t 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE ROBINS. 
 
FABULOUS HISTORIES. 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF THE ROBINS. 
 
 Enstruction of ffitjiltrrcn on tfjdr treatment at 'animals. 
 BY MRS. TRIMMER. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS, 
 
 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 MANY young readers, doubtless, remember to have 
 met with a book entitled An Easy Introduction to the 
 Knowledge of Nature, which gives an account of a little 
 boy named Henry, and his sister Charlotte, who were 
 indulged by their mamma with walking in the fields 
 and gardens, where she taught them to take particular 
 notice of every object that presented itself to their view. 
 The consequence of this was, that they contracted a 
 great fondness for animals ; and used often to express 
 a wish that their birds, cats, dogs, &c. could talk, 
 that they might hold conversations with them. Their 
 mamma, therefore, to amuse them, composed the fol 
 lowing fabulous histories ; in which the sentiments and 
 affections of a good father and mother, and a family of 
 children, are supposed to be possessed by a nest of red* 
 breasts ; and others of the feathered race, are, by the 
 force of imagination, endued with the same faculties. 
 But before Henry and Charlotte began to read these 
 histories, they were taught to consider them, not as 
 containing the real conversations of birds (for that it is 
 impossible we should ever understand), but as a series 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of fables, intended to convey a moral instruction appli 
 cable to themselves, at the same time that they excite 
 compassion and tenderness for those interesting and 
 delightful creatures, on which such wanton cruelties 
 are frequently inflicted, and recommend universal bene 
 volence. 
 
 Having given this account of the origin of the 
 following little work, the author will no longer detain 
 her young readers from the perusal of it, as she flatters 
 herself they will find ample instruction respecting the 
 proper treatment of animals in the course of her fabu 
 lous histories, which now invite their attention. 
 
HISTOEY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE BOB INS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IN a hole, which time had made in a wall covered with ivy, 
 a pair of redbreasts built their nest. No place could have 
 been better chosen for the purpose ; it was sheltered from the 
 rain, screened from the wind, and in an orchard belonging to 
 a gentleman who had strictly charged his domestics not to 
 destroy the labours of those little songsters who chose his 
 ground as an asylum. 
 
 In this happy retreat, which no idle schoolboy dared to 
 enter, the hen redbreast laid four eggs, and then took her 
 seat upon them, resolving that nothing should tempt her to 
 leave the nest for any length of time till she had hatched her 
 infant brood. Her tender mate every morning took her place 
 while she picked up a hasty breakfast, and often, before he 
 tasted any food himself, cheered her with a song. 
 
 At length the day arrived when the happy mother heard 
 the chirping of her little ones ; with inexpressible tenderness 
 she spread her maternal wings to cover them, threw out the 
 
4 THE ROBINS. 
 
 egg-shells in which they before lay confined, then pressed 
 them to her bosom, and presented them to her mate, who 
 viewed them with rapture, and seated himself by her side, 
 that he might share her pleasure. 
 
 " We may promise ourselves much delight in rearing our 
 little family," said he, " but it will occasion us a great deal 
 of trouble ; I would willingly bear the whole myself, but it 
 will be impossible for me, with my utmost labour and industrv 
 to supply all our nestlings with what is sufficient for theh 
 daily support ; it will therefore be necessary for you to Irave 
 the nest sometimes, to seek provisions for them." She de 
 clared her readiness to do so ; and said that there would be 
 no necessity for her to be long absent, as she had discovered 
 a place near the orchard, where food was scattered on purpose 
 for such birds as would take the pains of seeking it ; and 
 that she had been informed by a chaffinch that there was no 
 kind of danger in picking it up. "This is a lucky discovery, 
 indeed, for us," replied her mate ; " for this great increase of 
 family renders it prudent to make use of every means for 
 supplying our necessities ; I myself must take a larger circuit, 
 for some insects that are proper for the nestlings cannot be 
 found in all places : however, I will bear you company when 
 ever it is in my power." The little ones now began to be hun 
 gry, and opened their gaping mouths for food ; on which 
 their kind father instantly flew forth to find it for them, and 
 in turns supplied them all, as well as his beloved mate. This 
 was a hard day's work ; and when evening came on, he was 
 glad to take repose, and turning his head under his wing, he 
 eoon fell asleep ; his mate followed his example ; the four 
 little ones had before fallen into a gentle slumber, and per 
 fect quietness for some hours reigned in the nest. 
 
 The next morning they were awakened at the dawn of 
 
THE ROBINS. 5 
 
 day, by the song of a skylark, which had a nest near the 
 orchard ; and as the young redbreasts were impatient for 
 food, their father cheerfully prepared himself to renew his 
 toil, requesting his mate to accompany him to the place she 
 had mentioned. " That I will do/' replied she : " but it is 
 too early yet ; I must therefore beg that you will go by your 
 self and procure a breakfast for us, as I am fearful of leaving 
 the nestlings before the air is warmer, lest they should be 
 chilled." To this he readily consented, and fed all his little 
 darlings, to whom, for the sake of distinction, I shall give the 
 names of Robin, Dicky, Flapsy, and Pecksy. When this kind 
 office was performed, he perched on a tree, and, while he 
 rested, entertained his family with his melody, till his mate, 
 springing from the nest, called him to attend her ; on which 
 he instantly took wing, arid followed her to a court-yard be 
 longing to a family mansion. 
 
 No sooner did the happy pair appear before the parlour 
 window than it was hastily thrown up by Harriet Benson, a 
 little girl about eleven years old, the daughter of the gentle 
 man and lady to whom the house belonged. 
 
 Harriet, with great delight, called her brother to see two 
 robin redbreasts; and she was soon joined by Frederick, a 
 fine, chubby, rosy- cheeked boy, about six years of age, who, 
 as soon as he had taken a peep at the feathered strangers, ran 
 to his mamma, and entreated her to give him something to 
 feed them with. " I must have a great piece of bread this 
 morning," said he ; " for there are all the sparrows and chaf 
 finches that come every day, and two robin redbreasts be 
 sides." " Here is a piece for you, Frederick," replied Mrs. 
 Benson, cutting a loaf that was on the table ; " but if your 
 daily pensioners continue to increase, as they have done lately, 
 we must provide some other food for them, as it is not right 
 
O THE ROBINS. 
 
 to cut pieces from a loaf on purpose for birds, because there 
 are many children who want bread, to whom we should give 
 the preference. Would you deprive a poor little hungry boy 
 of his breakfast to give it to birds ?" " No," said Frederick, 
 " I would sooner give my own breakfast to a poor boy than 
 he should go without ; but where shall I get victuals enough 
 for my birds ? I will beg the cook to save the crumbs in the 
 bread-pan, and desire John to preserve all he makes when he 
 cuts the loaf for dinner, and those which are scattered on the 
 table-cloth/' " A very good scheme," said Mrs. Benson ; 
 " and I make no doubt it will answer your purpose, if you 
 can prevail on the servants to indulge you. 1 cannot bear to 
 see the least fragment of food wasted, which may contribute 
 to the support of life in any creature." 
 
 Harriet, being quite impatient to exercise her benevolence, 
 requested her brother to remember that the poor birds, for 
 whom he had been a successful solicitor, would soon fly away 
 vf he did not make haste to feed them ; on which he ran to 
 the window with his treasure in his hand. 
 
 When Harriet first appeared, the winged suppliants ap 
 proached with eager expectation of the daily handful, which 
 their kind benefactress made it a custom to distribute, and 
 were surprised at the delay of her charity. They hopped 
 around the window, they chirped, they twittered, and em 
 ployed all their little arts to gain attention ; and were on the 
 point of departing, when Frederick, breaking a bit from the 
 piece he held in his hand, attempted to scatter it among them, 
 calling out at the same time, Dicky, Dicky. On hearing the 
 *vell-known sound, the little flock immediately drew near. 
 Frederick begged that his sister would let him feed all the 
 birds himself; but finding that he could not fling the crumbs 
 far enough for the redbreasts, who, being strangers, kept at a 
 
THE ROBINS. 7 
 
 distance, Le resigned the task, and Harriet, with dexterous 
 hand, threw some of them to the very spot where the affec 
 tionate pair stood, waiting for her notice, and with grateful 
 hearts picked up the portion assigned them ; and in the mean 
 while, the other birds, being satisfied, flew away, and they 
 were left alone. Frederick exclaimed with rapture that the 
 two robin redbreasts were feeding ! and Harriet meditated a 
 design of taming them by kindness. " Be sure, my dear bro 
 ther," said she, " not to forget to ask the cook and John for 
 the crumbs, and do not let the least morsel of any thing you 
 have to eat fall to the ground. I will be careful in respect of 
 mine ; and we will collect all the crumbs that are made at 
 the dinner-table ; and, if we cannot by these means get enough, 
 I will spend some of my money in grain for them." " Oh," 
 said Frederick, " I would give all the money I have in the 
 world to buy victuals for my dear, dear birds." " Hold, 
 my love," said Mrs. Benson ; "though I commend your hu 
 manity, I must remind you again that there are poor people 
 as well as poor birds." "Well, mother," replied Frederick, 
 " I will only buy a little grain, then." As he spake the last 
 words, the redbreasts having finished their meal, the mother- 
 bird expressed her impatience to return to the nest ; and hav 
 ing obtained her mate's consent, she repaired with all possi 
 ble speed to her humble habitation, whilst he tuned his melo 
 dious pipe, and delighted their young benefactors with his 
 music ; he then spread his wings, and took his flight to an 
 adjoining garden, where he had a great chance of finding 
 worms for his family. 
 
THE ROBINS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 -FREDERICK BENSON expressed great concern that the robins 
 were gone ; but was comforted by his sister, who reminded 
 him that in all probability his new favourites, having met 
 with so kind a reception, would return on the morrow. Mrs. 
 Benson then bid them shut the window ; and, taking Frede 
 rick in her lap, and desiring Harriet to sit down by her, thus 
 addressed them : 
 
 " I am delighted, my dear children, with your humane 
 behaviour towards animals, and wish by all means to encou 
 rage it ; but let me recommend to you not to suffer your 
 tender feelings towards animals to gain upon you to such a 
 degree as to make you unhappy, or forgetful of those who 
 have a higher claim to your attention : I mean poor people 
 always keep in mind the distresses which they endure ; and 
 on no account waste any kind of food, nor give to inferior 
 creatures what is designed for mankind." 
 
 Harriet promised to follow her mother's instructions ; but 
 Frederick's attention was entirely engaged by watching a 
 butterfly, which had just left the chrysalis, and was fluttering 
 in the window, longing to try its wings in the air and sun 
 shine. This Frederick was very desirous to catch, but his 
 mother would not permit him to attempt it, because, she 
 told him, he could not well lay hold of its wings without 
 doing it an injury, and it would be much happier at liberty. 
 " Should you like, Frederick/' said she, " when you are going 
 out to play, to have any body lay hold of you violently, 
 scratch you all over, then offer you something to eat which 
 is very disagreeable, and perhaps poisonous, and shut you up 
 in a little dark room ? And yet this is the fate to which many 
 
THE ROBINS. 9 
 
 a harmless insect is condemned by thoughtless children." As 
 soon as Frederick understood that he could not catch the but 
 terfly without hurting it, he gave up the point, and assured 
 his mother he did not want to keep it, but only to carry it out 
 of doors. " Well, 77 replied she, " that end may be answered 
 by opening the window/' which at her desire was done by 
 Harriet. The happy insect was glad to fly away, and Frede 
 rick had soon the pleasure of seeing it upon a rose. 
 
 Breakfast being ended, Mrs. Benson reminded the young 
 lady and gentleman that it was almost time for their lessons 
 to begin ; but desired their maid to take them into the garden 
 before they applied to business. During his walk, Frederick 
 amused himself with watching the butterfly, as it flew from 
 Cower to flower, which gave him more pleasure than he could 
 possibly have received from catching and confining the little 
 tender creature. 
 
 Let us now see what became of our redbreasts after they 
 left their young benefactors. 
 
 The hen-bird, as I informed you, repaired immediately to 
 the nest ; her heart fluttered with apprehension as she en 
 tered it, and she eagerly called out, "Are you all safe, my 
 little dears?" " All safe, my good mother," replied Pecksy; 
 " but a little hungry, and very cold." " Well," said she, 
 " your last complaint I can soon remove :. but m respect to 
 the satisfying your hunger, that must be your father's task. 
 However, he will soon be here, I make no doubt." Then 
 spreading her wings over them all, she soon gave warmth to 
 them, and they were again comfortable. 
 
 In a very short time her mate returned; for he only 
 stayed at Mr. Benson's to finish his song, and sip some clear 
 water, which his new friends always kept where they fed the 
 birds. He brought in his mouth a worm, which was given 
 
10 . THE ROBINS. 
 
 to Robin ; and was going to fetch one for Dicky, but his mate 
 said, " My young ones are now hatched, and you can keep 
 them warm as well as myself; take my place, therefore, and 
 the next excursion shall be mine." " I consent," answered 
 he ; " because I think a little flying now and then will do you 
 good ; but, to save you trouble, I can direct you to a spot 
 where you maybe certain of finding worms for this morning's 
 supply." 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 nurse I can make ; but an awkward one, I fear. Even 
 every mother-bird is not a good nurse ; but you are very for 
 tunate in yours, for she is a most tender one, and I hope you 
 will be dutiful for her kindness." They all promised him 
 they would. "Well, then," said he, " I will sing you a song." 
 He did so, and it was a very merry one, and delighted the 
 nestlings extremely; so that, though they were not quite 
 comfortable under his wings, they did not regard it, nor think 
 the time of their mother's absence long. She had not suc 
 ceeded in the place she first went to, as a boy was picking up 
 worms to angle with, of whom she was afraid, and therefore 
 flew farther ; but as soon as she had obtained what she went 
 for, she returned with all possible speed : and though she had 
 repeated invitations from several gay birds which she met to 
 join their sportive parties, she kept a steady course, preferring 
 the pleasure of feeding little Dicky to all the diversions of the 
 fields and groves. As soon as the hen-bird came near the 
 nest, her mate started up to make room for her, and take his 
 turn of providing for his family. " Once more adieu !" said 
 he, and was out of sight in an instant. 
 
 " My dear nestlings," said the mother, "how do you 
 do?" "Very well, thank you," replied all at once. "And 
 
THE ROBINS. 11 
 
 we have been exceedingly merry," said Robin, " for my father 
 has sung us a sweet song." " I think," said Dicky, " I should 
 like to learn it." " Well," replied the mother, " he will 
 teach it you, I dare say. Here he comes ; ask him." " I am 
 ashamed," said Dicky. " Then you are a silly bird ; never 
 be ashamed but when you commit a fault. Asking your 
 father to teach you to sing is not one ; and good parents de 
 light to teach their young ones every thing 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 ?" 
 " Perfectly so," replied he ; "I shall have pleasure in teach 
 ing them all that is in my power ; but we must talk of that 
 another time. Who is to feed poor Pecksy?" " Oh, I, I," 
 answered the mother, and was gone in an instant. " And 
 so you want to learn to sing, Dicky?" said the father. 
 " Well, then, pray listen very attentively ; you may learn the 
 notes, though you will not be able to sing till your voice is 
 stronger." 
 
 Robin now remarked that the song was very pretty in 
 deed, 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 tu 
 you." " Well," said Pecksy, "I would apply to music with 
 
12 THE ROBINS. 
 
 all my heart ; but I do not believe it possible for me to learn 
 it." "Perhaps not," replied her father; "but I do not 
 doubt you will apply to whatever your mother requires of 
 you ; and she is an excellent judge both of your talents and 
 of what is suitable to your station in life. She is no song 
 stress herself, and yet she is very clever, I assure you ; here 
 she comes." Then rising to make room for her, "Take your 
 seat, my love," said he, "and I will perch upon the ivy." 
 The hen again covered her brood, whilst her mate amused 
 her with his singing and conversation till the evening, ex 
 cepting that each parent bird flew out in turn to get food for 
 their young ones. 
 
