Canary Bird
THE CANARY DIDN'T LIKE IT.
A WRITER in the Children Friend tells
this little temperance story:—
Mary Moore has a pet canary, which has
been trained to many pretty ways.
Every day at meal-times Mary opens the
cage-door, and Dick flies out and lights
upon her shoulder, where he stays until the
meal is over. He has been taught that he
must be quite still while Mr. Moore asks a
blessing on their food; so, unless he comes
at once when the cage-door is opened, he
waits in silence till the blessing is over.
Once fairly perched on Mary's shoulder,
he expects a taste of everything she eats,
and whenever she drinks, she holds up to
him a spoonful, which he sips as if he liked it.
One day Mary was ill and faint. The
doctor ordered brandy and water to revive
her, and when she tasted it, Dick, as usual,
called for his share. He laid his head
against her face, peeped and coaxed, till,
just for fun, she held up the spoon to his
beak; but no sooner had Dick tasted the
brandy, than he flew into a violent passion,
shook his head, stamped his feet, and beat
his wings, scolding sharply all the time.
Then, in disgust, he flew back into his cage,
and would neither come out nor notice
Mary again all day.
MISTAKEN GENEROSITY OF A CANARY.
A LADY in this city has a bird hanging in its cage by the window, the door of which is occasionally opened, and his canaryship permitted to indulge in the freedom of the room. A day or two since, he happened to fly on the mantel-shelf, whereon was a mirror. Here was a new discovery of the most profound interest. He gazed long and curiously at himself and came to the conclusion he had found a mate. Going back to his cage, he selected a seed from its box, and brought it in his bill as an offering to the stranger. In vain he exerted him-self to make his new friend partake, and becoming weary of that tried another tack. Stepping back a few inches from the glass, he poured forth his sweetest notes, pausing now and then for a reply.
None came, and moody and disgusted he flew back to his perch, hanging his head in shame and silence for the rest of the day, and although the door was repeatedly left open, refused to come out again.—
Dubuque Times