Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-29
IFOr The EVENING STAR
The Canary's story.
BY r. VI. B.

ispent my early days in large cage with my
1umerous brothers. sisters, cousins, and aunts,
With but little variation. Changes come to
Ards as well as TO people, so one day was
eAken out OF the large cage and put in tiny
box of a cage, about large enough for me to
turn aIoaad in comfortably
After great deal of joIting was set down
n rather 4 pleasant room and was introduced
20 the dearest little fellow you ever saw such
voice and what sweet things he did say
He talked and sang to me until he quite per-
suaded me to set up housekeeping with him.
Then followed period of bliss Everything
was done for our comfort, We were put in a
house with every convenience and all modern
improvements. Ne were furnished with great
variety and quantity of food; materials were
placed In easy reach for Us to build our nests
With. In fact, there was nothing to mar our
happiness. unless il was the annoyance caused
Dy several pfyinS women watching our move
ments.
Pretty SOON laid an egg. What a time We
mad etatf erIng a0out it and making plans. Then
II laid another, and another, until there were
X / then commenced the usually tresome
tan of sitting on them, but which was to me
raster delightful, with my little husband to keep
me company. He sang TO me. fed lie. talked to
me and c0mfOrted me IN every way
At last my patience Wa, rewarded and out
came five little yellow-le-s. Then what dainties
were pressed on u; how We were sheltered
from every dTaught and danger. This care con-
tinued until my five little dariings were 10 lie to
Bf comfortably on the perch, when To- what
changes took place Ny husband was put i'm a
lovely little gilt cage. while had only an old blue
one Why we were separated and why this dis
tinction was made could not tell. 1t is true
my dear little husband deserved all he got, but
why was l so treated2 Was t because didn't
hatch the sixth egg? That wasn't my fault
Didn't on OF those curious old women slam a
door and brighten the little darling to death !?
Even IL IL had been my fault, didn't wear my
Self thin Matching those Others, and afterwards
didn't l rear them faithfully
soon found out why Frankie got chickweed
and lettuce with his seeds every morning and
was hung out in the sunshine while was set
around in all sorts of corners He was male
and was ''only female" Only female in-
deed What would the world do without fe-
msles, should like to know?
One day a strange hand undertook to set my
cage TO rights, and through her careleSsnes 1
escaped and flew to my darling when, to my
horror, found could not get to him; he was
shut In tight l sank down in despair and al
lowed myself to be caught. and only reused to
hear these words: 1T wouldn't have made much
unerence IL she had escaped she Ia only te-
male"
That was adding insult to injury. and made
up my mind, then and there that next time l
would ny Tar away and never come back
The next time soon came. and here am ont
In the word-free. At first flew ever so far
but heard my dear husband chirping in such
mournful tones that / thought I would Just fiy
back and say goodbye. When he saw me he
gave such a glad cry, and then commenced to
coax me TO come back. He grieyed to think of
my being all alone in this great world then he
pictured his loneliness in such distressing tones
that almost reiented
Can resist his pieadings? What happier lot
can wish than that ot making his life sweeter?
But. bark what do hear? .'Only the female
bird that escaped" No, III not come back even
for my husband. Farewell to love and all hope
o. happiness. Those anguished, despairing
tones touch my heart. | yield; yield. Oh!
frankie, dear. fly; Come.