 In this manner several days passed with little variation ; 
 the nestlings were very thriving, and daily gained strength 
 and knowledge, through the care of their indulgent parents, 
 who every day visited their friends Frederick and Harriet 
 Benson. Frederick had been successful with the cook and 
 footman, from whom he obtained enough for his dear birds, 
 as he called them, without robbing the poor ; and he was 
 still able to produce a penny whenever his parents pointed 
 out to him a proper object of charity. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IT happened one day that both the redbreasts, who always 
 went together to Mrs. Benson's (because if one had waited 
 for the other's return, it would have missed the chance of 
 being fed) ; it happened, I say, that they were both absent 
 longer than usual ; for their little benefactors, though like 
 all good children they were remarkably early risers, and 
 
THE ROBINS. 13 
 
 always had said their prayers, washed and cleaned them 
 selves, and learned their lessons before breakfast, yet having 
 been fatigued with a long walk the evening before, lay very 
 late in bed that morning ; but as soon as Frederick was 
 dressed, his sister, who was waiting for him, took him by the 
 hand, and led him down stairs, where he hastily asked the 
 cook for the collection of crumbs. As soon as he entered the 
 breakfast - parlour, he ran eagerly to the window, and at 
 tempted to fling it up. " What is the cause of this mighty 
 bustle?" said his mother ; " do you not perceive that I am in 
 the room, Frederick ?" " O my birds ! my birds !" cried he. 
 " I understand," rejoined Mrs. Benson, " that you have ne 
 glected to feed your little pensioners ; how came this about, 
 Harriet?" "We were so tired last night," answered Har 
 riet, " that we overslept ourselves." " This excuse may 
 satisfy you and your brother," added the lady ; " but I fear 
 your birds would bring heavy complaints against you, were 
 they able to talk. But make haste to feed them now ; and, 
 for the future, whenever you give any living creature cause to 
 depend on you for sustenance, be careful on no account to 
 disappoint it ; and if you are prevented from feeding it your 
 self, employ another person to do it for you. 
 
 " It is customary," continued Mrs. Benson, " for little 
 boys and girls to pay their respects to their parents every 
 morning, as soon as they see them ; this, Frederick, you 
 ought to have done to me on entering the parlour, instead 
 of running across it, crying out, ' My birds ! my birds!' It 
 would have taken you but very little time to have done so. 
 However, I will excuse your neglect now, my dear, as you did 
 not intend to offend me ; but remember that you depend as 
 much upon your father and me for every thing you want, as 
 these little birds do on you ; nay, more so, for they could find 
 
U THE ROBINS. 
 
 food in other places, but children can do nothing towards 
 their own support ; they should therefore be dutiful and re 
 spectful to those whose tenderness and care they constantly 
 experience." 
 
 Harriet promised her mother that she would, on all oc 
 casions, endeavour to behave as she wished her to do ; but I 
 am sorry to say, Frederick was more intent upon opening the 
 window than profiting by the good instructions that were 
 given him. This he could not do ; therefore Harriet, by her 
 mother's permission, went to his assistance, and the store 
 of provisions was dispensed. As many of the birds had 
 nests, they 'eat their meal with all possible expedition ; 
 amongst this number were the robins, who despatched the 
 business as soon as they could, for the hen was anxious to 
 return to her little ones, and the cock to procure them a break 
 fast ; and having given his young friends a song before they 
 left their bedchambers, he did not think it necessary to stay 
 to sing any more ; they therefore departed. 
 
 When the mother-bird arrived at the ivy wall, she stop 
 ped at the entrance of the nest with a beating heart ; but, 
 seeing her brood all safe and well, she hastened to take them 
 under her wings. As soon as she was seated, she observed 
 that they were not so cheerful as usual. " What is the mat 
 ter ?" said she ; " how have you agreed during my absence?" 
 To these questions all were unwilling to reply ; for the truth 
 was that they had been quarrelling almost the whole time. 
 " What, all silent?" said she, "I fear you have not obeyed 
 my commands, but have been contending. I desire you will 
 tell me the truth." Robin, knowing that he was the greatest 
 offender, began to justify himself before the others could have 
 time to accuse him. 
 
 " I am sure, mother," said he, " I only gave Dick a little 
 
THE ROBINS. 15 
 
 peck, because he crowded me so ; and all the others jo.ned 
 with him, and fell upon me at once." 
 
 " Since you have begun, Robin," answered Dicky, " I must 
 speak, for you gave me a very hard peck indeed ; and I was 
 afraid you had put out my eye. I am sure I made all the 
 room I could for you; but you said you ought to have half 
 the nest and to be master when your father and mother were 
 out, because you are the eldest." 
 
 " I do not love to tell tales," said Flapsy, " but what Dicky 
 says is very true, Robin ; and you plucked two or three little 
 feathers out of me, only because I begged you not to use us 
 ill." " And you set your foot very hard upon me," cried 
 Pecksy, "for telling you that you had forgotten your dear 
 mother's command." 
 
 " This is a sad story indeed," said the mother. " I am 
 very sorry to find, Robin, that you already discover such a 
 turbulent disposition. If you go on in this manner, we shall 
 have no peace in the nest ; nor can I leave it with any degree 
 of satisfaction. As for your being the eldest, though it makes 
 me shew you a preference on all proper occasions, it does not 
 give you a privilege to domineer over your brother and sis 
 ters. You are all equally objects of our tender care, which 
 we shall exercise impartially among you, provided you do not 
 forfeit it by bad behaviour. To shew you that you are not 
 master of the nest, I desire you to get from under my wing, 
 and sit on the outside, while I cherish those who are dutiful 
 and good." Robin, greatly mortified, retired from, his mother, 
 on which Dicky, with the utmost kindness, began to inter 
 cede for him. " Pardon Robin, my dear mother, I intreat 
 you," said he; "I heartily forgive his treatment of me, and 
 would not have complained to you, had it not been necessary 
 for my own justification." 
 
16 THE ROBINS. 
 
 " You are a good bird, Dicky/' said his mother : " but 
 such an offence as this must be repented of before it is par 
 doned." At this instant her mate returned with a fine worm, 
 and looked as usual for Robin, who lay apart by himself. 
 " Give it," said the mother, " to Dicky ; Robin must be served 
 last this morning ; nay, I do not know whether I shall permit 
 him to have any victuals the whole day." Dicky was very 
 unwilling to mortify his brother ; but, on his mother's com 
 manding him not to detain his father, he opened his mouth, 
 and swallowed the delicious mouthful. "What can be the 
 matter?" said the good father, when he had emptied his 
 mouth : " surely none of the little ones have been naughty ? 
 But I cannot stop to inquire at present, for I left another 
 fine worm, which may be gone if I do not make haste back." 
 
 As soon as he departed, Dicky renewed his entreaties 
 that Robin might be forgiven ; but, as he sat swelling with 
 anger and disdain, because he fancied that the eldest should 
 not be shoved to the outside of his mother's wing, while the 
 others were fed, she would not hear a word in his behalf. 
 The father soon came and fed Flapsy, and then, thinking 
 it best for his mate to continue her admonitions, he flew off 
 again. During her father's absence, Pecksy, whose little 
 heart was full of affectionate concern for the punishment 
 of her brother, thus attempted to comfort him : 
 
 " Dear Robin, do not grieve, I will give you my breakfast, 
 if my moth ** will let me." " Oh," said Robin, " I do not 
 want any breakfast ; if I may not be served first, I will have 
 none." " Shall I ask my mother to forgive you ?" said 
 Pecksy. " I do not want any of your intercessions," re 
 plied he ; " if you had not been a parcel of ill-natured things, 
 I should not have been pushed about as I am." 
 
 t Come back, Pecksy," said the mother, who overheard 
 
THE ROBINS. 17 
 
 them, " I will not have you converse with so naughty a bird. 
 I forbid every one of you even to go near him." The father 
 then arrived, and Pecksy was fed. " You may rest yourself, 
 my dear," said the mother, "your morning's task is ended." 
 " Why, what has Robin done ?" asked he. " What I am 
 sorry to relate," she replied ; " quarrelled with his brother 
 and sisters." " Quarrelled with his brother and sisters ? you 
 surprise me ; I could not have suspected he would have been 
 either so foolish or so unkind." " Oh, this is not all," said 
 the mother ; " for he presumes on being the eldest, and 
 claims half the nest to himself when we are absent, and now 
 is sullen because he is disgraced, and not fed first as usual." 
 " If this be the case," replied the father, " leave me to settle 
 this business, my dear, and pray go into the air a little, for 
 you seem to be sadly grieved at his misconduct." " I am 
 disturbed," said she, " I confess ; for, after all my care and 
 kindness, I did not expect such a sad return as this. I am 
 sorry to expose this perverse bird even to you, but he will 
 not be corrected by me. I will do as you desire, go into 
 the air a little." So saying, she repaired to a neighbouring 
 tree, where she anxiously waited the event of her mate's 
 admonition. 
 
 As soon as the mother departed, the father thus addressed 
 the naughty bird : " And so, Robin, you want to be master 
 of the nest ? A pretty master you would make indeed, who 
 do not know even how to govern your own temper ! I will 
 not stand to talk much to you now, but, depend upon it, I 
 will not suffer you to use any of the family ill, particularly 
 your good mother ; and if you persist in obstinacy, I will 
 certainly turn you out of the nest before you can fly." These 
 threatenings intimidated Robin, and he also began to be very 
 hungry as well as cold; he therefore promised to behave better 
 
18 THE ROBINS. 
 
 for the future, and his brother and sisters pleaded earnestly 
 that he might be forgiven and restored to his usual place. 
 
 " I can say nothing in respect to the last particular/' re 
 plied the father, " that depends upon his mother ; but as it 
 is his first offence, and he seems to be very sorry, I will my 
 self pardon it, and intercede for him with his mother." On 
 this he left the nest to seek for her. " Return, my dear," 
 said he, " to your beloved family ; Robin seems sensible of 
 his offence, and longs to ask your forgiveness." Pleased at 
 this intelligence, the mother raised her drooping head, and 
 closed her wings, which hung mournfully by her sides, ex 
 pressive of the dejection of her spirits. " I fly to give it to 
 him," said she, and hastened into the nest. In the mean 
 while Robin wished for, yet dreaded her return. 
 
 As soon as he saw her, he lifted up a supplicating eye, 
 and in a weak tone (for hunger and sorrow had made him 
 faint), he cried, " Forgive me, dear mother, 1 will not again 
 offend you." "I accept your submission, Robin," said she, 
 " and will once more receive you to my wing ; but indeed 
 your behaviour has made me very unhappy." She then 
 made room for him, he nestled closely to her side, and soon 
 found the benefit of her fostering heat ; but he was still 
 hungry, yet he had not confidence to ask his father to fetch 
 him any victuals; but this kind parent seeing that his mother 
 had received him into favour, flew with all speed to an ad 
 jacent field, where he soon met with a worm, which, with 
 tender love, he presented to Robin, who swallowed it with 
 gratitude. Thus was peace restored to the nest ; and the 
 happy mother once more rejoiced that harmony reigned in 
 the family. 
 
THE ROBINS. 19 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A FEW days after, a fresh disturbance took place. All the 
 little redbreasts, excepting Pecksy, in turn committed some 
 fault or other, for which they were occasionally punished; 
 but she was of so amiable a disposition, that it was her con 
 stant study to act with propriety, and avoid giving offence ; 
 on which account she was justly caressed by her parents 
 with distinguished kindness. This excited the envy of the 
 others, and they joined together to treat her ill, giving her 
 the title of the pet ; saying, that they made no doubt their 
 father and mother would reserve the nicest morsels for their 
 darling. 
 
 Poor Pecksy bore all their reproaches with patience, 
 hoping that she should in time regain their good opinion by 
 her gentleness and affection. But it happened one day, that, 
 in the midst of their tauntings, their mother unexpectedly 
 returned, who, hearing an uncommon noise among her young 
 ones, stopped on the ivy to learn the cause ; and as soon as 
 she discovered it, she made her appearance at the entrance 
 of the nest with a countenance that shewed she knew what 
 was going on. 
 
 "Are these the sentiments," said she, "that subsist in 
 a family which ought to be bound together by love and kind 
 ness ? Which of you has cause to reproach either your father 
 or me with partiality? Do we not, with the exactest equality, 
 distribute the fruits of our labours among you ? And in what 
 respect has poor Pecksy the preference, but in that praise 
 which is justly her due, and which you do not strive to de 
 serve? Has she ever yet uttered a complaint against you, 
 though, from the dejection of her countenance, which she in 
 
20 THE ROBINS. 
 
 vain attempted to conceal, it is evident that she has suffered 
 your reproaches for some days past ? I positively command 
 you to treat her otherwise, for it is a mother's duty to suc 
 cour a persecuted nestling ; and I will certainly admit her 
 next my heart, and banish you all from that place you have 
 hitherto possessed in it, if you suffer envy and jealousy to 
 occupy your bosoms, instead of that tender love which she, 
 as the kindest of sisters, has a right to expect from you." 
 
 Robin, Dicky, and Flapsy were quite confounded by their 
 mother's reproof ; and Pecksy, sorry that they had incurred 
 the displeasure of so tender a parent, kindly endeavoured to 
 soften her anger. " That I have been unhappy, my dear 
 mother/' said she, " is true, but not so much as you sup 
 pose ; and I am ready to believe that my dear brothers and 
 sister were not in earnest in the severe things they said of 
 me perhaps they only meant to try my affection. I now 
 entreat them to believe, that I would willingly resign the 
 greatest pleasure in life, could I by that means increase their 
 happiness ; and so far from wishing for the nicest morsel, 
 I would content myself with the humblest fare, rather than 
 any of them should be disappointed." This tender speech 
 had its desired effect ; it recalled those sentiments of love 
 which envy and jealousy had for a time banished : all the 
 nestlings acknowledged their faults, their mother forgave 
 them, and a perfect reconciliation took place, to the great 
 joy of Pecksy, and indeed of all parties. 
 
 All the nestlings continued very good for several days, 
 and nothing happened worth relating. The little family were 
 soon covered with feathers, which their mother taught them 
 to dress, telling them that neatness was a very essential 
 thing, both for health, and also to render them agreeable in 
 the eye of the world. At the same time that she recom- 
 
THE ROBINS. 21 
 
 mended neatness of person, she did not forget to caution 
 them against vanity and deceit. "These bad qualities are 
 unbecoming," said she, " in all of us, and never fail to bring 
 contempt and mortification on the silly bird that possesses 
 them." 
 
 Robin was a very strong, robust bird, not remarkable for 
 his beauty ; but there was a great briskness in his manner, 
 which covered many defects ; and he was very likely to 
 attract notice. His father judged, from the tone of his 
 chirpings, that he would be a very good songster. 
 
 Dicky had a remarkably fine plumage ; his breast was of 
 a beautiful red, his body and wings of an elegant mottled 
 brown, and his eyes sparkled like diamonds. 
 
 Flapsy was also very pretty ; but more distinguished for 
 the elegance of her shape than for the variety and lustre of 
 her feathers. 
 
 Pecksy had no outward charms to recommend her to 
 notice, but they were doubly supplied by the sweetness of 
 her disposition. Her temper was constantly serene; she 
 was ever attentive to the happiness of her parents, and would 
 not have grieved them for the world ; and her affection for 
 her brothers and sister was so great, that she constantly pre 
 ferred their interest to her own ; of which we have lately 
 given an instance. 
 
