LITTLE
HENRY
AND
HIS BIRD
NEW LONDON:
JOHN R. BOLLES.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by John R.Bolles, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.
LITTLE HENRY AND HIS BIRD.
Little Henry took his book one day and went into the garden to study.He sat where the arbor cast a pleasant shade, and he could smell thefragrance of the flowers that he himself had planted. At times, he wouldforget his book while listening to the music of the birds, or gazing atthe peonies and tulips, but he would soon think again of his lesson, andcommence studying with new zeal. He was to recite in an hour, so he hadwisely chosen a comfortable place, and bravely resolved to conquer hislesson as soon as possible. All at once the yellow cat, which had beenwatching on the wall, sprang at a beautiful red bird and tumbled downwith it at Henry's feet. He started and caught the bird away from thefurious cat, but some of its bright feathers were flying about on theground, and one wing was so hurt that it could not fly, so he ran intothe house and told the story to his mother. She pitied the poor littlething, and brought an old cage from the garret, where, placing the birdsoftly upon the perch, she fastened it in so as to have no more troublefrom the cat. It was well that Henry had learned his lesson, and wasable to repeat it to his mother, for now he could think of nothing butthe bird. He gathered chickweed and flowers to place in its cage, andgave it water and some crumbs and seeds. For a long time it seemed tooill to eat, and when at last it picked up a few seeds, he danced aboutthe room for joy.
Next day the little bird seemed better, for it ate seeds and crumbs, anddipped its bill in the water. So Henry shut the cat into another room,and placed the bird on the sill of the open window. He did not supposeit was well enough to fly away, and he even fancied it would never wishto leave him, but would live in his house and sing to him, sit on hisfinger and be his own bird, and think itself the happiest ofbirds, too, with such a friend and protector.
The tall flowers growingaround the window, and the gentle breeze and sunshine, made it verypleasant, and the little bird seemed to enjoy it, for raising its headit sung as if delighted, and Henry was doubly delighted to think hepossessed such a treasure. By-and-by a bird like Henry's came and saton a rose bush, close to the open window, and sang a joyous strain. Itthen flew away, and behold Henry's bird lifted up its wings and flewaway with it, and together they went to the top of a great oak tree,and then there was such a singing as if all the birds were rejoicingtogether. Henry stood alone at the window—his beautiful bird was gone.The cage stood there with the cup o