The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-03-27
Tinted Wise Sayings.

A wealthy man was one day strolling
through his garden In very gay and
happy mood. Suddenly he stopped to
look at a little bird that was confined In
q cage suspended from a tree. Judge OF
his surprise, when the bird opened Its
mouth and began TO speak.
"Oh, give me my freedom, good
man." he said; "what good can it pos
sibly do you to have me shut up here
You see j AN not handsome, therefore It
cannot please you to look at me; do not
sing like other birds, therefore | cannot
amuse you. would not answer for food
because / am too small. IL you will
give me my liberty, Twill tell you three
things that may serve you through
llfe."
The owner Of the garden looked at the
little creature with an amused smile and
said "Well, since you cannot sing, you
certainly are of little value to me; but
come, let's hear that wisdom you have
70 impart, and | promise that II you tell
me something that l have not heard be.
fore, you shall be Free"
The little bird replied:
"Never regret the pastl Do not wish
for what you cannot obtalnl Never be.
lieve impossible thingsw
"You have indeed spoken wisely"
said the gentleman. $50, l give you
your freedom!"
He opened the cage door aud the bird
flew up into a tree. No sooner had he
alighted among the leaves than he began
10 laugh.
"Why do you laugh so merrIly ?"
asked the man.
"Over my easily attained freedom"
answered the bird; "but still more at
the folly of men who think that they are
wiser than any of Gods creatures. Now
II you were as wise as l, you might now
be the richest and happiest man on
earth
"How is that ~possibls?" asked the
man.
"By keeping me, for know you that I
carry within my body a diamond lar
ger than a hens egg"
The nan was thunderstruck, but soon
recovering his presence of mind, set to
work to repossess himself of the treas
ure he had lost.
Snow you think you are fortunate,
little bird, because you have your free
don" he said "Refleot a moment. The
summer will soon be gone and the winter
storms will be at hand; the brooks will
dry up, and you will not be able to find
a drop OF water to quench your thirst.
You will want for food, and the frost and
cold will kill you. Come with me; | will
take care of you and place you in a large
room where you may fly about as much
as you please. You shall have plenty
of food, and nothing shall be wanting
to make you as happy as possible"
The bird laughed louder and longer
than ever.
The man lost his patience, and cried
angrily "Why do you laugh all the
timer"
because l can't help it," replied the
bird, "when l see how silly you ere.
You set me at liberty because of the
wisdom which l impaired to you, but
you haven't the sense to profit by 1t.
You thought that 1 deserved to be set
free on account of 1t, yet you forgot it
In a moment. Now let us see what l told
you
"First: Never regret the pastl You
are already regrettlng that you gave me
my liberty"
"Second; Do not wish for what you
cannot obtain You are wishing that l
would return to my cage, though my
life is a burden to me unless am Free"
''Third: Never believe impossible
things! Yet you believe that my body
contains a diamond larger than a hens
egg though l am scarcely SO large"
With another laugh the bird flew
away.