sition; from which the faithful care, and constant attention of Marian were, perhaps, the chief means of recovering her.

THE CANARY BIRD.

1. CANARY-BIRDS to sell! who will buy my Canary-birds? fine Canary-birds! Thus cried a man who was passing by the house of little Jessy.

2. Jessy heard him: she ran to the window, and looking into the street, saw that it was a birdseller, who carried upon his head a large cage full of Canary-birds.

3. They jumped so nimbly from perch to perch, and chirped so sweetly, that Jessy, in the eagerness of her curiosity, was near falling out of the window, while she endeavoured to have a nearer view of them. Will you buy a Canarybird, Miss? said the bird-man to her.

4. Perhaps I may, answered Jessy, if you will please to stop a little, until I can go and ask my papa's leave. The man promised to stop, and seeing a bulk on the other side of the street, laid down his cage there, and stood by the side of it.

5. Jessy, in the mean time, ran to her father's apartment, and entered it quite out of breath, crying, Come here, papa! quick! make haste!

6. Mr. Glover. And what is the hurry, pray? 7. Jessy. There is a man in the street that sells Canary-birds; I dare say he has more than

1

twenty. He carries a great cage quite full of them on his head.

8. Mr. Glover. And why does that make you so glad?

9. Jessy. Ah, papa; because that is if you give me leave-I should like to buy one.

10. Mr. Glover. And have you money enough?

11. Jessy. O yes, in my purse.

12. Mr. Glover. But who will feed the poor bird?

13. Jessy. I will, papa, myself. You'll see, it will be glad to be my bird.

14. Mr. Glover. Ah! I am afraid

15. Jessy. Of what, papa ?

16. Mr. Glover. That you will let him die of hunger or thirst.

17. Jessy. I let him die of hunger or thirst! Oh no, certainly I shan't. Nay, I will never touch my own breakfast before the bird has had his.

18. Mr. Glover. Jessy! Jessy! you know you are very giddy! and then you have only to neglect him one day.

19. Jessy promised her father so fairly; she coaxed him so much, and pulled his coat so oft. en, that he consented, at length, to his daughter's request. He crossed the street, leading her by the hand; and when they came up to the cage, they chose the prettiest Canary-bird in it, of the most lively yellow, with a little black tuft upon his head.

20. Who was ever so happy as Jessy then? She held out her purse to her father, that he

might pay for the bird. Mr. Glover then took money out of his own to buy a handsome cage with drawers, and a fountain of crystal.

21. Jessy had no sooner given the Canarybird possession of its little palace, than she ran to every part of the house, calling to her mamma and sisters and all the servants, to come and see the bird, which her father had been so good as to buy for her.

22. When any of her little friends came to see her, the first words were, Do you know that I have the prettiest Canary-bird in the world? he is as yellow as gold, and has a little black crest, like the plumes of mamma's hat. Come, I will show him to you; his name is Cherry.

23. Cherry was quite happy under Jessy's care. The first thing she thought of in the morning was to give him fresh grain and the clearest water.-Whenever there was any cake at table, Cherry had a part of it.

24. She had always some provision in store for him, and his habitation was constantly garnished with fresh groundsel. Cherry was not ungrateful for all these attentions.

25. He soon learned to distinguish Jessy; and the moment he heard her step into the room, what fluttering of his wings! what incessant chirpings! Jessy almost devoured him with kisses.

26. At the end of the week he began to sing, and produced the most delightful music. Sometimes he swelled his little notes to such a length, that one would have thought he must expire with fatigue.

27. Then, after pausing a moment, he would begin again sweeter than ever, with a tone so clear and loud, that he could be heard all over the house.-Jessy passed whole hours in listening to him, as she sat by his cage.

28. She would sometimes let her work fall out of her hands, in gazing at him, and after he had entertained her with a sweet song, she regaled him, in her turn, with a tune, which he would endeavour to imitate.

29. These pleasures, however, became familiar to Jessy. Her father one day made her a present of a book of prints. She was so agreeably taken with it, that Cherry was something less minded.

not.

30. He would chirp the moment he saw Jessy, though ever so far off, but Jessy heard him Almost a whole week had passed since he had either groundsel or biscuit. He repeated the sweetest airs that Jessy had taught him, and composed new ones for her, but in vain. The truth was, Jessy's thoughts were otherwise engaged.

31. At length one day when Mr. Glover was at table, he cast his eyes accidently upon the cage, and saw the Canary-bird lying upon its breast, and panting for breath. Its feathers were ruffled, and it seemed to be contracted all into a lump.

32. Mr. Glover went close up to it, but no more fond chirpings were to be heard! the poor little creature was, indeed, but just alive.. Jessy cried Mr. Glover, what is the matter with your Canary-bird? Jessy blushed. Why papa,

I-somehow-I forgot ;-and all in a tremble she ran to fetch the box of seed.

33. Mr. Glover took down the cage, and examined the drawer and fountain. Alas! Cherry had not a single grain, nor a drop of water. Ah! poor bird, cried Mr. Glover, thou hast fallen into cruel hands! If I had foreseen this, I should never have bought thee.

34. All the company rose from table, holding up their hands and crying, the poor bird! Mr. Glover put some seed into the drawer, and filled the fountain with fresh water, but had much difficulty in bringing Cherry back to life. Jessy left the table, and went up into her chamber, crying and mourning for her poor neglected bird.

35. The next day, Mr. Glover ordered Cherry to be carried out of the house, and given as a present to the son of Mr. Mercer, his neighbour, who was counted a very careful boy, and would pay more attention to him than Jessy had done.

36. But to hear the little girl's complaints, and expressions of sorrow! ah! my dear bird! my poor Cherry! Indeed, I promise you faithfully, papa, that I will never forget him a single moment in future. Only leave him with me this

once.

37. Mr. Glover was at length touched with Jessy's entreaties, and gave her back the Canary bird, but not without a severe reprimand for her negligence, and the strictest injunction as to the future.

38. This poor little creature, said he, is shut