 The kind parents attended to them with unremitting 
 affection, and made their daily visit to Frederick and Harriet 
 Benson, who very punctually discharged the benevolent duty 
 of feeding them. The robin redbreasts, made familiar by 
 repeated favours, approached nearer and nearer to their little 
 friends by degrees ; and at length ventured to enter the room, 
 and feed upon the breakfast-table. Harriet was delighted at 
 this circumstance, and Frederick was quite overjoyed ; he 
 
22 THE ROBINS, 
 
 longed to catch the birds ; but his mother told him, that 
 would be the very means to drive them away. Harriet 
 entreated him not to frighten them on any account, and he 
 was prevailed on to forbear ; but could not help expressing a 
 wish that he had them in a cage, that he might feed them all 
 day long. 
 
 " And do you really think, Frederick/' said Mrs. Benson, 
 " that these little delicate creatures are such gluttons as to 
 desire to be fed all day long ? Could you tempt them to do 
 it, they would soon die ; but they know better ; and, as soon 
 as their appetites are satisfied, always leave off eating. Many 
 a little boy may learn a lesson from them. Do you not 
 recollect one of your acquaintance, who, if a cake, or any 
 thing else that he calls nice, is set before him, will eat till he 
 he makes himself sick 1" Frederick looked ashamed, being 
 conscious that he was too much inclined to indulge his love 
 of delicacies. " Well," said his mother, " I see you under 
 stand whom I mean, Frederick, so we will say no more on 
 that subject ; only, when you meet that little gentleman, 
 give my love to him, and tell him I beg he will be as mo 
 derate as his Redbreasts." 
 
 The cock- bird, having finished his breakfast, flew out at 
 the window, followed by his mate ; and, as soon as they 
 were out of sight, Mrs. 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 not you like to keep 
 company with little boys and girls 1 And is there no plea 
 sure in breathing the fresh air ? Though these little animals 
 
THE ROBINS. 23 
 
 are inferior to you, there is no doubt but they are capable of 
 enjoyments similar to these ; and it must be a dreadful life 
 for a poor bird to be shut up in a cage, where he cannot so 
 much as make use of his wings ; where he is separated from 
 his natural companions ; and where he cannot possibly re 
 ceive that refreshment which the air must afford to him 
 when at liberty to fly to such a height. But this is not all, 
 for many a poor bird is caught and taken away from its 
 family, after it has been at the trouble of building a nest, has 
 perhaps laid its eggs, or even hatched its young ones, which 
 are by this means exposed to certain destruction. It is likely 
 that these very redbreasts may have young ones, for this is 
 the season of the year for their hatching ; and I rather think 
 they have, from the circumstance of their always coming 
 together." " If that is the case/' said Miss Harriet, " it 
 would be pity, indeed, to confine them. But why, mother, 
 if it is wrong to catch birds, did you at one time keep canary- 
 birds?" 
 
 " The case is very different in respect to canary-birds, 
 my dear/' said Mrs. Benson : " by keeping them in a cage, 
 I did them a kindness. I considered them as little foreigners 
 who claimed my hospitality. This kind of bird came origi 
 nally from a warm climate ; they are in their nature very 
 liable to catch cold, and would perish in the open air in our 
 winters ; neither does the food which they feed on grow 
 plentifully in this country : and as here they are always bred 
 in cages, they do not know how to procure the materials for 
 their nest abroad. And there is another circumstance which 
 would greatly distress them, were they to be turned loose, 
 which is, the persecution they would be exposed to from 
 other birds. I remember once to have seen a poor hen 
 canary-bird which had been turned loose, because it could 
 
24 THE ROBINS. 
 
 not sing; and surely no creature could be more miserable. It 
 was starving for want of victuals, famishing with thirst, shi 
 vering with cold, and looked terrified to the greatest degree ; 
 while a parcel of sparrows and chaffinches pursued it from 
 place to place, twittering and chirping, with every mark of 
 insult. I could not help fancying the little creature to be 
 like a foreigner just landed from some distant country, fol 
 lowed by a rude rabble of boys, who were ridiculing him, 
 because his dress and language were strange to them." 
 
 " And what became of the poor little creature, dear mo 
 ther?" said Harriet. " I was going to tell you, my dear," 
 replied Mrs. Benson. " I ordered the servant to bring me a 
 cage, with seed and water in their usual places : this I caused 
 to be hung on a tree, next to that in which the little sufferer 
 in vain endeavoured to hide herself among the leaves, from 
 her cruel pursuers. No sooner did the servant retire, than 
 the poor little bird flew to it. I immediately had the cage 
 brought into the parlour, where I experienced great pleasure 
 in observing what happiness the poor creature enjoyed in her 
 deliverance. I kept it some years ; but not choosing to con 
 fine her in a little cage, I had a large one bought, and pro 
 cured a companion for her of her own species. I supplied 
 them with materials for building : and from them proceeded 
 a little colony, which grew so numerous, that you know I 
 gave them to Mr. Bruce to put into that large inclosure of 
 wire-work, which is called an aviary, where he keeps them 
 with others, and where you have seen them enjoying them 
 selves. So now I hope I have fully accounted for having 
 kept canary-birds in a cage." " Thank you, dear mother, 
 you have indeed," said Harriet. 
 
 " I have also," said Mrs. Benson, " occasionally kept 
 larks. In severe winters, vast numbers of them come to this 
 
THE ROBINS. 25 
 
 country from a colder climate, and many perish. Quantities 
 of them are killed and sold for the table ; and the bird- 
 catchers usually have a great many to sell, and many an idle 
 boy has some to dispose of. I frequently buy them, as you 
 know, Harriet ; but as soon as the fine weather returns, I 
 constantly set them at liberty. But come, my dears, prepare 
 for your morning walk, and afterwards let me see you in my 
 dressing-room." 
 
 " I wonder," said Frederick, " whether our redbreasts 
 have got a nest? I will watch to-morrow which way they 
 fly, for I should like to see the little ones." " And what will 
 you do should you find them out?" said his mother; " not 
 take the nest, I hope ?" " Why," replied Frederick, " I 
 should like to bring it home, and put it in a tree near the 
 house ; and then I would scatter crumbs for the old ones to 
 feed them with." 
 
 " Your design is a kind one," said Mrs. Benson, fi but 
 would greatly distress your little favourites. Many birds, 
 through fear, forsake their nests when they are removed; 
 therefore I desire you to let them alone if you should chance 
 to find them." 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 pro 
 perly our fellow-creatures ; I mean, men, women, and children. 
 But, as every living creature can feel, we should have a con 
 stant regard to those feelings, and strive to give happiness 
 rather than be the cause of misery. But go, my dear, and 
 take your walk." Mrs. Benson then left them to attend her 
 usual morning employments ; and the young lady and gentle- 
 
26 THE ROBINS. 
 
 man, attended by their maid, passed an agreeable half-hour 
 in the garden. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 IN the mean time the hen redbreast returned to the nest, 
 while her mate took his flight in search of food for his 
 family. When the mother approached the nest, she was sur 
 prised at not hearing, as usual, the chirping of her young 
 ones ; and what was her astonishment at seeing them all 
 crowded together, trembling with apprehension ! " What is 
 the matter, my nestlings," said she, " that I find you in this 
 terror?" 
 
 " Oh, my dear mother!" cried Robin, who first ventured 
 to raise up his head, " is it you ?" Pecksy then revived, and 
 entreated her mother to come into the nest, which she did 
 without delay ; and the little tremblers crept under her wings, 
 endeavouring to conceal themselves in this happy retreat. 
 
 " What has terrified you in this manner r" said she. 
 Oh, I do not know," replied Dicky ; " but we have seen 
 such a monster as I never beheld before !" " A monster, my 
 dear! pray describe it." " I cannot," said Dicky, " it was 
 too frightful to be described." " Frightful indeed," cried 
 Robin ; " but I had a full view of it, and will give the best 
 description I can. 
 
 " We were all sitting peaceably in the nest, and very 
 happy together ; Dicky and I were trying to sing, when sud 
 denly we heard a noise against the wall, and presently a 
 great round red face appeared before the nest, with a pair of 
 enormous staring eyes, a very large beak, and below that a 
 wide mouth, with two rows of bones that looked as if they 
 
THE ROBINS. 27 
 
 could grind us all to pieces in an instant. About the top of 
 this round face, and down the sides, hung something black, but 
 not like feathers. When the two staring eyes had looked at us 
 for some time, the whole thing disappeared." " I cannot at 
 all conceive from your description, Robin, what this thing could 
 be/' said the mother ; " but perhaps it may come again." 
 
 " Oh, I hope not !" cried Flapsy ; " I shall die with fear 
 if it does." " Why so, my love?" said her mother; " has 
 it done you any harm?" " I cannot say it has/' replied 
 Flapsy. " Well, then, you do very wrong, my dear, in giving 
 way to such apprehensions. You must strive to get the 
 better of this fearful disposition. When you go abroad in 
 the world, you will see many strange objects ; and if youare 
 terrified at every appearance which you cannot account for, 
 you will live a most unhappy life. Endeavour to be good, 
 and then you need not fear any thing. But here comes your 
 father, perhaps he will be able to explain the appearance 
 which has so much alarmed you to-day.' 7 
 
 As soon as the father had given the worm to Robin, he 
 was preparing to depart for another, but, to his surprise, all 
 the rest of the nestlings begged him to stay, declaring they 
 had rather go without their meal, on condition he would but 
 remain at home and take care of them. " Stay at home and 
 take care of you!" said he. " Why is that more necessary 
 now than usual?" The mother then related the strange oc 
 currence that had occasioned this request. " Nonsense !" 
 said he ; " a monster ! great eyes ! large mouth ! long beak ! 
 I don't understand such stuff. Besides, as it did them no 
 harm, why are they to be in such terror now it is gone ?" 
 " Don't be angry, dear father," said Pecksy, " for it was very 
 frightful indeed." " Well," said he, " I will fly all round 
 the orchard, and perhaps I may meet this monster." " Oh, 
 
28 THE ROBINS. 
 
 it will eat you up, it will eat you up !" said Flapsy. " Never 
 fear/' said he ; and away he flew. 
 
 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 mon 
 sters, as you call them, unless you choose to confine your 
 selves to a retired life ; nay, even in woods and groves you 
 will be liable to meet some of them, and those of the most 
 mischievous kind." " I begin to comprehend," said the 
 mother, " that these dear nestlings have seen the face of a 
 man." " Even so," replied her mate ; " it is a man, no other 
 than our friend the gardener, that has so alarmed them." 
 
 " A man !" cried Dicky ; " was that frightful thing a 
 man ?" " Nothing more, I assure you," answered his father, 
 " and a good man too, I have reason to believe ; for he is 
 very careful not to frighten your mother and me when we 
 are picking up worms, and has frequently thrown crumbs to 
 us when he was eating his breakfast." 
 
 " And does he live in this garden ?" said Flapsy. " He 
 works here very often," replied her father, " but is frequently 
 absent." " Oh, then," cried she, " pray take us abroad when 
 he is away, for indeed I cannot bear to see him." " You are 
 a little simpleton," said the father; " and if you do not en 
 deavour to get more resolution, I will leave you in the nest 
 by yourself, when I am teaching your brothers and sister to 
 fly and peck. And what will you do then ? for you must not 
 expect we shall go from them to bring you food." Flapsy, 
 
THE ROBINS. 29 
 
 fearful that her father would be quite angry, promised to 
 follow his directions in every respect ; and the rest, animated 
 by his discourse, began to recover their spirits. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 WHILST the terrible commotions, related in the last chapter, 
 passed in the nest, the monster, who was no other than 
 honest Joe the gardener, went to the house, and inquired for 
 his young master and mistress, having, as he justly supposed, 
 some pleasing news to tell them. Both the young gentleman 
 and lady very readily attended, thinking he had got some 
 fruit or flowers for them. " Well, Joe," said Harriet, "what 
 have you to say to us ? Have you got a peach or a nectarine ? 
 or have you brought me a root of sweet-william ?" 
 
 " No, Miss Harriet," said Joe; " but I have something 
 to tell you that will please you as much." " What's that ? 
 what's that?" said Frederick. "Why, Master Frederick," 
 said Joe, " a pair of robins have come very often to one place 
 in the orchard lately ; so, thought I, these birds have got a 
 nest. So I watched and watched, and at last I saw the old 
 hen fly into a hole in the ivy wall. I had a fancy to set my 
 ladder and look in ; but, as master ordered me not to frighten 
 the birds, I stayed till the old one flew out again, and then I 
 mounted, and there I saw the little creatures full fledged ; and 
 if you and Miss Harriet may go with me, I will shew them 
 to you, for the nest is but a little way from the ground, and 
 you may easily get up the step-ladder." 
 
 Frederick was in raptures, being confident that these 
 were the identical robins he was so attached to, and, like a 
 little thoughtless boy as he was, he would have gone imme- 
 
30 THE ROBINS. 
 
 diately with the gardener, had not his sister reminded him 
 that it was proper to ask leave first ; she therefore told Joe 
 she would let him know when she had done so. 
 
 When the redbreasts had quieted the fears of their young 
 family, and fed them as usual, they retired to a tree, desiring 
 their little nestlings not to be terrified if the monster should 
 look in upon them again, as it was very probable he would do. 
 They promised to bear the sight as well as they could. 
 
 When the old ones were seated in the tree, " It is time," 
 said the father, " to take our nestlings abroad. You see, my 
 love, how very timorous they are ; and if we do not use them 
 a little to the world, they will never be able to shift for them 
 selves." " Very true/' replied the mother ; " they are now 
 full fledged, and therefore, if you please, we will take them 
 out to-morrow ; but prepare them for it." " One of the best 
 preparatives," answered her mate, " will be to leave them by 
 themselves a little ; therefore we will now take a flight to 
 gether, and then go back." The mother complied, but she 
 longed to be with her dear family. 
 
 When they stopped a little to rest on a tree, " Last year, " 
 said the hen redbreast, " it was my misfortune to be deprived 
 of my nestlings by some cruel boys, before they were quite 
 fledged, and it is that which makes me so timid now, that I 
 do not feel comfortable when I am away from them." 
 
 " A calamity of the same kind befel me," replied the 
 father ; " I never shall forget it. I had been taking a flight 
 in the woods, in order to procure some nice morsels for one 
 of my nestlings : when I returned to the place in which I had 
 imprudently built, the first circumstance that alarmed me was 
 a part of my nest scattered on the ground, just at the entrance 
 of my habitation ; I then perceived a large opening in the 
 wall, inhere before there was only room for myself to pass. 
 
THE ROBINS. 31 
 
 I stopped with a beating heart, in hopes of hearing the chirp 
 ings of my beloved family, but all was silence. I then re 
 solved to enter ; but what was my consternation when I 
 found that the nest, which my dear mate and I had with so 
 much labour built, and the dear little ones, who were the joy 
 of our lives, were stolen away ; nay, I did not know but the 
 tender mother was also taken. I rushed out of the place, 
 distracted with apprehensions for the miseries they might 
 endure ; lamenting my weakness, which rendered me inca 
 pable of rescuing them : but recollecting that my dear mate 
 might in all probability have escaped, I resolved to go in 
 search of her. As I was flying along, I saw three boys, 
 whose appearance was far from disagreeable ; one of them 
 held in his hand my nest of young ones, which he eyed with 
 cruel delight, while his companions seemed to share his joy. 
 The dear little creatures, insensible of their fate (for they were 
 newly hatched), opened their mouths, expecting to be fed by 
 me or their mother, but all in vain ; to have attempted feed 
 ing them at this time would have been certain destruction to 
 myself : but I resolved to follow the barbarians, that I might 
 at least see to what place my darlings were consigned. In a 
 short time, the party arrived at a house, and he who before 
 held the nest now committed it to the care of another, but 
 soon returned with a kind of victuals I was totally unac 
 quainted with ; and with this, my young ones, when they 
 gaped for food, were fed : hunger induced them to swallow 
 it, but soon after, missing the warmth of their mother, they 
 set up a general cry, which pierced my very heart. Imme 
 diately after this the nest was carried away, and what be 
 came of my nestlings afterwards I could never discover, 
 though I frequently hovered about the fatal spot of their im* 
 priso'nment with the hope of seeing them." 
 
