Czytaj książkę: «The Nursery, October 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 4», strona 7

So Peepy parted with her money, but kept the precious bird. The boys ran off, knowing they had done a mean thing, and fearing some man might come along, and inquire into it.

Peepy took the bird home; and Mrs. Miller told her she had done right, and helped her to mend an old cage into which they could put the poor little bruised bird. Soon it took food from their hands, and grew quite tame.

Peepy named it Bella, and kept it in her chamber where she could hear it sing. Bella loved Peepy, and would fly about the room, and light on her head, and play with her curls.

But as summer came on, and the weather grew warm and pleasant, Peepy thought to herself, "Bella loves me, and is grateful for all my care; but liberty is as sweet to birds as to little girls. I will not selfishly keep this bird in prison. I will take it into the grove, and set it free."

So Peepy took it into the grove, and set it free; and Bella lighted on a bough, and sang the sweetest song you ever heard. It then flew singing round Peepy's head, as if to say, "Thank you! thank you a thousand times, you dear little girl!" If Bella's song could have been translated into words, I think they would have been these:—

 
"Darling little Peepy,
When you're sad or sleepy,
I will come and sing you a merry, merry song:
So do not be grieving
At this tender leaving;
I shall not forget you, dear, for Oh! love is strong."
 

Peepy went home rather sad with her empty cage. But what was her joy the next day, to see Bella on the window-sill! She opened the window, Bella flew in, and they had a nice frolic. Then, when the dinner-bell rang, the little bird flew off. Peepy was happy to think it had not forgotten her.

Ida Fay.

SONG OF THE MONKEY

2

 
There cocoanuts are growing
Around the palm-tree's crown:
I used to climb and pick them off,
And hear them—crack!—come down.
There all day long the purple figs
Are falling, I declare:
How pleasant 'tis in monkey-land!
Oh, would that I were there!
 

3

 
On some tall tree's top branches
The fleecy clouds would sail
Just over me: I wish that I
Were swinging by my tail!
I'd swing and swing so merrily,
How happy I would be!
But oh! a travelling monkey's life
Is very hard for me.