hero thought it advisable to be watchful;
therefore, after satisfying all curiosity on the subject, as much at
least as he deemed needful, he flew off again on his mission--without
telling them the ultimate destination of his seed, fearing, perhaps,
they might be unable to resist the temptation of picking it out of the
mould into which he intended to drop it.

By and by he left the more respectable part of the city, and winged his
way as near as he could remember towards the attic window, where he had
so often seen the poor work-girl busy at her weary task. But a heavy
cloud of smoke darkened the air, and a perfect forest of masts
bewildered him, for he had come to that part of London where the ships
are to be seen--thousands of vessels from all countries of the world.
Still, though he was puzzled for a while, yet he felt sure the house was
near this place, as he recollected having seen these docks before. What
should he do? He paused for a bit upon a slanting roof just to look
around. Oh, the smuts, how they settled upon his feathers! he was
obliged to preen himself, he felt so dirty; if his coat was a dingy
brown, there was no occasion for its being dirty also! All at once, as
he paused during the process of preening, he saw the very window right
in front of him,--he recognised it by its cleanliness, such a contrast
to the squalor around. Yes, there it was, the polished panes of glass
glinting in the gleams of light that came now and then through the
murky atmosphere; and there were the three flower-pots. Why, actually
they had been washed, they looked so freshly red!--or perhaps painted.

Away he joyfully flew, his task was nearly done; but alas for hopes of
birds or people! Just as he was about to alight upon the window-sill, a
tiresome bird--a Sparrow--came flying towards him, exclaiming,--

'Hallo! who are you, I should like to know?' and so startled was he when
accosted thus abruptly, that in his fright he dropped his dear and
precious treasure.

Down, down it fell upon a deal case a man was wheeling on a truck. The
man did not notice the tiny grain that fell; perhaps, had he done so,
would merely have thought it was a particle of dust; but the poor bird's
heart was sorely grieved as he saw it disappear, after all the trouble
he had taken to bring it thus far, and he sat upon the window-ledge of
the girl's room with ruffled plumage and dim eyes, utterly crushed by
this untoward loss. It was too bad!

But aft