All forgotten is the boy's ambition,
Low the standard lies,
Still they stand, and gaze--a sweeter vision
Ne'er met mortal eyes.
That was splendid, Roger, that was glorious,
Thus to help the weak;
Better than to plant your flag victorious
On earth's highest peak!
CELIA THAXTER.
PART III
OUR FRIENDS THE BIRDS
THE CANARY'S STORY.
Am I happy? No, not quite happy, though I sing as if I were. Do you
think that a cage would make you happy if you had wings?
I am willing to say that I am grateful. Helen is very good to me. She
never forgets to fill my seed-cup and my glass of water. Every morning I
have my bath and my cage is cleaned. At night I am taken into a cool,
dark room to sleep. If the house is too warm I am very uncomfortable,
and Helen is careful to keep my sleeping-room cool.
Sometimes Helen takes me out of the cage for a while. It is a great
pleasure to fly in and out among the plants in the window. I pretend
that I am in the woods. For a time I am very happy.
I was a wretched little bird when Helen's mother bought me. For days I
had been in a tiny wooden box, with no chance to move about. Every
morning a man took several of these boxes in his hand and walked up and
down the streets crying, "Birds! Singing birds! Only two dollars!" He
swung the boxes back and forth until I was sick and dizzy.
Pages:
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141