32 THE ROBINS. 
 
 " Pray," said the hen redbreast, " what became of your 
 mate?" "Why, my dear," said he, "when I found there 
 was no chance of assisting my little ones, I pursued my 
 course, and sought her in every place of our usual resort, but 
 to no purpose ; at length I returned to the bush, where I 
 beheld an afflicting sight indeed, my beloved companion lying 
 on the ground just expiring. I flew to her instantly, and 
 endeavoured to recall her to life. At the sound of my voice 
 she lifted up her languid eyelids, and said, ' And are you 
 then safe, my love ? what is become of our little ones ?' In 
 hopes of comforting her, I told her I hoped they were alive 
 and well ; but she replied, ' Your consolations come too late ; 
 the blow is struck, I feel my death approaching. The horror 
 which seized me when I missed my nestlings, and supposed 
 my self robbed at once of my mate and infants, was too power 
 ful for my weak frame to sustain. Oh, why will the human 
 race be so wantonly cruel ?' The agonies of death now came 
 on, and, after a few convulsive pangs, she breathed her last, 
 and left me an unhappy widower. I passed the remainder 
 of the summer, and a dreary winter that succeeded it, in a 
 very uncomfortable manner ; though the natural cheerful 
 ness of my disposition did not leave me long a prey to un 
 availing sorrow. 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 need not say that I felt the bitterest pangs 
 for his loss ; it is sufficient to inform you that I led a soli- 
 
THE ROBINS. 33 
 
 tary life till I met with, you, whose endearing behaviour has 
 made society again agreeable to me." 
 
 As soon as Mrs. Benson returned to her children, Fre 
 derick ran up to her, saying, " Good news ! good news, 
 mother ; Joe has found the robins' nest." " Has he indeed !" 
 said Mrs. Benson. "Yes, mother,*' said Harriet; "and it 
 agreeable to you, we shall be glad to go along with Joe to see 
 it." " But how are you to get at it ?" said the lady ; " for I 
 suppose it is some height from the ground." " Oh, I can 
 climb a ladder very well," cried Frederick. " You climb a 
 ladder ! You are a clever gentleman at climbing, I know ; 
 but do you purpose to mount too, Harriet 1 I think this is 
 rather an indelicate scheme for a lady." " Joe tells me that 
 the nest is but a very little way from the ground, ma'am," 
 answered Harriet ; " but if I find it otherwise, you may de 
 pend on my not going up." " On this condition I will per 
 mit you to go," said Mrs. Benson ; " but pray, Mr. Frederick, 
 let me remind you not to frighten your little favourites." 
 " Not for all the world," said Frederick ; so away he skipped, 
 and ran to Joe, before his sister. " We may go ! we may go, 
 Joe !" cried he. " Stay for me, Joe, I beg," said Harriet, 
 who presently joined him. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 As soon as Joe found that the young gentry, as he called 
 them, had obtained permission to accompany him, he took 
 Frederick by the hand, and said, " Come along, my young 
 master." Frederick's impatience was so great that he could 
 scarcely be restrained from running all the way, but his sister 
 entreated him not to make himself too hot. 
 
 a 
 
34 THE ROBINS. 
 
 At length they arrived at the desired spot ; Joe placed the 
 ladder, and his young master, with a little assistance, mount 
 ed it very nimbly : but who can describe his raptures when 
 he beheld the nestlings ? " Oh, the sweet creatures/' cried 
 he, " there are four of them, I declare ! I never saw any 
 thing so pretty in my life ! I wish I might carry you all 
 home I" "That you must not do, Frederick," said his sis 
 ter ; " and I beg you will come away, for you will either ter 
 rify the little creatures or alarm the old birds, which perhaps 
 are now waiting somewhere near to feed them." "Well, I 
 will come away directly/' said Frederick ; " and so good bye, 
 robins ! I hope you will come soon, along with your father 
 and mother, to be fed in the parlour." He then, under the 
 conduct of his friend Joe, descended. 
 
 Joe next addressed Harriet : " Now, my young mistress/' 
 said he, "will you go up ?" 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 home, for you know we promised to 
 stay but a little while ; besides, we hinder Joe from his work." 
 "Never mind that," said the honest fellow, "master won't 
 be angry, I am certain ; and if I thought he would, I would 
 work an hour later to fetch up lost time." "Thank you, 
 Joe," replied Harriet, " but I am sure my father would not 
 desire you to do so." 
 
 At this instant, Frederick perceived the two redbreasts, 
 who were returning from their proposed excursion, and called 
 
TUE ROBINS. 35 
 
 to his sister to observe them. He was very desirous to watch 
 whether they would go back to their nest, but she would on 
 no account consent to stay, lest her mother should be dis 
 pleased, and lest the birds should be frightened ; Frpderick, 
 therefore, with reluctance followed her, and Joe attended 
 them to the house. 
 
 As soon as they were out of sight, the hen-bird proposed 
 to return to the nest : she had observed the party, and though 
 she did not see them looking into her habitation, she sup 
 posed, from their being so near, that they had been taking a 
 view of it, and told her suspicions to her mate. He agreed 
 with her, and said he now expected to hear a fine story from 
 the nestlings. " Let us return, however," said the mother, 
 "for perhaps they have been terrified again." " Well," said 
 he, " I will attend you then ; but let me caution you, my 
 dear, not to indulge their fearful disposition, because such 
 indulgence will certainly prove injurious to them." " I will 
 do the best I can," replied she, and then flew to the nest, fol 
 lowed by her mate. 
 
 She alighted upon the ivy, and peeping into the nest, 
 inquired how they all did. "Very well, dear mother," said 
 Robin. " What/' cried the father, who now alighted, " all 
 safe! Not one eat up by the monster ?" "No, father, "replied 
 Dicky, " we are not devoured ; and yet, I assure you, the 
 monster we saw before has been here again, and brought two 
 others with him." " Two others ! what, like himself? 7 ' said 
 the father ; " I thought, Flapsy, you were to die with appre 
 hension if you saw him again ?" "And so I believe I should 
 have done, had not you, my good father, taught me to con 
 quer my fears," replied Flapsy ; " when I saw the top of 
 him, my heart began to flutter to such a degree that I was 
 ready to die, and every feather of me shook ; but when I 
 
36 THE ROBINS. 
 
 found he stayed but a very little while, I recovered, and was 
 in hopes he was quite gone. My brothers and sister, I be 
 lieve, felt as I did ; but we comforted one another that the 
 danger was over for this day, and all agreed to make our 
 selves happy, and not fear this monster, since you had assured 
 us he was very harmless. However, before we were perfectly 
 come to ourselves, we heard very uncommon noises, some 
 times a hoarse sound, disagreeable tq our ears as the croak 
 ing 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. 
 
 " Instead of being all over red, it had on each side two 
 reddish spots of a more beautiful hue than Dicky's breast; 
 the rest of it was of a more delicate white, excepting two 
 streaks of a deep red, like the cherry you brought us the other 
 day, and between these two streaks were rows of white 
 bones, but by no means dreadful to behold, like those of the 
 great monster ; its eyes were blue and white ; and round this 
 agreeable face was something which I cannot describe, very 
 pretty, and as glossy as the feathers of a goldfinch. There 
 was so cheerful and pleasing a look in this creature altogether, 
 that notwithstanding I own I was rather afraid, yet I had 
 pleasure in looking at it ; but it stayed a very little time, and 
 then disappeared.. While we were puzzling ourselves with 
 conjectures concerning it, another creature, larger than it, 
 appeared before us, equally beautiful, and with an aspect so 
 mild and gentle, that we were all charmed with it ; but, as if 
 fearful of alarming us by its stay, it immediately retired, and 
 we have been longing for your and my mother's return, in 
 hopes you would be able to tell us what we have seen." 
 
THE ROBINS. 37 
 
 " I am happy, my dears," said their mother, " to find you 
 more composed than I expected : for as your father and I 
 were flying together, in order to come back to you, we ob 
 served the monster, and the two pretty creatures Flapsy has 
 described ; the former is, as your father before informed you, 
 our friend the gardener, and the others are our young 
 benefactors, by whose bounty we are every day regaled, and 
 who, I will venture to say, will do you no harm. You can 
 not 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 ap 
 pearances we may often be mistaken ; who would have thought 
 that such an ugly monster as that gardener could have had 
 a tender heart?" "Very true," replied the mother; "you 
 must make it a rule, Flapsy, to judge of mankind by their 
 actions, and not by their looks. I have known some of them 
 whose appearance was as engaging as that of our young 
 benefactors, who were, notwithstanding, barbarous enough to 
 take eggs out of a nest and spoil them : nay, even to carry 
 away nest and all before the young ones were fledged, with 
 out knowing how to feed them, or having any regard to the 
 sorrows of the tender parents." 
 
 " Oh, what dangers there are in the world !" cried Pecksy ; 
 " I shall be afraid to leave the nest." " Why so, my love?" said 
 the mother ; " every bird does not meet with hawks and cruel 
 children. You have already, as you sat on the nest, seen 
 thousands of the feathered race, of one kind or other, mak 
 ing their airy excursions full of mirth and gaiety. This 
 orchard constantly resounds with the melody of those who 
 
38 THE ROBINS. 
 
 chant forth their songs of joy; and I believe there aie no 
 beings in the world happier than birds, for we are naturally 
 formed for cheerfulness ; and I trust that a prudent precaution, 
 and following the rules we shall from our expeiience be able 
 to give you, will preserve you from the dangers to which the 
 feathered race are exposed." 
 
 "Instead of indulging your fears, Flapsy," said the fa 
 ther, " summon up all your courage, for to-morrow you shall, 
 with your brothers and sister, begin to see the world." 
 Dicky expressed great delight at this declaration, and Robin 
 boasted that he had not the least remains of fear. Flapsy, 
 though still apprehensive of monsters, yet longed to see the 
 gaieties of life, and Pecksy wished to comply with every de 
 sire of her dear parents. The approach of evening now re 
 minded them that it was time to take repose, and turning its 
 head under its wing, each bird soon resigned itself to the 
 gentle powers of sleep. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 AFTER Frederick and Harriet had been gratified with the 
 sight of the robins' nest, they were returning to the house, 
 conducted by their friend Joe, when they were met in the 
 garden by their mother, accompanied by Miss Lucy Jenkins 
 and her brother Edward. The former was a fine girl, about 
 ten years old ; the latter a robust, rude boy, turned of eleven. 
 " We were coming to seek you, my dear," said Mrs. Benson 
 to her children, " for I was fearful that the business you 
 went upon would make you forget your young visitors." 
 
 " I cannot answer for Frederick/' replied Harriet ; " but, 
 indeed, I would not, on any account, have slighted my 
 
THE ROBINS. 39 
 
 friends. How do you do, my dear Miss Jenkins ?" said she ; 
 " I am happy to see you. Will you go with me into the 
 play-room ? I have got some very pretty new books. Fre 
 derick, have you nothing to shew Master Jenkins ?" " Oh, 
 yes," said Frederick, " I have got several little books, which 
 my uncle gave me for being attentive to my lessons ; and 
 they have a great many pretty pictures in them ; but I had 
 rather go back and shew him the robins." 
 
 " The robins I" said Master Jenkins ; "what robins?" 
 
 " Why our robins that have built in the ivy-wall. You 
 never saw any thing so pretty in your life as the little ones." 
 
 " Oh, I can see birds enough at home," said Master Jen 
 kins ; " but why did you not take the nest ? It would have 
 been nice diversion to you to toss the young birds about. I 
 have had a great many nests this year, and do believe I have 
 an hundred eggs." 
 
 "An hundred eggs ! and how do you propose to hatch 
 them ?" said Harriet, who turned back on hearing him talk 
 in this manner. 
 
 " Hatch them !" said he ; " who ever thinks of hatching 
 birds' eggs ?" 
 
 " Oh, then, you eat them/ 7 said Frederick ; " or perhaps 
 let your cook make puddings of them?" 
 
 " No, indeed/' replied Edward Jenkins, " I blow out the 
 inside, and then run a thread through them, and give them 
 to Lucy, to hang up amongst her curiosities ; and very pretty 
 they look, I assure you." 
 
 " And so," said Harriet, " you had rather see a string of 
 empty egg-shells, than hear a sweet concert of birds singing 
 in the trees ? I admire your taste, truly." 
 
 " Why, is there any harm in taking birds' eggs ?" said 
 Miss Jenkins ; " I never before heard that there was." 
 
40 THE ROBINS. 
 
 " My dear mother/' replied Harriet, " has taught me to 
 think there is harm in every action that gives unnecessary 
 pain to any living creature ; and I own I have a very parti 
 cular affection for birds." 
 
 " Well." said Miss Jenkins, " 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 seldom succeed ; to tell the truth, 
 I do not concern myself much about them : if they live, they 
 live; and if they die, they die. He has brought me three 
 nests this day to plague me : I thought to have fed the birds 
 before I came out, but being in a hurry to come to see you, I 
 quite forgot it. Did you feed them, Edward?" "Not I," 
 said he ; "I thought you would do it ; it is enough for me 
 to find the nests." 
 
 " And have you actually left three nests of young birds 
 at home without victuals !" cried Harriet. 
 
 " I did not think of them, but will feed them when I 
 return/' said Miss Jenkins. 
 
 " Oh/' cried Miss Benson, " I cannot bear the thoughts 
 of what the poor little creatures must suffer." 
 
 fl Well," said Edward Jenkins, " since you feel so much 
 for them, I think, Miss Harriet, you will make the best nurse. 
 What say you, Lucy, will you give the nests to Miss Ben 
 son ?" " With all my heart," replied his sister ; " and pray 
 do not plague me with any more of them." 
 
 " I do not know that my mother will let me accept them," 
 said Harriet ; " but if she will, I shall be glad to do so." 
 
 Frederick inquired what birds they were ; and Master 
 Jenkins informed him there was a nest of linnets, a nest of 
 sparrows, and another of blackbirds. Frederick was all im 
 patience to see them ; and Harriet longed to have the little 
 
THE ROBINS. 41 
 
 creatures in her possession, that she might rescue them from 
 their deplorable condition, and lessen the evils of captivity, 
 which they now suffered. 
 
