Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-05

We know all about that protest against
caging our native songsters- and heartily
Join in the verdict. Our year old baby
will go in a wire pagoda and diet on hemp
seed as early as we will rob the rocking
orchard trees of their music, or restrain
the little pilgrims from their migration
when they have moulted into their late
summer toilet But there is another
race of songsters which through successive
generations of domestication, have recon-
4 ciled themselves to contact with man, and
no mere complain of captivity than does
the geranium or fuschia that, in sight of
the free woods, clings to its sunny spot in
your garden.
i If you have, or have not, children; if you
are, or are not, rich be your home ele-
CANT or humble, buy bird or two. The
irrepressible little gusher will infect every
artery and vein in your home organism.
In these days Of matrimonial skepticism,
many a Petulant human pair may learn
wisdom of a couple of canaries, and get a
glimpse of that divine alchemy by which
a stubborn will Is resolved through mutu-
al concession, and kind work twittered
or spoken.
If you need not this lesson, and want
only an interpreter of your own JOY, buy
a mocking bird an English song thrush
a nightingale, if you have money enough
a black-cap, the nightingales first cousin;
or a 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-tor mind YOU, the lady birds
4 hi,&
each worth more than his weight in gold
If YOU are a sluggard in the morning, 90
to his cage and discover why the early
worm is endangered, and for originality or
thritt's sake abandon your pitiless patron.
age Of the vermicuous victim who had
no business to be out so early" Get.
too. a glimpse of the sound, philosophic
decency that prompts appreciation OF care
and attention learn from your bird how
health is related to food learn gratitude
learn the true theory Of dependence, Of
which you, Sir Keeper, are not independ-
ent; learn something about Old-fashIOned
attachmen. TO home and also how to break
forth into gratifed praise, for the simple
reason that your heart Is pure, aud must
therefore sing. or burst with very ioy Cast
Jul A4NN - ~ al -A D-ASh Al AtiN SUM- t-e-
gorge the indigestible, be patient within
the limitations wisely imposed by Proyi-
dence, don't call your sphere cage, believe
that enough Is as good as a feast, and learn
the secret of trusting song, even when the
wind j. north and the clouds shut out
brightness.
There is difference between the only
child and boy educated among a half
dozen brothers and sisters. \ large fam
lily, properly governed, Is death to selfish
ness. Still other corners of a child's heart
are cultured by living pets, and even val
liable habits of life are acquired by the
youngyter entrusted with a bird Regu-
larity, for instance punctuality, volun-
tary consideration toward an object too
weak to compel attention, geutleness Of
hand-and a dozen other items which,
though little. illustrate the difference be-
twsen a good and bad heart
Not am organ IN Christendom Is as Gu
rious as the throat of a canary and prima
donna must take first lessons of a war
bier. There's hint for your orator and
your girl singer. and if graver questions
about ethics, or government, or develop
mentor half dozen other things appli-
cable without torture,-overtake your
household thinkers, guide the thought, or
check It's pride by a!lu>jon to the sugges-
tons and mysteries of your hanging cages.
1 know a hoy 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, because he was stung
into thinking by the morsel song-bird
brought down to him. And 50 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.-A. Edrards, IN
tie -4rt Rcriclr