The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-27


"There were many beautiful little birds,
mother, all free to 60 where they pleased,
and they sang so swcetly it made me
think Of "Dick." And sad look fitted
across her face as she glanced ut an
empty bird cage that was hanging in the
porch with its door open, as if waiting for
an occupant. !
:" Dick" had been Lena's pet canary,
and the solace of many a lonely hour,
But one day the little yellow wings
spread out helplessly, the bright eyes
grew dim and poor Dick breathed his
last in the hand Of his sobbing young
mistress. Since then, Lena had kept his
cage in its usual place, and the door wide
open, ''for who knows" she would say,
''what may happen9 Perhaps the Lord
may send me another bird"
Mrs. Burt, she knew, would have
given her. one, but the proud child would
not ask the favor Of a friend who had al
ready done so much for her, and the kind
lady knew nothing of Lena's loss.
The next morning daynedisbright and
beautiful on the luxurious home of .the
Mortimers, as we'll as ,sthe humble cot
where lived the seamstress and her child
Lillian at Elmside, and Lena ut the cot
tage, both arose with light hearts and
happy smiles, but grief and care oppress-
ed some Of the older members of the two
families. - e.
After breakfast Lillian went into the
pleasant sitting-room and amused herself
with the cunning ways of her canary, let
ting it out of its cage. 1t was a very
tame, intelligent bird, and would sit
perched on her finger, hop on her shout
der, and even put its little bill between
her lips with seeming affection. Lillian
loved it, as you may imagine, and no
dainty was too difficult to get or term of
endearment tender enough for the little
songster. The windows of the room were
all closed so that "Bonnic" might fully
enjoy his freedom, and he flew and fut-
tered around almost like wild bird. A
servant came hastily into the apartment
and left the door ajar; out flew Bonnie,
and the nearest window gave him access
to the open air.
Lena was among her flower beds, and
raised her head just as bird alighted on
the fence. She almost screamed with de-
light.
son." she thought, "that looks Just like
a canary, and perhaps he will go into my
cage"
She kept very still, and after a little
f1uttering and hesitancy 'Bonnie Morti-
mer" hoped into the cage and began to
eat the seeds. Then Lena gently closed
the door, and she had him safe.
"Mother, mother" she cried. running
ow1 had l. I'll T
thought He would"
On the morning Of the fifth day after
the loss of Bonnie, Lillian's grandfather
proposed to her to take a ride across the
country with him on horseback. She
gladly consented, and they were soon can
tering away in the direction of Lena's
home. AS they came near they saw
Lena standing on the porch playing and
talking with her bird Mr.. Mortimer
recognized her as the child who had af-
fected him so much one night as she
passed his gate, but Lillian saw only the
bird
"Why, grandpa, that looks just like
Bonnie!' she cried, so loudly that Lena
heard her.
"Hush" said Mr.. Mortimer, in vexed
tone, "the little lady will her YOU" And
he would have gone forward, but Lillian
stopped, determined to see the bird that
looked so much like the one she had
lost.
The moment Lena heard Lillian words
she felt sure the dreaded time had come
when she must say goodbye to her treas
ured pet; so she was not surprised when
she saw Lillian dismount and come
through the gate toward her.
"Excuse me-" said Lillian, with pleas
ant smile, your bird looks so much like
one I lost a few days ago that I thought
I must come and see it. Isn't it funny
that they should be so much alike?"
When Bonnie heard his mistress voice
he knew it, and began to sing little chirp-
ing notes as he always did when she was
near.
Poor Lena kept back her sorrow as
we'll as she could and said:
''Perhaps this is really your bird, for it
is that one that came and sat on the
fence few days ago and then went into
the cage. had bird and it died, so I
have let the cage hang here with the door
open ever since. Mother said perhaps
the owner of the bird would come by and
1 have let it hang out in sight all the
time. You must love him ever so much
and I'm glad you've found him." she
added, heroically.
Mr.: Mortimer, finding Lillian deter
mined to see the bird, had also come to
the door, and saw the tears which would
we'll in Lena's eyes, spite of all she could
do.
Declining her invitation to enter the
house, Lillian and her grandfather turned
to go away. Suddenly Mr. Mortimer
sfOnnel and asked I.ana x,hoan Goo 800