 Her mother had left her with her young companions, 
 that they might indulge themselves in innocent amusements 
 without restraint ; but the tender-hearted Harriet could not 
 engage in any diversion, till she had made intercession in 
 behalf of the poor birds ; she therefore begged Miss Jenkins 
 would accompany her to the house, in order to ask permis 
 sion to have the birds' nests. She accordingly went, and 
 made her request known to Mrs. Benson, who readily con 
 sented ; observing, that though she had a very great objection 
 to her children's having birds' nests, yet she could not deny 
 her daughter on the present occasion. Harriet, from an 
 unwillingness to expose her friend, had said but little on the 
 subject ; but Mrs. Benson, having great discernment, con 
 cluded that she made the request from a merciful motive, 
 and knowing that Lucy Jenkins had no kind mother to give 
 her instruction, she thus addressed her : 
 
 " I perceive, my young friend, that Harriet is apprehen 
 sive that the birds will not meet with the same kind treat 
 ment from you, which she is disposed to give them. I can 
 not think you have any cruelty in your nature ; but perhaps 
 you have accustomed yourself to consider birds only as play 
 things, without sense or feeling ; to me, who am a great ad 
 mirer of the beautiful little creatures, they appear in a very 
 different light ; and I have been an attentive observer of them, 
 I assure you. Though they have not the gift of speech, like 
 us, all kinds of birds have particular notes which answer in 
 some measure the purpose of words among them, by means 
 of which they can call to their young ones, express their love 
 for them, their fears for their safety, their anger towards 
 
42 THE ROBINS. 
 
 those that would hurt them, &c. ; from which we iray infer 
 that it is cruel to rob birds of their young, deprive them of 
 their liberty, or exclude them from the blessings suited to 
 their natures ; for which it is impossible for us to give them 
 an equivalent. 
 
 " Besides, these creatures, insignificant as they appear in 
 your estimation, were made by God as well as you. Have 
 you not read in the New Testament, my dear, that our Sa 
 viour said, ' Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain 
 mercy ?' How, then, can you expect that God will send His 
 blessing upon you, if, instead of endeavouring to imitate Him 
 in being merciful to the utmost of your power, you are wan 
 tonly cruel to innocent creatures, which He designed for 
 happiness V 
 
 This admonition from Mrs. Benson, which Lucy Jenkins 
 did not expect, made her look very serious, and brought tears 
 :nto her eyes ; on which the good lady took her by the hand, 
 and kindly said : " I wish not to distress you, my dear, but 
 merely to awaken the natural sentiments of your heart ; re 
 flect at your leisure on what I have said to you, and I am 
 sure you will think me your friend. I knew your dear 
 mother, and can assure you, she was remarkable for the ten 
 derness of her disposition. But let me not detain you from 
 your amusements ; go to your own apartment, Harriet, and 
 use your best endeavours to make your visitors happy. You 
 cannot this evening fetch the birds ; because, when your young 
 friend goes, it will be too late for you to take so long a walk, 
 as you must come back afterwards ; and I make no doubt 
 but that to oblige you she will feed them to-night/' 
 
 Harriet and Lucy now returned to their brother, and 
 found Frederick looking at the pictures in the " History of 
 Prince Lee Boo ;" but Edward Jenkins had laid hold of Har- 
 
THE ROBINS. 43 
 
 net's dog, and was searching his own pocket for a piece of 
 string, that he might tie him and the cat together, to see, as 
 he said, how nicely they would fight ; and so fully was he 
 bent on this cruel purpose, that it was with difficulty he 
 could be prevailed on to relinquish it. 
 
 " Dear me," said he, " if ever I came into such a house 
 in my life ; there is no fun here. What would you say to 
 Harry Pritchard and me, when we hunt cats and set dogs to 
 fight?" 
 
 "For shame, you cruel boy," exclaimed Harriet; "I can 
 not listen to your horrid stories ; nor would I commit one of 
 those barbarities which you boast of for the world. Poor 
 innocent creatures ! what have they done to you to deserve 
 such usage ?" 
 
 " I beg, Edward," said his sister, " that you will find 
 some other way to entertain us, or I shall really tell Mrs. 
 Benson of you." 
 
 " What, are you growing tender-hearted all at once !" 
 cried he. 
 
 " I will tell you what I think when I go home," replied 
 Lucy. As for poor Frederick, he could not restrain his 
 tears ; and Harriet's flowed also at the bare idea of the suf 
 ferings of the poor animals ; but Master Jenkins was so ac 
 customed to be guilty of those things without reflection, that 
 there W'as no making any impression of tenderness upon his 
 mind, and he only laughed at their concern, and wanted to 
 tell about his other cruel sports ; but Harriet and his sister 
 stopped their ears. 
 
 At last little Frederick went crying to his mother, and 
 the young ladies retired to another room ; so that this little 
 monster was left by himself, and obliged to pass the rest of 
 the day neglected and disliked by every body Mrs. Benson 
 
44 THE ROBINS. 
 
 had some visitors, which prevented her talking to this cruel 
 boy, as she otherwise would have done, on hearing Frederick's 
 account of him ; but she determined to tell his father, which 
 she accordingly did some time after, when he returned home. 
 When the servant came in the evening to fetch him and 
 his sister, Harriet earnestly entreated her friend Lucy to feed 
 the birds properly, till she should be allowed to fetch them, 
 who promised to do so ; for she was greatly affected with 
 Mrs. Benson's discourse, and had already resolved never to 
 be guilty again of such want of feeling. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 AFTER her little visitors were departed, Harriet went into the 
 drawing-room, and having leave of her mother, she sat her 
 self down, that she might improve her mind by the conversa 
 tion of the company. Mrs. Benson perceived that she had 
 been in tears, of which Frederick had before explained the 
 cause. " I do not wonder, my love," said she, " that you 
 should have been so affected with the relation of such horrid 
 barbarities as that thoughtless boy has, by degrees, brought 
 himself to practise by way of amusement. However, do not 
 suffer your mind to dwell on them, as the creatures on which 
 he inflicted them are no longer objects of pity. 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 con 
 sequence to our happiness ; and we are taught to think their 
 sufferings end with their lives, as they are not religious be 
 ings ; and therefore the killing them, even in the most bar 
 barous manner, is not like murdering a human creature, who 
 
THE ROBINS. 45 
 
 is, perhaps, unprepared to give an account of himself at the 
 tribunal of Heaven." 
 
 " I have been," said a lady who was present, " for a long 
 time accustomed to consider the lower animals as mere ma 
 chines, taught by the unerring hand of Providence to do those 
 things which are necessary for the preservation of themselves 
 and their offspring ; but the sight of the Learned Pig, which 
 has lately been shewn in London, has deranged these ideas, 
 and I know not what to think." 
 
 This led to a conversation on the instinct of animals. 
 
 As soon as the company was gone, " Pray, mother," said 
 Harriet, " what did the Learned Pig do ? I had a great mind 
 to ask Mrs. Franks, who said she saw it ; but I was fearful 
 she would think me impertinent." 
 
 " I commend your modesty, my dear," replied Mrs. 
 Benson, " but would not have it lead you into such a de 
 gree of restraint as to prevent you satisfying that laudable 
 curiosity, without which young persons must remain igno 
 rant of many things very proper for them to be acquainted 
 with. Mrs. Franks would, I am sure, have been far from 
 thinking you impertinent. Those inquiries only are thought 
 troublesome by which children interrupt conversation, and 
 endeavour to attract attention to their own insignificant 
 prattle ; but all people of good sense and good nature delight 
 in giving them useful information. In respect to the Learned 
 Pig, I have heard things which are quite astonishing in a 
 species of animals generally regarded as very stupid. The 
 creature was shewn for a sight in a room provided for the 
 purpose, where a number of people assembled to view his 
 performances. Two alphabets of large letters on card-paper 
 were placed on the floor ; one of the company was then 
 desired to propose a word which he wished the pig to spell ; 
 
40 THE ROBINS. 
 
 this the keeper repeated to the pig, which picked out every 
 letter successively with his snout, and collected them together 
 till the word was completed. He was then desired to tell 
 the hour of the day, and one of the company held a watch 
 to him . this he seemed with his little cunning eye to ex 
 amine very attentively; and having done so, he picked out 
 figures for the hour and minute of the day. He exhibited a 
 number of other tricks of the same nature, to the great diver 
 sion of the spectators. For my own part, though I was in 
 London at the time he was shewn, and heard continually ol 
 this wonderful pig from persons of my acquaintance, I never 
 went to see him ; for I am fully persuaded that great cruelty 
 must have been used in teaching him things so foreign to his 
 nature, and therefore would not give any encouragement to 
 such a scheme." 
 
 " And do you think," said Harriet, " that the pig knew 
 the letters, and could really spell words ?" 
 
 " I think it possible, my dear, that the pig might be 
 taught to know the letters at sight, one from the other, 
 and that his keeper had some private sign by which he di 
 rected him to each that was wanted; but that he had an 
 idea of spelling, I can never believe ; nor are animals capable 
 of attaining human sciences, because for these, human facul 
 ties are requisite ; and no art of man can change the nature 
 of any thing, though he may be able to improve that nature 
 to a certain degree, or at least to call forth powers which 
 would otherwise be hidden from us. As far as this can be 
 done consistently with our higher obligations, it may be an 
 agreeable amusement, but will never answer any important 
 purpose to mankind ; and I would advise you, Harriet, never 
 to give countenance to those people who shew what they call 
 learned animals, as you may assure yourself they practise 
 
THE ROBINS. 47 
 
 great barbarities upon them, of which starving them almost 
 to death is most likely among the number ; and you may, 
 with the money such a sight would cost you, procure for 
 yourself a rational amusement, or even relieve some wre tehee 
 creature from extreme distress. But, my dear, it is no^- 
 time for you to retire to rest. I will therefore bid you goor 
 night." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 EARLY in the morning the hen redbreast awakened her 
 young brood. " Come, my little ones," said she, " shake off 
 your drowsiness ; remember this is the day fixed for your 
 entrance into the world. I desire that each of you will dress 
 your feathers before you go out ; for a slovenly bird is my 
 aversion, and neatness is a great advantage to the appearance 
 of every one/' 
 
 The father-bird was upon the wing betimes, that he might 
 give each of his young ones a breakfast before they attempted 
 to leave the nest. When he had fed them, he desired his 
 mate to accompany him as usual to Mr. Benson's, where he 
 found the parlour-window open, and his young friends sitting 
 with their mother. Crumbs had been, according to custonv 
 strewed before the window, which the other birds had nearly 
 devoured j but the redbreasts took their usual post on tht 
 tea-table, and the father-bird sung his morning lay; aftei 
 which they returned with all possible speed to the nest, for, 
 having so important an affair to manage, they could not be 
 long absent. Neither could their young benefactors pay so 
 much attention to them as usual, for they were impatient to 
 fetch the birds from Miss Jenkins's ; therefore, as soon as 
 
48 THE ROBINS. 
 
 breakfast was ended, they set out upon their expedition, 
 Harriet carried a basket large enough to hold two nests, and 
 Frederick a smaller one for the other. Thus equipped, with 
 a servant attending them, they set off. 
 
 Mr. Jenkin's house was about a mile from Mr. Benson's ; 
 it was delightfully situated ; there was a beautiful lawn and 
 canal before it, and a charming garden behind ; on one side 
 were corn-fields, and on the other a wood. In such a retreat 
 as this, it was natural to expect to find a great many birds ; 
 but, to Harriet's surprise, they saw only a few straggling 
 ones here and there, which flew away the moment she and 
 her brother appeared. On this Harriet observed to Frede 
 rick, that she supposed Edward Jenkins' practice of taking 
 birds' nests had made all the birds so timid. She said a great 
 deal to him about the cruelties that naughty boy had boasted 
 of the evening before, which Frederick promised to remember. 
 
 As soon as they arrived at the house, Lucy Jenkins ran 
 out to receive them ; but her brother was gone to school. 
 " We are come, my dear Lucy," said Harriet, " to fetch the 
 birds you promised us." 
 
 " Oh, I know not what to say to you, my dear," said 
 Lucy Jenkins. " I have very bad news to tell you, and I fear 
 you will blame me exceedingly, though not more than I blame 
 myself. I heartily wish I had returned home immediately 
 after the lecture your kind mother favoured me with yester 
 day, which shewed me the cruelty of my behaviour, though 
 I was then ashamed to own it. 
 
 " I walked as fast as I could all the way from your house, 
 and determined to give each of the little creatures a good 
 supper ; for which purpose I had an egg boiled, and nicely 
 chopped. I mixed up some bread and water very smooth, 
 and put a little seed with the chopped egg amongst it, and 
 
THE ROBINS. 49 
 
 then carried it to the room where I left the nests. But what 
 was my concern when I found that my care was too late for 
 the greatest part of them; every sparrow lay dead and bluody, 
 they seemed to have killed each other. 
 
 " In the nest of linnets, which were very young, I foucd 
 one dead, two just expiring, and the other almost exhausted 
 but still able to swallow. To him, therefore, I immediately 
 gave some of the food I had prepared, which greatly revived 
 him ; and, as I thought he would suffer with cold in the nest 
 by himself, I covered him over with wool, and had this morn 
 ing the pleasure of finding him quite recovered." 
 
 " What, all the sparrows and three linnets dead ?" said 
 Frederick, whose little eyes swam with tears at the melancholy 
 tale ; " and, pray, have you starved all the blackbirds too?" 
 
 " Not all, my little friend," answered Lucy Jenkins ; " but 
 I confess that some of them have fallen victims to my neglect. 
 However, there are two fine ones alive, which I shall, with 
 the surviving linnet, cheerfully resign to the care of my dear 
 Harriet, whose tenderness will, I hope, be rewarded by the 
 pleasure of hearing them sing when they are old enough. But 
 I beg you will stay and rest yourselves after your walk." 
 
 " Let me see the birds first," said Frederick. 
 
 " That you shall do," answered Lucy ; and taking him 
 by the hand, she conducted him to the room in which she 
 kept them, accompanied by Harriet. Lucy then fed the birds, 
 and gave particular instructions for making their food, and 
 declared that she would never be a receiver of birds' nests 
 any more ; but expressed her fear that it would be difficult 
 to wean Edward from his propensity for taking them. 
 
 She then took her young friends into the parlour to her 
 governess (for her mother was dead), who received them very 
 kindly, and gave each of them a piece of cake and some fruit ; 
 
50 THE ROBINS. 
 
 after which, Lucy led them again into the room where the 
 birds were, and very carefully put the nest with the poor 
 solitary linnet into one basket, and that with the two black- 
 oirds into the other. Frederick was very urgent to carry the 
 *atter, which his sister consented to ; and then bidding adieu 
 to their friend, they set off on their way home, attended by 
 the maid as before. 
 
 Let us now return to the Redbreasts, whom we left on 
 the wing flying back to the ivy wall, in order to take their 
 young ones abroad. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 As the father entered the nest, he cried out with a cheerful 
 voice, " Well, my nestlings, are you all ready?" " Yes," 
 they replied. The mother then advanced, and desired that 
 each of them would get upon the edge of the nest. Robin 
 and Pecksy sprang up in an instant ; but Dicky and Flapsy 
 being timorous, were not so expeditious. 
 
 The hearts of the parents felt great delight at the view 
 they now had of their young family, which appeared to be 
 strong, vigorous, and lively; and, in a word, endued with 
 every gift of nature requisite to their success in the world. 
 
 " Now," said the father, " stretch your wings, Robin, 
 and flutter them a little, in this manner (shewing him the 
 way) ; and be sure to observe my directions exactly. Very 
 well," said he, " do not attempt to fly yet, for here is neither 
 air nor space enough for that purpose. Walk gently after me 
 to the wall ; then follow me to the tree that stands close to 
 it, and hop on from branch to branch, as you will see me sh j 
 then rest yourself; and as scon as you see me fly away, sr~"utf 
 your wings, and exert all the strength you have to follow ma.' 
 
THE ROBINS. 5] 
 
 Robin acquitted himself to admiration, and alighted very 
 safely on the ground. 
 
 " Now stand still," said the father, " till the rest join 
 us/' Then, going back, he called upon Dicky to do the same 
 as his brother had done ; but Dicky was very fearful of flut 
 tering his wings, for he was a little coward, and expressed 
 many apprehensions that he should not reach the ground 
 without falling, as they were such a great height from it. 
 His father, who was a very courageous bird, was quit* angry 
 with him. 
 
