Sarah Trimmer

“ As for the blackbirds, they were very hungry indeed; and their young benefactors, not considering that when fed by their parents young birds wait some time between every morsel, supplied them too fast, and filled their crops so full that they looked as if they had great wens on their necks; and Harriet perceived one of them gasping for breath.
"Stop, Frederick!" said she, as he was carrying the quill to its mouth; "the bird is so full he can hold no more." ”

“ As soon as he recovered,—
"Why cannot I soar as I see other birds do?" said he.
"Alas!" cried the mother, "we are in a place of confinement, we are shut up, and can never get out; but here is food in abundance, and every other necessary." "Never get out!" exclaimed the whole brood; "then adieu to happiness!" She attempted to soothe them, but in vain.
The little redbreasts rejoiced in their liberty, and Dicky gave up the desire of living in the aviary, and wished to be gone. ”

“ Harriet then remarked that she thought it very cruel to take birds' nests. "Ah, my dear," said Mrs. Benson, "those who commit such barbarous actions are quite insensible to the distresses they occasion. It is very true that we ought not to indulge so great a degree of pity and tenderness for animals as for those who are more properly our fellow-creatures—I mean men, women, and children; but as every living creature can feel, we should have a constant regard to those feelings, and strive to give happiness rather than inflict misery. ”

“ I should commend your courage, provided you would add prudence to it; but blundering on in this ignorant manner is only rashness."
"Let him alone, let him alone," said the father; "if he is above being taught, he may find his own way to the nest; I will teach his brother.—Come, Dicky," said he, "let us see what you can do at flying upwards; you cut a noble figure this morning when you flew down." ”

“ I have had a great many nests this year, and do believe I have a hundred eggs."
"A hundred eggs! and how do you propose to hatch them?" said Harriet, who turned back on hearing him talk in this manner.
"Hatch them, Miss Benson?" said he; "who ever thinks of hatching birds' eggs?"
"Oh, then, you eat them," said Frederick, "or perhaps let your cook make puddings of them?"
"No, indeed," replied Edward; "I blow out the inside, and then run a thread through them, and give them to Lucy to hang up among her curiosities; and very pretty they look, I assure you." ”

“ The mother then again attempted to calm them, but all in vain; their fears were now redoubled for their father's safety; however, to their great joy, he soon returned. "Well," said he, "I have seen this monster." The little ones then clung to their mother, fearing the dreadful creature was just at hand.
"What, afraid again?" cried he; "a parcel of stout hearts I have in my nest, truly! Why, when you fly about in the world, you will in all probability see hundreds of such monsters, as you call them, unless you choose to confine yourselves to a retired life ”

“ Addis, "begone this instant! you shall not stay a moment longer in this house!" "I hope, madam, you will have the goodness to give me a character; indeed and indeed, I fed Poll, but I believe he got cold when you let him stand out of doors the other day." "I will give you no character, I tell you," said Mrs. Addis, "so depart this instant. Oh, my poor dear, dear creature! I fear you will never recover.—John!—Thomas! here, run this instant to Perkins, the birdcatcher; perhaps he can tell me what to give him." ”

“ As soon as he entered the breakfast-parlour, he ran eagerly to the window, and attempted to fling it up. "What is the cause of this mighty bustle?" said his mamma; "do you not perceive that I am in the room, Frederick?" "Oh, my birds! my birds!" cried he. "I understand," rejoined Mrs. Benson, "that you have neglected to feed your little pensioners; how came this about, Harriet?" "We were so tired last night," answered Harriet, "that we overslept ourselves, mamma." ”

“ I admire your taste, truly!"
"Why, is there any harm in taking birds' eggs?" said Lucy; "I never before heard that there was."
"My dear mamma," replied Harriet, "has taught me to think there is harm in every action which gives causeless pain to any living creature; and I own I have a very particular affection for birds."
"Well," said Lucy, "I have no notion of such affections, for my part. Sometimes, indeed, I try to rear those which Edward brings home, but they are teasing, troublesome things, and I am not lucky. ”

“ At this instant Pecksy came up with a fine fat spider in her mouth, which she laid down at her mother's feet, and thus addressed her:—
"Accept, my dear parent, the first tribute of gratitude which I have ever been able to offer you. How have I formerly longed to ease those toils which you and my dear father have endured for our sakes! and gladly would I now release you from further fatigue on my account; but I am still a poor creature, and must continue to take shelter under your wing. I will hop, however, as long as I am able, to procure food for the family." ”

“ It is wrong to grieve for the death of animals as we do for the loss of our friends, because they certainly are not of so much consequence to our happiness, and we are taught to think their sufferings end with their lives, as they are not accountable beings; and therefore the killing them, even in the most barbarous manner, is not like murdering a human creature, who is perhaps unprepared to give an account of himself at the tribunal of heaven. ”

“ Never be ashamed but when you commit a fault; asking your father to teach you to sing is not one; and good parents delight to teach their young ones everything that is proper and useful. Whatever so good a father sets you an example of you may safely desire to imitate." Then addressing herself to her mate, who for an instant stopped at the entrance of the nest, that he might not interrupt her instructions, "Am I not right," said she, "in what I have just told them?" ”

“ Benson continued her discourse:—"And would you really confine these sweet creatures in a cage, Frederick, merely to have the pleasure of feeding them? Should you like to be always shut up in a little room, and think it sufficient if you were supplied with victuals and drink? Is there no enjoyment in running about, jumping, and going from place to place? Do you not like to keep company with little boys and girls? ”

