, 1871

tivity than does the geranium or fuschia
that, in sight of the free woods, clings to
its sunny spot in your garden.
If you have, or have not, children; il
you are, or are not, rich, be your home
elegant or humble, buy bird or two.
The irrepressible little gusher will infect
every artery and vein in your home or
ganism In these days OF matrimonial
skepticism, many petulant human pair
may learn wisdom of a couple of cana
ries, and get a glimpse of that divine
alchemy by which stubborn will is re-
solved through mutual concession, and
kind word twittered or spoken. If you
need not this lesson, and want only an
interpreter of your own joy, buy mock
ing-bird; an English song-thrush; a
nightingale, if you have money enough;
black-cap, the nightingale's first
cousin; or lark, or linnet, or a good
German canary. Try it, even if you
must at first educate your ear and your
patience. The little fellow-for, mind
you, the lady-birds do not sing-will
give you many hint each worth more
than his weight in gold. II you are
a sluggard in the morning, go to
your cage and discover why the
early worm is endangered, and for origi-
nality or thrift's sake, abandon your
pitiless patronage of the vermieulous
victim who had mo business to be out
so early" Get, too, glimpse Of the
sound, philosophic decency that prompts
appreciation of care and attention;
learn from your bird how health is re-
lated to food; learn gratitude; learn the
true theory Of dependence Of which
you, Sir Keeper, are not independent;
learn something about old fashioned at
tachment to home, and also how to break
forth into gratifed praise, for the simple
reason that your heart is pure, and must
therefore sing, or burst with very joy.
Cast your face skyward, bask in the sun,
dsgorge the indigestible, be patient
within the limitations wisely imposed by
Providence, don't call your sphere a
cage, believe that enough is as good as
feast, and learn the secret Of trusting
song, even when the wind is north and
the clouds shut out brightness.
There is difference between the "only
child and boy educated among half
dozen brothers and sisters. A large
family, properly governed, is death to
selfishness. Still other corners of a
child's heart are cultured by living pets,
and even valuable habits of life are ac-
quired by the youngster intrusted with a
bird Regularity, for instance; punctu-
ality, voluntary consideration toward an
object too weak to compel attention,
gentleness of hand-and a dozen other
items which, though little, illustrate the
difference between good and a bad
heart. fa
Not an organ in Christendom is as
curious as the throat of canary, and
prima donna must take first lessons of a
warbler. There's hint for your boy
orator and your girl singer, and if graver
questions about ethics, or government,
or development-or half dozen, other
things applicable without torture-over-
take your household thinkers, guide the
thought or check its pride by illusions
to the suggestions and mysteries of your
hanging cages know boy who, when
quite young, ranked high as a naturalist
because he was mentally walked up by
feathered pet, and to-day he is thirsting
in wonder at the treasures of the sky be-
cause he was stung into thinking by the
morsel a song-bird brought down to him,
And so might we ramble, more in earnest
than fancifully, without touching upon
half the points of taste involved.
For melody as well as for ornament,
buy a bird, and the music will do you
good in mind, body and estate.-Art
Repielp