 " Why, you foolish little thing," said he, " do you ifio^n 
 to stay in the nest by yourself and starve ? I shall leave off 
 bringing you food, I assure you. Do you think your wings 
 were given you to be always folded by your sides, and that 
 the whole employment of your life is to dress your feathers 
 and make yourself look pretty ? Without exercise you cannot 
 long enjoy health ; besides, you will soon have your liveli 
 hood to earn, and therefore idleness would in you be the 
 height of folly. Get up this instant." 
 
 Dicky, intimidated by his father's displeasure, got up, and 
 advanced as far as the branch from which he was to descend ; 
 but here his fears returned, and, instead of making an effort 
 to fly, he stood flapping his wings in a most irresolute man 
 ner, and suffered his father to lead the way twice without 
 following him. This good parent, finding he would not ven 
 ture to fly, took a circuit unperceived by Dicky ; and watch 
 ing the opportunity, when his wings were a little spread, came 
 suddenly behind him and pushed him off the branch. Dicky, 
 finding himself in actual danger of falling, now gladly stretched 
 his pinions, and, upborne by the air, he gently descended to 
 the ground so near the spot where Robin stood, that the latter 
 easily reached him by hopping. 
 
52 THE ROBINb. 
 
 The mother now undertook to conduct Flapsy and Pecksy, 
 whilst the father stayed to take care of the two already landed. 
 Flapsy made a thousand difficulties, but at length yielded 
 to her mother's persuasions, and flew safely down. Pecksy, 
 "without the least hesitation, accompanied her, and, by exactly 
 following the directions given, found the task much easier 
 than she expected. 
 
 As soon as they had a little recovered from the fatigue and 
 fright of their first essay at flying, they began to look around 
 them with astonishment. Every object on which they turned 
 their eyes excited their curiosity and wonder. They were no 
 longer confined to a little nest, built in a small hole, but were 
 now at full liberty in the open air. The orchard itself ap 
 peared to them a world. For some time each remained silent, 
 gazing around, first at one thing, then at another ; at length 
 Flapsy cried out, " What a charming place the world is ! I 
 never thought it was half so big !" 
 
 " And do you suppose, then, my dear," replied the mother, 
 " that you now behold the whole of the world ? I have seen 
 but a small part of it myself, and yet have flown over so large 
 a space, that what is at present within our view appears to 
 ;ne a little inconsiderable spot ; and I have conversed with 
 several foreign birds, who informed me that the countries they 
 came from were so distant, they were many days on their 
 journey hither, though they flew the nearest way, and scarcely 
 allowed themselves any resting time." 
 
 " Come," said the father, " let us proceed to business ; 
 we did not leave the nest merely to look about us. You are 
 now, my young ones, safely landed on the ground ; let me 
 instruct you what you are to do on it. Every living creature 
 that conies into the world has something allotted him to per 
 form ; therefore he should not stand an idle spectator of what 
 
THE ROBINS. 53 
 
 others are doing. We small birds have a very easy task, in 
 comparison of many animals I have had an opportunity of 
 observing, being only required to seek food for ourselves, 
 build nests, and provide for our young ones till they are able 
 to procure their own livelihood. 
 
 " We have, indeed, enemies to dread ; hawks and other 
 birds of prey will catch us up, if we are not upon our guard ; 
 but the worst foes we have are those of the human race, 
 though even among them we redbreasts have a better chanc 
 than many other birds, on account of a charitable actio 
 which two of our species are said to have performed towards 
 a little boy and girl who were lost in a wood, where they 
 were starved to death. The redbreasts I mean saw the af 
 fectionate pair, hand in hand, stretched on the cold ground, 
 and would have fed them, had they been capable of receiving 
 nourishment ; but finding the poor babes quite dead, and 
 being unable to bury them, they resolved to cover them with 
 leaves. This was an arduous task, but many a redbreast 
 has since shared the reward of it ; and I believe that those 
 who do good to others, always meet with a recompense some 
 way or other. But I declare I am doing the very thing I was 
 reproving you for, chattering away, when I should be mind 
 ing business. Come, hop after me, and we shall soon find 
 something worth having. Fear nothing, for you are now in a 
 place of security ; there is no hawk near, and I have never seen 
 any of the human race enter this orchard but the monsters who 
 paid you visits in the nest, and others equally inoffensive." 
 
 The father then hopped away, followed by Robin and 
 Dicky, while his mate conducted the female part of the 
 family. The parents instructed their young ones in what 
 manner to seek for food, and they proved very successful, for 
 there were many insects just at hand, 
 
54 THE ROBINS. 
 
 Whilst all the business we have just described waa 
 going on in the redbreast family, Harriet was walking home 
 with the poor birds in the baskets. " Well, Frederick," said 
 she to him, " what think you of bird- nesting now ? Should 
 you like to occasion the deaths of a number of little harmless 
 creatures?" "No, indeed," said Frederick, "and I think 
 Lucy a very naughty girl for starving them." 
 
 " She was to blame, but is now sorry for her fault, my 
 dear, therefore you must not speak unkindly of her ; besides, 
 you know she has no kind mother, as we have, to teach her 
 what is proper ; and her father is obliged to be absent from 
 home very often, and leave her to the care of a governess, 
 who perhaps was never instructed herself to be tender to 
 animals." 
 
 With this kind of conversation they amused themselves as 
 they walked, every now and then peeping into their baskets 
 to see their little birds, which were very lively and well. 
 They entreated the maid to take them through the orchard, 
 tvhich had a gate that opened into a meadow that lay in their 
 way, having no doubt of obtaining admittance, as it was the 
 usual hour for their friend Joe to work there. They accord 
 ingly knocked at the gate, which was immediately opened to 
 them, and Frederick requested Joe to shew him the robins' 
 nest. 
 
 Just at this time the young robins were collected together 
 near the gate, when they were suddenly alarmed with a re 
 petition of the same noises which had formerly terrified them 
 m the nest ; and Robin, w r ho was foremost, beheld, to his 
 very great amazement, Master and Miss Benson, the maid 
 who attended them, with Joe the gardener, who, having 
 opened the gate, was, at the request of his young master and 
 mistress, conducting them to the ivy wall. 
 
THE ROBINS, 55 
 
 Robin, with all his courage, and indeed he vras not de 
 ficient in this quality, was seized with a great tremor ; for if 
 the view he had of the faces of these persons had appeared so 
 dreadful to him when he sat in the nest, what must it now 
 be, to behold their full size, and see them advancing with, as 
 he thought, gigantic strides towards him ? He expected no 
 thing less than to be crushed to death by the foot of one of 
 them ; and not having yet attained his full strength, and never 
 having raised himself in the air, he knew not how to escape; 
 therefore chirped so loudly as not only to surprise his bro 
 ther and sisters, and bring his father and mother to inquire 
 the meaning of his cry, but also to attract the attention of 
 Frederick and Harriet. 
 
 "What chirping is that?" cried the latter. "It was,' 
 said the maid, " the cry of a young bird ; was it not one of 
 those in the baskets ?" " No," said Frederick, " the noise 
 came that way/' pointing to some currant-bushes ; " my 
 birds are very well." " And so is my linnet," replied Harriet. 
 Frederick then set down his charge very carefully, and began 
 looking about in the place from whence he supposed the 
 bound proceeded, when, to his great joy, he soon discovered 
 the redbreasts and their little family. He called eagerly to 
 his sister, who was equally pleased with the sight. They 
 then stooped down to take a nearer view of them, by which 
 means he directly fronted Robin, who, as soon as the young 
 gentleman's face was on a level with his eyes, recollected 
 him, and calling to his brother and sisters, told them they 
 need not be afraid. 
 
 Miss Benson followed her brother's example, and delighted 
 the little (lock with the sight of her benign countenance. She 
 heartily lamented having nothing with which to regale her old 
 favourites and their family, when Frederick produced from 
 
56 THE ROBINS. 
 
 his pocket a piece of biscuit, which they crumbled and scat 
 tered. Miss Benson, recollecting that her mother would ex 
 pect her at home, and that the birds in the basket would be 
 hungry, persuaded her brother to take up his little load and 
 return ; they therefore left the redbreasts enjoying the fruits 
 of their bounty. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 WHEN the happy birds had shared amongst them the kind 
 present of their young benefactors, they hopped about in 
 search of some moister food. Dicky had the good fortune to 
 find four little worms together, but instead of calling his 
 brother and sisters to partake of them, he devoured them all 
 himself. 
 
 " Are you not ashamed, you little greedy creature?" 
 cried his father, who observed his selfish disposition ; " what 
 would you think of your brother and sisters were they to 
 serve you so ? In a family, every individual ought to consult 
 the welfare of the whole, instead of his own private gratifi 
 cation. It is his own truest interest to do so. A day may 
 come when he who has now sufficient to supply the wants of 
 his relations may stand in need of assistance from them. But 
 setting aside selfish considerations, which are the last that 
 ever find place in a generous breast, how great is the pleasure 
 of doing good and contributing to the happiness of others!" 
 
 Dicky was quite confounded, and immediately hopped 
 away to find, if possible, something for his brother and sis 
 ters, that he might regain their good opinion. 
 
 In the mean while Robin found a caterpillar, which he 
 intended to take for Pecksy ; but just as he was going to pick 
 
THE ROBINS. 57 
 
 it up, a linnet, which had a nest in the orchard, snatched it 
 from him, and flew away with it. 
 
 With the most furious rage, Robin advanced to his father, 
 and entreated that he would fly after the linnet and tear his 
 heart out. " That would be taking violent revenge indeed," 
 said his father. " No, Robin, the linnet has as great a right 
 to the caterpillar as you or I ; and, in all probability, he has 
 as many little gaping mouths at home ready to receive it. 
 He was very wrong, indeed, to seize upon what was the pro 
 perty of another ; but however this may be, I had, for my 
 own part, rather sustain an injury than take revenge. You 
 must expect to have many a scramble of this kind in your 
 life ; but if you give way to a resentful temper, you will do 
 yourself more harm than all the enemies in the world can do 
 you ; for you will be in perpetual agitation, from an idea that 
 every one who does not act exactly as you wish, has a design 
 against you. Therefore restrain your anger, that you may 
 be happy ; for, believe me, peace and tranquillity are the most 
 valuable things you can possess." 
 
 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 tri 
 bute of gratitude which I have ever been able to offer you. 
 Plow have I formerly longed to ease those toils which you 
 and my dear father endured for our sakes ; and gladly would 
 7 now release you from farther 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 
 'lo procure food for the family." The eyes of the mother 
 sparkled with delight ; and knowing that Pecksy 's love would 
 be disappointed by a refusal, she ate the spider which the 
 dutiful nestling had so affectionately brought her ; and then 
 
58 THE ROBINS. 
 
 said, " How happy would families be if every one, like you, 
 my dear Pecksy, consulted the welfare of the rest, instead of 
 turning their whole attention to their own interest." 
 
 Dicky was not present at this speech, which he might 
 have considered as a reflection on his own conduct ; but he 
 arrived as it was ended, and presented Pecksy with a worm, 
 like those he had himself so greedily eaten. She received it 
 with thanks, and declared it was doubly welcome from his 
 beak. 
 
 " Certainly," said the mother, " fraternal love stamps a value 
 on the most trifling presents." Dicky felt himself happy in 
 having regained the good opinion of his mother and obliged 
 his sister, and resolved to be generous for the future. The 
 mother-bird now reminded her mate that it would be proper 
 to think of returning to the nest. " If the little ones fatigue 
 themselves too much with hopping about/' said she, " their 
 strength will be exhausted, and they will not be able to fly 
 back." 
 
 " True, my love," replied her mate; " gather them under 
 your wings a little, as there is no reason to apprehend danger 
 here, and then we will see what they can do." She complied 
 with his desire, and when they were sufficiently rested, she 
 got up, on which the whole brood instantly raised themselves 
 on their feet. 
 
 "Now, Robin," cried the father, "let us see your dex 
 terity in flying upwards ; come, I will shew you how to raise 
 yourself." 
 
 " Oh, you need not take that trouble," said the conceited 
 bird; "as I flew down, I warrant I know how to fly up." 
 Then spreading his wings, he attempted to rise, but in so un 
 skilful a manner, that he only shuffled along upon the ground. 
 
 " That will not do, however," cried the father; " shall I 
 
THE ROBINS. 59 
 
 shew you now :" Robin persisted in it that he stood in no 
 need of instruction, and tried again ; he managed to raise 
 himself a little way, but soon tumbled headlong. His mother 
 then began reproving him for his obstinacy, and advised him 
 to accept his father's kind offer of teaching him. 
 
 "You may depend on it, Robin," she said, "that he is 
 in every respect wiser than you ; and as he has had so much 
 practice, he must of course be expert in the art of flying ; and 
 if you persist in making your foolish experiments, you will 
 only commit a number of errors, and make yourself ridicul 
 ous ; I should commend your courage, provided you would 
 add prudence to it ; but blundering on in this ignorant man 
 ner is only rashness." 
 
 "Let him alone, let him alone," said t}ie father; "if he 
 is above being taught, he may find his own way to the nest ; 
 I will teach his brother. Come," said he, " Dicky, let us see 
 what you can do at flying upwards ; you cut a noble figure 
 this morning when you flew down." 
 
 Dicky, with reluctance, advanced ; he said he did not see 
 what occasion they had to go back to the nest at all ; he should 
 suppose they might easily find some snug corner to creep 
 into, till they were strong enough to roost in trees, as other 
 birds did. 
 
 " Why, you," said the father, " are as ridiculous with your 
 timidity as Robin with his self-conceit. Those who give way 
 to groundless fears, generally expose themselves to real dan 
 gers ; if you rest on the earth all night, you will suffer a great 
 deal from cold and damp, and may very likely be devoured, 
 whilst you sleep, by rats and other creatures that go out in 
 the night to seek for food ; whereas, if you determine to go 
 back to the nest, you have but one effort to make, for which, 
 I will venture to say, you have sufficient strength, and then 
 
CO THE ROBINS. 
 
 you will lie warm, safe, and quiet; however, do as you 
 will." 
 
 Dicky began to think that it was his interest to obey his 
 father, and said he would endeavour to fly up, but was still 
 fearful he should not be able to do it. 
 
 " Never despair," replied his father," of doing what others 
 have done before you. Turn your eyes upwards, and behold 
 what numbers of birds are at this instant soaring in the air. 
 They were once all nestlings like yourself. See there that 
 new-fledged wren, with what courage he skims along ; let it 
 not be said that a redbreast lies grovelling on the earth while 
 a wren soars above him !" 
 
 Dicky was now ashamed of himself, and inspired with 
 emulation ; therefore, without delay, he spread his wings 
 and his tail ; his father with pleasure placed himself in a 
 proper attitude before him, then rising from the ground, led 
 the way ; and Dicky, by carefully following his example, 
 safely arrived at the nest, which he found a most comfortable 
 resting-place after the fatigue of the morning, and rejoiced 
 that he had a good father to teach him what was most con 
 ducive to his welfare. 
 
 The father having seen him safe home, returned to his 
 mate, who during his short absence had been endeavouring 
 to convince Robin of his fault, but to no purpose ; he did not 
 like to be taught what he still persuaded himself he could do 
 by his own exertions ; she therefore applied herself to Flapsy. 
 