“ Robin now remarked that the song was very pretty indeed, and expressed his desire to learn it also. "By all means," said his father; "I shall sing it very often, so you may learn it if you please." "For my part," said Flapsy, "I do not think I could have patience to learn it, it will take so much time." "Nothing, my dear Flapsy," answered the father, "can be acquired without patience, and I am sorry to find yours begin to fail you already; but I hope, if you have no taste for music, that you will give the greater application to things that may be of more importance to you." ”

“ Benson, "that it would be a good way to accustom one's self, before one kills anything, to change situations with it in imagination, and to suppose how we should feel were we bees, or ants, or birds, or kittens, and so on."
"Indeed, madam," said Mrs. Wilson, "I have often wished that poor dumb creatures had somebody to speak for them; many an innocent life would then be saved, which is now destroyed to no end." ”

“ However, before we were perfectly come to ourselves we heard very uncommon noises, sometimes a hoarse sound, disagreeable to our ears as the croaking of a raven, and sometimes a shriller noise, quite unlike the note of any bird that we know of; and immediately after something presented itself to our view which bore a little resemblance to the monster, but by no means so large and frightful. ”

“ As the steps of the ladder were broad, and the nest was not high, Miss Benson ventured to go up, and was equally delighted with her brother, but so fearful of terrifying the little birds and alarming the old ones, that she would only indulge herself with a peep at the nest. Frederick inquired how she liked the young robins. "They are sweet creatures," said she, "and I hope they will soon join our party of birds, for they appear to me ready to fly. But let us return to mamma, for you know we promised her to stay but a little while; besides, we hinder Joe from his work." ”

“ Benson, who was always ready to relieve the distressed, taking her daughter by the hand, and desiring the servant to stop for her, followed the woman, who conducted her to the abode of real woe, where she beheld a father surrounded by his helpless family, whom he could no longer maintain, and who, though his disease was nearly subdued, was himself almost ready to die for want of good nourishing diet. ”

“ You have already, as you sat on the nest, seen thousands of the feathered race, of one kind or other, making their airy excursions, full of mirth and gaiety. This orchard constantly resounds with the melody of those who chant from their songs of joy; and I believe there are no beings in the world happier than birds, for we are naturally formed for cheerfulness ”

“ I resolved the following spring to seek another mate, and had the good fortune to meet with you, whose amiable disposition has renewed my happiness. And now, my dear," said he, "let me ask you what became of your former companion?"
"Why," replied the hen redbreast, "soon after the loss of our nest, as he was endeavouring to discover what was become of it, a cruel hawk caught him up, and devoured him in an instant. ”

“ I therefore flew back to the field in which I had seen the murder committed, and in searching about found the nest belonging to the poor creatures, in which were several young ones just hatched, who in a short time would be starved to death! How dreadful is the fate of young animals that lose their parents before they are able to shift for themselves! and how grateful ought those to be to whom the blessings of parental instruction and assistance are continued! ”

“ You cannot think how kindly they treat us; and though there are a number of other birds who share their goodness, your father and I are favoured with their particular regard."
"Oh!" said Pecksy, "are these sweet creatures your friends? I long to go abroad that I may see them again." "Well," cried Flapsy, "I perceive that if we judge from appearances we may often be mistaken. ”

“ He then described the place; and on her quitting the nest he entered it, and gathered his young ones under his wings. "Come, my dears," said he, "let us see what kind of a nurse I can make; but an awkward one, I fear; even every mother bird is not a good nurse, but you are very fortunate in yours, for she is a most tender one, and I hope you will be dutiful for her kindness." ”

“ My good man is as particular in respect to moles: if he finds them in his garden, or any other part of his grounds where they can do mischief, he has them killed, but never suffers them to be molested when they are harmless. Neither does he hunt after snakes, or permit any one belonging to him to do so; for he says that if they are not disturbed they will not come from their haunts to annoy us; and to kill for the sake of killing is cruel." "Pray, Mrs. Wilson," said Frederick, "do your sons ever go bird's-nesting?" ”

“ Robin is very quick at finding them." "There is nothing like necessity to teach birds how to live," said the father; "I am glad Robin's misfortunes have been so beneficial to him," "What would have become of you, Robin, if you had not exerted yourself as I directed?" said his mother; "you would soon have died had you continued to lie on the scorching ground. Remember from this instance, as long as you live, that it is better to use means for your own relief than to spend time in fruitless lamentations. But come along, Dicky, Flapsy, and Pecksy, there is water near." ”

“ The nestlings were greatly pleased to find that Robin was likely to escape the dangers of the night, and even the anxious mother at length resigned herself to repose.
Before the sun showed his glorious face in the east, every individual of this affectionate family was awake: the father with impatience waited for the gardener's opening the tool-house; the mother prepared her little ones for a new excursion. ”

“ I consider that the same almighty and good Being who created mankind made all other living creatures likewise, and appointed them their different ranks in the creation, that they might form together a community, receiving and conferring reciprocal benefits. There is no doubt that the Almighty designed all beings for happiness, proportionable to the faculties He has endowed them with; and whoever wantonly destroys that happiness acts contrary to the will of his Maker. ”

“ What pleasure have we experienced in plucking a bit of wool from a sheep's back, in searching for moss, in selecting the best feather where numbers were left to our choice, in stopping to rest on the top of a tree which commanded an extensive prospect, in joining a choir of songsters whom we accidentally met! ”

“ Many a little boy may learn a lesson from them. Do you not recollect one of your acquaintances, who, if an apple-pie or anything that he calls nice is set before him, will eat till he makes himself sick?" Frederick looked ashamed, being conscious that he was too much inclined to indulge his love of delicacies. "Well," said his mamma, "I see you understand who I mean, Frederick, so we will say no more on that subject; only when you meet with that little gentleman, give my love to him, and tell him I beg he will be as moderate as his redbreasts." ”