iged to go a
little way into the country on some particular business; but, before
they set out, he gave Nancy strict charge to take care of poor Cherry.
No sooner were her parents gone, than she ran to the cage, and gave
Cherry plenty of seed and water.

Little Nancy now finding herself alone and at liberty, sent for some of
her companions to come and spend the day with her. The former part of
the day they passed in the garden, and the latter in playing at
blindman's buff and four corners. She went to bed very much fatigued;
but, as soon as she awoke in the morning, she began to think of new
pleasures.

She went abroad that day, while poor Cherry was obliged to stay at home
and fast. The second and third day passed in the same playful manner as
before; but no poor Cherry was thought of. On the fourth day, her father
and mother came home, and, as soon as they had kissed her, her father
enquired after poor Cherry. "He is very well," said Nancy, a little
confused, and then ran to fetch him some seed and water. Alas! poor
little Cherry was no more; he was lying upon his back, with his wings
spread, and his beak open. Nancy screamed out, and wrung her hands,
when all the family ran to her, and were witnesses of the melancholy
scene.

"Alas! poor bird," said her papa, "what a melancholy end thou hast come
to! If I had twisted thy head off the day I went into the country, it
would have caused you but a moment's pain; but now you have endured all
the pangs of hunger and thirst, and expired in extreme agony. However,
poor Cherry! you are happy in being out of the hands of so merciless a
guardian."

Nancy was so shocked and distressed on the occasion, that she would have
given all her little treasure, and even all her playthings, to have
brought Cherry to life; but it was now too late. Her papa had the bird
stuffed, and hung up to the ceiling, in memory of Nancy's carelessness.
She dared not even to lift her eyes up to look at it, for, whenever she
did, it was sure to make her cry. At last she prevailed on her papa to
have it removed, but not till after many earnest entreaties and repeated
acknowledgments of the fault she had been guilty of. Whenever Nancy was
guilty of inattention, or giddiness, the bird was hung up again in its
place, and every one would say in her hearing, "Alas, poor Cherry! what
a cruel death you suffered!"

Thus you see, my little friends, what are the sad consequences of
inattention, giddiness, and