 " Come, my dear," said she, " get ready to follow me 
 when your father returns ; for the sun casts a great heat here, 
 and the nest will be quite comfortable to you." Flapsy 
 dreaded the experiment ; however, as she could not but blame 
 both Robin's and Dicky's conduct, she resolved to do her 
 best ; but entreated her mother to inform her very particu- 
 
THE ROBINS. 61 
 
 larly how to proceed. " Well, then," said the tender parent> 
 " observe me. First, bend your legs, then spring from the 
 ground as quick as you can, stretching your wings as you rise 
 straight out on each side of your body; shake them with a quick 
 motion, as you will see me do, and the air will yield to you, 
 and at the same time support your weight ; whichever way 
 you want to turn, strike the air with the wing on the contrary 
 side, and that will bring you about. " She then rose from 
 the ground, and having practised two or three times repeatedly 
 what she had been teaching, Flapsy at length ventured to 
 follow her, but with a beating heart ; and was soon happily 
 seated in the nest by the side of Dicky, who rejoiced that his 
 favourite sister was safely arrived. 
 
 The mother-bird now went back to Pecksy, who was 
 waiting with her father till she returned ; for the good parent 
 chose to leave the female part of his family to the particular 
 management of their mother. 
 
 Pecksy was fully prepared for her flight, for she had at 
 tentively observed the instruction given to the others, and 
 also their errors ; she therefore kept the happy medium 
 betwixt self-conceit and timidity, indulging that moderated 
 emulation which ought to possess every young heart ; and 
 resolving that neither her inferiors nor equals should soar 
 above her, she sprang from the ground, and with a steadiness 
 and agility wonderful for her first essay, followed her mo 
 ther to the nest, who, instead of stopping to rest herself there, 
 flew to a neighbouring tree, that she might be at hand to 
 assist Robin, should he repent of his folly ; but Robin dis 
 appointed her hopes ; for he sat sulky ; though convinced he 
 had been in the wrong, he would not humble himself to his 
 father, who therefore resolved to leave him a little while, 
 and return to the nest. 
 
62 THE ROBINS. 
 
 As soon as Robin found himself deserted, instead of being 
 sorry, he gave way to anger and resentment. "Why," cried 
 he, " am I to be treated in this manner, who am the eldest 
 of the family, while all the little darlings are fondled and 
 caressed ! But I don't care, I can get to the nest yet, I make 
 no doubt." He then attempted to fly, and after a great many- 
 trials, at length got up in the air, but not knowing which 
 way to direct his course, he sometimes turned to the right 
 and sometimes to the left ; now he advanced forwards a little, 
 and now, fearing he was wrong, came back again ; at length 
 quite spent with fatigue, he fell to the ground, and bruised 
 himself a good deal. Stunned with the fall, he lay for some 
 minutes without sense or motion ; but soon reviving and find 
 ing himself alone in this dismal condition, the horrors of his 
 situation filled him with dreadful apprehensions and the bit 
 terest remorse. 
 
 " Oh," cried he, "that I had but followed the advice and 
 example of my tender parents ! then had I been safe in the 
 nest, blest with their kind caresses, and enjoying the com 
 pany of my dear brother and sisters ; but now I am of all 
 birds the most wretched; never shall I be able to fly, for 
 every joint of me has received a shock which I fear it will not 
 recover. Where shall I find shelter from the scorching sun, 
 whose piercing rays already render the ground I lie on into 
 lerably hot ! What kind beak will supply me with food to 
 assuage the pangs of hunger which I shall soon feel ! by what 
 means shall I procure even a drop of water to quench that 
 thirst which so frequently returns ! W T ho will protect me 
 from the various tribes of barbarous animals which I have 
 been told make a prey of birds ! Oh, my dear, my tender 
 mother, if the sound of my voice can reach your ears, pity 
 my condition, and fly to my succour." 
 
THE ROBINS. 63 
 
 The kind parent waited not for farther solicitation, but 
 darting from the branch on which she had been a painful 
 eye-witness of Robin's fall, she instantly stood before him. 
 
 " I have listened," said she, " to your lamentations ; and 
 since you seem convinced of your error, I will not add to 
 your sufferings by my reproaches ; my heart relents towards 
 you, and gladly would I afford you all the aid in my power ; 
 but alas, I can do but little for your relief; however, let me 
 persuade you to exert all the strength you have, and use 
 every effort for your own preservation. I will endeavour to 
 procure you some refreshment, and, at the same time, con 
 trive means of fixing you in a place of more security and 
 comfort than that in which you at present lie." So saying, 
 she flew to a little stream which flowed in an adjacent mea 
 dow, and fetched, from the brink of it, a worm which she had 
 observed as she perched on the tree ; with this she immedi 
 ately returned to the penitent Robin, who received the wel 
 come gift with gratitude. 
 
 Refreshed with this delicious morsel, and comforted by 
 his mother's kindness, he was able to stand up, and, on 
 shaking his wings, he found that he was not so greatly hurt 
 as he apprehended ; his head, indeed, was bruised, so that 
 one eye was almost closed, and he had injured the joint of 
 one wing, so that he could not possibly fly; however, he 
 could manage to hop, and the parent bird observing that Joe 
 the gardener was cutting a hawthorn-hedge, which was near 
 the spot, desired Robin to follow her ; this he did, though 
 with great pain. " Now," said she, "look carefully about, 
 and you will soon find insects of one kind or another, for 
 your sustenance during the remainder of the day, and before 
 evening I will return to you again. Summon all your cou 
 rage, for I make no doubt you will be safe while your friend 
 
64 THE ROBINS. 
 
 continues his work, as none of those creatures which are 
 enemies to birds will venture to come near him." Robin 
 took a sorrowful farewell, and the mother flew to the nest. 
 
 " You have been absent a long time, my love," said her 
 mate, " but I perceived you were indulging your tenderness 
 towards that disobedient nestling, who has rendered himself 
 unworthy of it ; however, I do not condemn you for giving 
 him assistance ; for had not you undertaken the task, I would 
 myself have flown to him instead of returning home. How 
 is he ? likely to live and reward your kindness ?" " Yes/' 
 said she, "he will, I flatter myself, soon perfectly recover, 
 for his hurt is not very considerable ; and I have the pleasure 
 to tell you, he is extremely sensible of his late folly, and I 
 dare say will endeavour to repair his fault with future good 
 behaviour." " This is pleasing news indeed," said he. 
 
 The little nestlings, delighted to hear their dear brother 
 was safe and convinced of his error, expressed great joy and 
 satisfaction, and entreated their father to let them descend 
 again and keep him company. To this he would by no 
 means consent, because, as he told them, the fatigue would 
 be too great; and it was proper that Robin should feel a little 
 longer the consequences of his presumption. "To-morrow," 
 said he, "you shall pay him a visit, but to-day he shall be 
 by himself." On this, they dropped their request, knowing 
 that their parent was the best judge of what was proper to 
 be done ; and not doubting but that his affection would lead 
 him to do every thing that was conducive to the real happi 
 ness of his family; but yet they could not tell how to be happy 
 without Robin, and were continually perking up their little 
 heads, fancying they heard his cries. Both their father and 
 mother frequently took a peep at him, and had the satisfac 
 tion of seeing him very safe by their friend Joe the gardener 
 
THE ROBINS. 65 
 
 though the honest fellow did not know of his own guardian 
 ship, and continued his work without perceiving the little 
 cripple, who hopped and shuffled about, pecking, here and 
 there, whatever he could meet with. 
 
 When he had been for some time by himself, his mother 
 made him another visit, and told him she had interceded 
 with his father, whose anger was abated, and he would come 
 to him before he went to rest. Robin rejoiced to hear that 
 there was a chance of his being reconciled to his father, yet 
 he dreaded the first interview : however, as it must be, he 
 wished to have it over as soon as possible ; and every wing 
 he heard beat the air he fancied to be that of his offended 
 parent. In this state of anxious expectation, he continued 
 almost to the time of sun- setting, when, of a sudden, he 
 heard the well-known voice to which he used to listen with 
 joy, but which now caused his whole frame to tremble ; but 
 observing a kindness in that eye, in which he looked for anger 
 and reproach, he cast himself, in the most supplicating man 
 ner, at the feet of his father, who could no longer resist the 
 desire he felt to receive him into favour. 
 
 " Your present humility, Robin," said he, " disarms my 
 resentment ; I gladly pronounce your pardon, and am per 
 suaded you will never again incur my displeasure ; we will 
 therefore say no more on a subject which gives so much pain 
 to us." 
 
 " Yes, my dear indulgent father," cried Robin, " permit 
 me to make my grateful acknowledgments for your kind 
 ness, and to assure you of my future obedience." The de 
 lighted parent accepted his submission, and the reconciliation 
 was completed. 
 
 By this time Robin was greatly exhausted; his kind 
 father, therefore, conducted him to a pump in the garden, 
 
 F 
 
66 THE ROBINP,. 
 
 where he refreshed himself with a few drops of water. He 
 now felt himself greatly relieved ; but on his father's asking 
 him what he intended to do with himself at night, his spirits 
 sunk again, and he answered he did not know. " Well," 
 said the father, " I have thought of an expedient to secure 
 you from cold at least. In a part of the orchard, a very little 
 way from hence, there is a place belonging to our friend the 
 gardener, where I have sheltered myself from several storms, 
 and am sure it will afford you a comfortable lodging; so 
 follow me before it is too late/' The old bird then led the 
 way, and his son followed him ; when they arrived, they 
 found the door of the tool-house open, and as the threshold 
 was low, Robin managed to get over it. His father looked 
 carefully about, and at last found } in a corner, a parcel of 
 shreds, kept for the purpose of nailing up trees. " Here, 
 Robin/' said he, " is a charming bed for you ; let me see you 
 in it, and call your mother to have a peep, and then I must 
 bid you good night." So saying, away he flew, and brought 
 his mate, who was perfectly satisfied with the lodging pro 
 vided for her late undutiful but now repentant son ; but, re 
 minded by her mate that if they stayed longer they might be 
 shut in, they took leave, telling Robin they would visit him 
 early in the morning. 
 
 Though this habitation was much better than Robin ex 
 pected, and, he was ready enough to own, better than he 
 deserved, yet he deeply regretted his absence from the nest, 
 and longed to see again his brother and sisters ; however, 
 though part of the night was spent in bitter reflections, 
 fatigue at length got the better of his anxiety, and he fell 
 asleep. 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. 
 
THE ROBINS. 67 
 
 Before the sun shewed 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. 
 
 " You will be able to descend with more ease, my dears, 
 to-day than you did yesterday, shall you not?" U O yes, 
 mother/' said Dicky ; " I shall not be at all afraid." "Nor 
 I," said Flapsy. " Say you so ? then let us see which of 
 you will be down first," said she. " Come, I will shew you 
 the way." 
 
 On this, with gradual flight, the mother bent her course 
 to a spot near the place where Robin lay concealed ; they all 
 instantly followed her, and surprised their father, who, hav 
 ing seen Joe, was every instant expecting he would open the 
 door ; at length, to the joy of the whole party, the gardener 
 appeared, and they soon saw him fetch his shears, and leave 
 the tool-house open ; on this, the mother proposed that they 
 should all go together and call Robin. There they found 
 him in his snug little bed ; but who can describe the happy 
 meeting, who can find words to express the joy which filled 
 every little bosom ! 
 
 When the first transports were over, " I think," said the 
 father, " it will be best to retire from hence ; if our friend 
 returns, he may take us for a set of thieves, and suppose that 
 we came to eat his seeds, and I should be sorry he had an 
 ill opinion of us." " Well, I am ready," said his mate : 
 " And we," cried the whole brood ; they accordingly left 
 the tool-house, and hopped about the currant-bushes. " I 
 think," said the father, " that you who have the full use or 
 your limbs could manage to get up these low trees, but Robin 
 must content himself upon the ground a little longer." This 
 was very mortifying, but he had no one to blame except him- 
 
68 THE ROBINS. 
 
 self; so he forbore to complain, and assumed as much cheer 
 fulness as he could. His brother and sisters begged they 
 might stay with him all day, as they could do very well with 
 out going up to the nest ; to this the parents consented. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IT is now time to inquire after Frederick and Harriet Ben 
 son. These happy children reached home soon after they left 
 the redbreasts, and related every circumstance of their expe 
 dition to their kind mother, who, hearing the little prisoners 
 in the basket chirp very loudly, desired they would imme 
 diately go and feed them, which they gladly did ; and then 
 took a short lesson. Mrs. Benson told Harriet, that she 
 was going to make a visit in the afternoon, and should take 
 her with her ; therefore desired she would keep herself quite 
 still, that she might not be fatigued after the walk she had had 
 in the morning ; for though she meant to go in the coach, 
 it was her intention to walk home, as the weather was so 
 remarkably fine. The young lady took great care of the 
 birds ; and Frederick engaged, with the assistance of the 
 maid, to feed them during her absence. Harriet then put by 
 her bocks carefully, and prepared to attend her mother. 
 
 After Mrs. Benson and her daughter had paid their visit, 
 they were returning home on foot, when their attention was 
 soon awakened by the supplication of a poor woman, who 
 entreated them to give her some relief, as she had a sick 
 husband and seven children in a starving condition; of 
 which, she said, they might be eye-witnesses, if they would 
 have the goodness to step into a barn that was very near. 
 
 Mrs. Benson, who was always ready to relieve the dis- 
 
THE ROBINS. 69 
 
 tressed, taking her daughter by the hand, and desiring the 
 servant to stop for her, followed the woman, who conducted 
 her to a wretched cabin, where she beheld a father, sur 
 rounded by his helpless family, whom he could no longer 
 maintain ; and who, though his disease was nearly cured, 
 was himself almost ready to die for want of good nourish 
 ing diet. 
 
 " How came you all to be in this condition, good woman ?'* 
 said Mrs. Benson to his wife ; " surely you might have ob 
 tained relief before your husband was reduced to such extre 
 mity ?" 
 
 "Oh, my good lady," said the woman, "we have not 
 been used to beg, but to earn an honest livelihood by our 
 industry ; and never, till this sad day, have I known what it 
 was to ask charity. This morning, for the first time, I went 
 to the road-side, and asked charity from those passing ; but 
 some disbelieved my story, and others gave me so little that 
 I felt myself quite discouraged ; I even determined that I 
 never would ask again ; but the sight of my dear husband 
 and children in this condition drove me to do it." 
 
 " Well, comfort yourself," said Mrs. Benson ; " we will 
 see what we can do ; in the mean time, here is something for 
 a present supply/' Mrs. Benson then departed, as she was 
 fearful of walking late. 
 
 "I rejoice, sincerely," said Mrs. Benson, as they were 
 walking home, " at having been fortunate er ough to come in 
 time to assist this poor miserable family, and hope, my love, 
 you will, out of your own little purse, contribute something 
 towards their relief." " Most willingly/* said Harriet ; " they 
 shall be welcome to my whole store." 
 
 They kept talking on this subject till they arrived at 
 home. Little Frederick, who sat up an hour beyond his 
 
70 THE ROBINS. 
 
 time, came out to meet them, and assured his sister that the 
 birds were well and fast asleep. " I think," said she, " it is 
 time for you and me to follow their example ; for my part, 
 with my morning and evening's walk together, I am really 
 tired, so I wish you a good night, my dear mother.'' " Good 
 night, my love/' said Mrs. Benson ; " I am rather fatigued 
 also, and shall soon retire to rest." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 AT the usual hour of visiting Mrs. Benson's tea-table, the 
 next day, the parent robins took their morning's flight, and 
 found the young gentleman and lady with their mother. 
 They had been up a long time, for Frederick had made in his 
 bed-chamber a lodging for the birds, which had awakened 
 both him and his sister at a very early hour ; and they rose 
 with great readiness to perform the kind office they imposed 
 upon themselves. 
 
