Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-12-05


Turkish BATH rinsed them thoroughly,
and let them 60 in the dlning.room while
we put the cage through a similar cleans
ing process. There they shook and plum.
ed their robes to their hearts content
and they evidently admired themselves
especially their clean feet, after their toi-
lets were completed.
There was an old atlas up stairs, and
as birds, especially canaries, are delighted
with bright colors, we brought 1t down
and cut it up into carpets with scalloped
edges, ard laid one in the bottom of the
cage, and filed the polished crystal cups
with clean seed, and pure clean water,
We gave them bunch of tender young
live forever some mustard STALKS coiled
up loosely so they could get at the green
pods, were thrust between the wires Of
the cage a little bread, dainty little tit
bit offruit cake, some boiled egg &C., were
put in, and then we went to get the birds
into their new abode. We, | forgot to
tell you, means my help" Jenny the
gocdn But Mr.. and Mrs, Canary prefer
red liberty to the old cage, and we were
obliged to drive the birds into Il corner
and throw cloth over them. But when
they were hirly housed, and hung out
on the porch in the golden sunshine, their
happiness was complete.
They futtcred and twitterec and fitted
rom one thing to another, tasting of
EVERYTHING on the whole bill of fare, and
pratsing all, evidently congratulating each
other on the turn affairs had taken.
Dick sang and sang his sweetest and
gladdest songs, while Hatue's soft musical
notes came in triumphantly on the solo.
They were carefully led and tended,
and of course grew plump and glossy
every day; aud every morning we let
them out in the dining room for their
bath, and thus they soon learned to use
their wings to good advantage, for when |
went to coax them back into their cage,
they said "No, thank you, we enjoy this
very we'll" Then if went to catch them
the cunning little creatures would fly
around to where the dining-table always
stood, out in the room with the leaves al
ways up In summer, and fit around and
around, always keeping on the opposite
side from me. If undertook to creep
under, they would dodge off till | was up
again. and then back at their old trick of
running around the table, till Jennie would
have to be called to help secure them.
But at length their old mistress returned
and took them home, and they were soon
living in the cid, dreary way again-hang
ing in dingy corner with little TO eat and
wadiug in litter and filth. Whenever |
went in for a moment the poor little crea-
lures would cbirp and tiutter Us they
sometimes do when frightened half to
death, but they were not frightened at all.
They were overjoyed at seeing me and
were trying to tell me to take them home
again. Perhaps you don't believe that
they remembered living at our house and
wanted to 20 back, but let us see.
They went home the first of July, and
about the last ofSeptember, three months
afterwards, one warm day when the win
dows were all up, we heard little bird
saying tweet twe.et for long time. We
kept answering, thinking it was one of
the little wild birds las there is a kind
here whose notet can scarcely be distin-
uished from the canary, and they; also,
will answer our imitation of their call, the
same as the canares.
We kept answering to his still more
persistent calls I'LL we began TO wonder
that the bird was so near, and staid so
long aud on looking around, there we
found Dick, who had come into my room
at the open window, callingiust TO come and
get him. lie was glad enough to see us,
and showed none of his coquettish tricks,
but was ready to be caught without any
firting. How my heart ached as | took
him back to his dreary old prison. But
his faithful little Hattie was almost dis
tracted with delight at the return Of her
truant husband.
Their cruel mistress has moved away
now, but | often think of the dear little
birds, and hope that the kind Providence
which notes the sparrow's fall, will in
some wayirelieve the misery Of the poor
little unfortunates.
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