When I had gathered as many as I could carry, and had fastened them together, I returned homeward.

As I was crossing a narrow green lane not far from the town, I saw in the hedge one of the prettiest little birds I had ever beheld. He was not much larger than a robin, and had a hooked bill like a hawk, but his feathers were of the brightest red, blue, and purple. I immediately laid down my fagot, and walked softly up to the bush in which he sat; but no sooner had I put out my hand to take hold of him, than he hopped through the hedge into the next field: I followed him there, and thought I was sure of him, when he again made his escape back into the lane.

To shew you, sir, in what a sad wicked state my mind was, when I saw that the little bird had again escaped from me, I became excessively angry, and took up a stone to throw at him; but the stone by the care of God, who knoweth even when a sparrow falleth to the ground, who loveth all his creatures, and who will avenge the cause of the smallest animal who is wantonly tormented, fell at some distance from the little bird.

At length with much trouble I caught the pretty little creature, and was surprised to find that he was so tame as to sit upon my finger, as my aunt's magpie used to do.

I was so delighted with my prize, that forgetting my sticks, I hastened into the town, proudly holding up the bird who perched quietly upon my hand.

Just as I was got into one of the largest streets, I heard somebody cry out, Ah! there is my mistress's paraquet; and immediately a very decent elderly woman came up to me, and said, with an air of much joy, my good little girl, where did you find my mistress's

bird.

Your mistress's bird indeed, said I; it is my bird. No, replied the woman, that cannot be; he flew out of my mistress's window this morning, and over the garden wall into the fields.

For all that he is not your bird, I answered; he is mine; and I was going to run off with him, when she caught hold of my gown, and said she must have him. Then nobody shall have him, said I; I will kill him. Do not hurt him, said the woman; my mistress will give you half-a-crown for him.

No, no, no, I cried, I will have him.

At that moment my aunt coming out of a shop hard by, and seeing me struggle with the servant, called out, hey-day, what is the matter? what are you doing to the child.

Come, aunt, come, I exclaimed; come and take my part: I won't part with the bird.

My aunt was at first very angry with the servant but when she heard that I was to have half-a-crown, if I would consent to part with the bird, she turned all her anger upon me, and bade me give it to the servant, and follow her to her mistress's house to receive the money.

I obeyed; but I looked gloomy and sulky, and went muttering the whole way to the lady's house.

We passed through several streets, till at length we came to one which leads up to the castle. The servant stopped before an old house close by the gates of the castle-walk; she opened the door, and bade me wait in the hall.

Whilst I stood there I stared around me with wonder, for I had never before been in a house belonging to gentlefolks. The hall was a large room, hung round with pictures, which I afterwards learned were taken from the history of the Bible. At the farther end was a window, partly filled with colored glass, which looked into a garden full of tall trees; beside the window was a clock made of very shining black wood, gilt with golden flowers. On one side of the hall was a door which opened into a kitchen, and on the other was one which led into the parlour.

When the servant had brought me into the house, she went straight towards the

parlour, and left the door open so wide that I could see all within. The parlour was hung with paper of a dark color; and in one corner there was a glass cup-board, filled with very fine china.

Over the fire-place was a colored picture of three very pretty little girls, one of them held an orange in her hand, and one had a bird upon her finger, and the least held a rose.

By the fire-side sat an old lady. Oh! I did not then know what a sweet good lady' she was, or I should have cried for joy. She was very short, and having lost her teeth, her mouth had fallen in. But she was fair, and her eyes were bright and looked very good-humoured; so that her face was still very agreeable. She was dressed in a black silk gown, with a short white apron ; she had long ruffles and a white hood over her cap. A little round table stood before her; upon which lay her large bible, and a small yellow cat was asleep at her feet.

Here, madam, said the servant, going into the parlour, here is Miss Polly come back. The old lady smiled, and holding out her hand, the bird hopped upon her finger; and while she stroked it, she called it naughty bird, and asked it why it flew away from its best friends? She then enquired how it was found and the servant having told her, she arose from her chair, and taking a little gold

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headed stick in her hand, I will go myself, said she, and speak to the child.

I was by this time in a better humour; and when the old lady came up to me, and began to talk to me in a gentle and kind way, I felt no longer inclined to be cross, but I smiled and courtesied, and gave an account of the way in which I had found the bird as civilly as possible. When the old lady had talked to me for some time, she called her servant, and said to her, Sarab, I do not know whether my memory may have failed me, but I think their is some resemblance between this child, and what my eldest daughter was just before she died.

It is now forty years or more, replied Sarah, since my dear young mistress's death, and being then but young, I do not remember her very well.

But, said the old lady, look at the picture of my dear Clary, as it hangs there over the mantle-piece, and tell me if she has not the same white hair and rosy color, and the same smiling eyes as this little girl: then looking kindly at me, she asked me many questions about my parents, and my way of living; and when I had answered them, she gave me the money which had been promised me, and told me to come again to her house four days afterwards.