a nest, and there were two eggs in it, and
after a time two birds, that grew just like the others. I was thinking
about the lady one day, and I thought, as I had refused to sell her the
old birds, I had better offer to give her the young ones. So next day
William carried them over in a basket, and left them at the house.

A few days after, the carriage stopped again before our house, and this
time the lady came in and sat in the parlor, and ate a piece of Mother's
cake and drank a glass of new milk. But before she went away she gave me
a parcel which she said was for my very own, and she hoped I would take
as good care of it as I did of my pigeons. And when I looked there was
the most beautiful work-case in the world! I used not to like my sewing,
but now I do, because I use the work-case and the silver thimble every
time!

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A CAGE STORY.

Now, Pussy, don't turn away and look sulky. I've only put you in Polly's
cage so that you may understand a real true cage story that Uncle Rupert
told me last night. He's a soldier, you know, and he wears a red sash,
just like mine, only he does not wear it round his waist as little girls
do, but across his shoulder.

Well, that's not the story, but this is. Uncle Rupert was in China,
where the men wear pig-tails down their back, and it was war time: the
English were fighting against the Chinese. He told me why, but I've
forgotten, but I know in the end the English won; but they lost a battle
first, and Uncle Rupert was taken prisoner. English people are kind to
their prisoners, Pussy, but the Chinese are very cruel. Uncle Rupert
says he could not tell me the dreadful things that they did to some of
the poor English soldiers, but he told me what they did to him, and
though it was dreadful it was rather funny too. Listen, Pussy! They made
a big cage, only it wasn't nearly big enough, and they shut Uncle up in
it, and slung it on a big stick, and carried him about as a show to all
the towns and villages. It was very hot, and Uncle was so cramped up in
the cage that he could hardly move, and he was very hungry and thirsty,
and very, very miserable. The people used to come and stare at him, and
tease him by poking nice fruit through the bars, and then snatching it
away before he could eat it. Uncle Rupert said he longed to die; but he
said one thing, Pussy, which I must always remember, only I'm afraid you
won'