 The two blackbirds were perfectly well, but the linnet 
 looked rather drooping, and they began to be apprehensive 
 they should not raise him, especially when they found he 
 was not inclined to eat. As for the blackbirds, they were 
 very hungry ; 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." But she spoke too late ; the little creature closed his 
 eyes, and fell on one side, suffocated with abundance. " Oh, 
 he is dead ! he is dead !'' cried Frederick. " He is, indeed/' 
 
THE ROBINS. 71 
 
 said Harriet ; " but I am sure we did not design to kill him ; 
 and it is some satisfaction to think that we did not take the 
 nest." 
 
 This consideration was not sufficient to comfort Fre 
 derick, who began to cry most bitterly; his mother, hearing 
 him, was apprehensive he had hurt himself, for he seldom 
 cried, unless he was in great pain; she therefore hastily 
 entered the room to inquire what was the matter, on which 
 Harriet related the disaster that had happened. Mrs. Ben 
 son then sat down, and taking Frederick on her lap, wiped 
 his eyes, and giving him a kiss, said, " I am sorry, my love, 
 for your disappointment ; but do not afflict yourself, the poor 
 little thing is out of his pain now, and I fancy suffered but 
 for a short time. If you keep on crying so, you will forget 
 to feed your flock of birds, which I fancy, by the chirping I 
 heard from my window, are beginning to assemble. Come, 
 let me take the object of your distress out of your sight ; it 
 must be buried." Then carrying the dead bird in one hand, 
 and leading Frederick with the other, she went down stairs. 
 
 While she was speaking, Harriet had been watching the 
 other blackbird, which she had soon the pleasure to see per 
 fectly at his ease. 
 
 She then attempted to feed the linnet, but he would not 
 eat. "I fancy, Miss," said the maid, " he wants air." "That 
 may be the case, indeed," replied Miss Benson ; " for you 
 know, Betty, this room, which has been shut up all night, 
 must be much closer than the birds build in." Saying this, 
 she opened the window, and placed the linnet near it, waiting 
 to see the effect of the experiment, which answered her wishes ; 
 and she was delighted to behold how the little creature gra 
 dually smoothed his feathers, and his eyes resumed their 
 native lustre j she once more offered him food, which he took, 
 
72 THE ROBINS. 
 
 and quite recovered. Having done all in her power for her 
 little orphans, she went to share with her brother the task of 
 feeding the daily pensioners ; which being ended, she seated 
 herself at the breakfast-table by her mother. 
 
 " I wonder," said Frederick, who had dried up his tears, 
 " that the robins are not come." " Consider," replied his 
 Bister, " that they have a great deal of business to do now 
 their young ones begin to leave their nest ; they will be here 
 by and by, I make no doubt." An instant after, they entered 
 the room. The sight of them perfectly restored Frederick's 
 cheerfulness ; and after they were departed, he requested that 
 he and Harriet might go again into the orchard, in hopes of 
 seeing the young robins. " That you shall do, Frederick," 
 said she, " upon condition that you continue a very good boy; 
 but as yesterday was rather an idle day, and Harriet has a 
 great deal of business to do, therefore you must wait till even 
 ing, and then, perhaps, t may go with you." 
 
 Frederick was satisfied with this promise, and took great 
 pains to read and spell. He repeated by heart one of Mrs. 
 Barbauld's hymns, and some other little things which he had 
 been taught ; and Miss Benson applied herself to a variety of 
 different lessons with great diligence, and performed her task 
 of work entirely to her mother's satisfaction. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 As soon as the old redbreasts left their little family, in order 
 to go to Mrs. Benson's, Pecksy, with great kindness, began 
 to ask Robin where he had hurt himself, and how he did. 
 " Oh," said he, " I am much better ; but it is a wonder I 
 am now alive, for you cannot think what a dreadful fall I 
 had. With turning about as I did in the air, I became quite 
 
THE ROBINS. 73 
 
 giddy, so could not make the least exertion for saving myself 
 as I was falling, and came with great force to the ground ; 
 you see how my eye is still swelled, and it was much more so 
 at first. My wing is the worst, and still gives me a good deal 
 of pain ; observe how it drags on the ground ; but, as it is 
 not broke, my father says it will soon be well ; and I hope it 
 will be so, for I long to be flying, and shall be glad to receive 
 any instructions for the future. I cannot think how I could 
 be so foolishly conceited as to suppose I knew how to con 
 duct myself without my father's guidance." 
 
 " Young creatures like us/' said Pecksy, " certainly stand 
 in need of instruction, and ought to think ourselves happy in 
 having parents who are willing to take the trouble of teach 
 ing us what is necessary for us to know. I dread the day 
 when I must quit the nest and take care of myself." Flapsy 
 said, she made no doubt they should know how to fly, and 
 peck, and do every thing before that time ; and, for her part, 
 she longed to see the world, and to know how the higher 
 ranks of birds behaved themselves, and what pleasures they 
 enjoyed. And Dicky declared he felt the same wishes, 
 though, he must confess, he had great dread of birds of prey, 
 "Oh," said Flapsy, " they will never seize such a pretty crea 
 ture as you, Dicky, I am sure." " Why, if beauty can pre 
 vail against cruelty, you will be secure, my sweet sister," replied 
 he, " for your delicate shape must plead in your behalf." 
 
 Just as he had finished his speech, a hawk appeared in 
 sight, on which the whole party was seized with a most un 
 common sensation, and threw themselves on their backs, 
 screaming with all their might ; and at the same instant, the 
 cries of numbers of little birds echoed through the orchard. 
 The redbreasts soon recovered, and, rising on their feet, 
 looked about to see what was become of the cause of their 
 
74 THE ROBINS. 
 
 consternation ; when they beheld him high in the air, bear 
 ing off some unhappy victim, a few of whose feathers fell 
 near the young family, who, on examining them, found they 
 belonged to a goldfinch ; on which Pecksy observed, that it 
 was evident these savages paid no attention to personal 
 beauty. Dicky was so terrified he knew not what to do, 
 and had thoughts of flying back to the nest ; but after Robin's 
 misfortune, he was fearful of offending his father ; he there 
 fore got up into a currant-bush, and hid himself in the thick 
 est part of the leaves. Flapsy followed him ; but Robin 
 being obliged to keep on the ground, Pecksy kindly resolved 
 to bear him company. 
 
 In a few minutes their parents returned from Mr. Ben 
 son's, and found the two latter pretty near where they had 
 left them ; but missing the others, the mother, with great 
 anxiety, inquired what was become of them. Robin then 
 related how they had been frightened by a hawk ; and while 
 he was doing so, they returned to him again. 
 
 " I am surprised/' said the father, " that a hawk should 
 have ventured so near the spot where the gardener was at 
 work." Pecksy informed him that they had not seen the 
 gardener since he left them. " Then I dare say he is gone 
 to breakfast," replied the mother; and this was the case, for 
 they at this instant saw him return with his shears in his 
 hand, and soon pursue his work. " Now you will be safe," 
 cried the father ; " I shall therefore stay and teach you to fly 
 in different directions, and then your mother and I will make 
 some little excursions, and leave you to practise by yourselves ; 
 but, first of al*, let me shew you where to get water, for I 
 fear you must be very thirsty." " No," said they, " we have 
 had sever \ wet worms and juicy caterpillars, which have 
 served us voth for food arid drink Robin is very quick at 
 
THE ROBINS. 75 
 
 finding them." ''There is nothing like necessity to teach 
 birds how to live," said his father ; " I am glad Robin's mis 
 fortunes 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. Remem 
 ber, from this instance, as long as you live, that it is better 
 to use means for your own relief than to spend time in fruit 
 less lamentations. But come along, Dicky, Flapsy, and 
 Pecksy, there is water near." He then conducted them to 
 the pump, from whence Joe watered the garden, which was 
 near the tool-house where Robin slept. 
 
 Here they stayed some time, and were greatly amused ; 
 still so near the gardener, that they regarded themselves as 
 under his protection. The parents flew up into a tree, and 
 there the father entertained his beloved mate and family with 
 his cheerful music; and sometimes they made various airy 
 excursions, for examples to their little ones, who all longed 
 to be able to imitate them. In this manner the day passed 
 happily away; and early in the evening, Flapsy, Pecksy, and 
 Dicky, were conducted to the nest. They mounted in the 
 air with much more ease than the preceding day, and the 
 parents instructed them how to fly to the branches of some 
 trees which stood near the ivy- wall. 
 
 In the mean time, they had left Robin by himself, think 
 ing he would be safe while the gardener was mowing somo 
 grass ; but what was the grief of both father and mother 
 when they returned, and could neither see nor hear him ! 
 The gardener, too, was gone ; they therefore apprehended 
 that a cat or rat had taken Robin away and killed him, yet 
 none of his feathers were to be seen. With the most anxious 
 search they explored every recess in which they thought it 
 
70 THE ROBINS. 
 
 possible for him to be, and strained their little voices till they 
 were hoarse with calling him, but all in vain : the tool-house 
 was locked, but had he been there he would have answered ; 
 ut length, quite in despair of finding him, with heavy hearts 
 they returned to the nest ; a general lamentation ensued, and 
 this lately happy abode was now the region of sorrow. The 
 father endeavoured to comfort his mate and surviving nest 
 lings, and so far succeeded, that they resolved to bear the loss 
 with patience. 
 
 After a mournful night, the mother left the nest early in 
 the morning, unwilling to relinquish the hope which still 
 remained of finding Robin again ; but having spent an hour 
 in this manner, she returned to her mate, who was comfort 
 ing his little ones. 
 
 " Come," said he, " let us take a flight; if we sit lament 
 ing here for ever, it will be to no purpose ; the evils which 
 befal us must be borne, and the more quietly we submit to 
 them, the lighter they will be. If poor Robin is dead, he 
 will suffer no more ; and if he is not, so much as we fly 
 about, it is a chance but what we get tidings of him ; sup 
 pose these little ones attempt to fly with us to our bene 
 factors ? If we set out early, and let them rest frequently by 
 the way, I think they may accomplish it." This was very 
 pleasing to every one of the little ones, for they longed to go 
 thither ; and accordingly it was determined that they should 
 immediately set out, and they accomplished the journey by 
 easy stages ; at length they all arrived in the court, just after 
 the daily pensioners were gone. 
 
 "Now," said the father, "stop a little, and let me advise 
 you, Dicky, Flapsy, and Pecksy, to behave yourselves pro 
 perly ; hop only where you see your mother and me hop, 
 and do not meddle with any thing but what is scattered on 
 
THE ROBINS. 77 
 
 purpose." " Stay, father," said Dicky, " my feathers are 
 sadly rumpled." " And so are mine/' said Flapsy. "Well, 
 smooth them, then," said he, *' but don't stand wasting 
 time." Pecksy was ready in an instant, but the others were 
 very tedious ; so their father and mother would wait for them 
 no longer, and flew into the window ; the others directly fol 
 lowed them, and, to the inexpressible satisfaction of Frederick 
 Benson, alighted on the tea-table, where they met with a 
 very unexpected pleasure ; for who should they find there as 
 a guest, but the poor lost Robin ! 
 
 The meeting was, as you may be sure, a happy one for all 
 parties ; and the transports it occasioned may be easier con* 
 ceived than described. The father poured forth a loud song 
 of gratitude ; the mother chirped, she bowed her head, clap 
 ped her wings, basked on the tea-table, joined her beak to 
 Robin's, then touched the hand of Frederick. As for the 
 young ones, they twittered a thousand questions to Robin ; 
 but, as he was unwilling to interrupt his father's song, he 
 desired them to suspend their curiosity to another oppor 
 tunity. But it is now time to satisfy yours, my young 
 readers. I shall therefore inform you in the ensuing chapter, 
 by what means Robin was placed in this happy situation. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 You may remember, my young readers, that Frederick ob 
 tained from his mother a promise, that when the business of 
 daily instruction was finished, he 0.nd his sister should go 
 into the orchard in search of the robins ; as soon, therefore, 
 as the air was sufficiently cool, she took them with her, and 
 arrived just after the parent birds had taken their young ones 
 back to the nest. Robin was then left by himself, and kept 
 
78 THE ROBINS. 
 
 hopping about ; and fearing no danger, got into the middle of 
 the walk. Frederick descried him at a distance, and eagerly 
 called out, "There's one of them I declare ;" and, before Mrs. 
 Benson observed him, he ran to the place, and clapped his little 
 hand over it, exulting that he had caught it. The pressure 
 of his hand hurt Robin's wing, who sent forth piteous cries ; 
 on which Frederick let him go, and said, " I won't hurt you, 
 you little thing." 
 
 Harriet, who saw him catch the bird, ran as fast as pos 
 sible to prevent his detaining it ; and perceived, as Robin 
 hopped away, that he was lame, on which she concluded that 
 her brother had hurt him ; but, on Frederick's assuring her 
 that his wing hung down when he first saw him, Mrs. Ben 
 son said, " It was most likely he was lamed by some accident, 
 which had prevented his going with the others to the nest ; 
 and if that is the case," said she, "it will be humane and 
 charitable to take care of him." 
 
 Frederick was delighted to hear her say sc, and asked 
 whether he might carry it home. " Yes," said his mother, 
 "provided you can take him safely." "Shall I carry him 
 madam?" said Joe; "he can lie nicely in my hat.'' This 
 was an excellent scheme, and all parties approved of it ; so 
 Frederick took some of the soft grass which was mown 
 down, to put at the bottom, and poor Robin was safely de 
 posited in this vehicle, which served him for a litter ; and per 
 ceiving into what hands he was fallen, he inwardly rejoiced, 
 knowing that he had an excellent chance of being provided 
 for, as well as of seeing his dear relations again. I need not 
 say that great care was taken of him ; and you will easily 
 suppose he had a more comfortable night than that he had 
 passed in the shed. 
 
 When Frederick and Harriet arose the next morning, one 
 
THE ROBINS, 79 
 
 of their first cares was to feed the birds, and they had the 
 pleasure to see all their nestlings in a very thriving condition ; 
 both the linnet and the blackbird now hopped out of their 
 nests to be fed, to the great diversion of Frederick. But this 
 pleasure was soon damped by an unlucky accident ; for the 
 blackbird being placed in a window which was open, hopped 
 too rear the edge, and fell to the ground, where he was 
 snapped up by a dog, and torn to pieces in an instant. 
 Frederick began to lament as before ; but on his sister's re 
 minding him that the creature was past the sense of pain, 
 he restrained himself, and turned his attention to the linnet, 
 which he put into a cage, that he might not meet the 
 same fate. He then went to feed the flock, and to inquire 
 after Robin, whom Mrs. Benson had taken into her own 
 room lest Frederick should handle and hurt him ; to his great 
 joy he found him much better, for he could begin to use his 
 injured wing. Frederick was therefore trusted to carry him 
 into the breakfast parlour, where he placed him as has been 
 already described. 
 
 For some time the young redbreasts behaved very well ; 
 but at length Dicky, familiarised by the kind treatment he 
 met with, forgot his father's injunctions, and began to hop 
 about in a very rude manner ; he even jumped into the plate of 
 bread and butter ; and having a mind to taste the tea, hopped 
 on the tdge of a cup ; but, dipping his foot in the hot liquid, he 
 was glad to make a hasty retreat. Flapsy took the freedom 
 of pecking at the sugar, but found it too hard for her beak. 
 For these liberties their mother reproved them, saying, she 
 would never bring them with her again, if they were guilty 
 of such rudeness as to take what was not offered to them. 
 
 As their longer stay would have broke in on a plan 
 which Mrs. Benson had concerted, she rang her bell, and the 
 
80 THE ROBINS. 
 
 footman came to remove the breakfast things ; on which the 
 old birds, having taken leave of Robin, and promised to come 
 again the next day, flew out at the window, followed by 
 Dicky, Flapsy, and Pecksy. Robin was safely deposited in 
 a cage, and passed a happy day, being often allowed to hop 
 out, in order to be fed. 
 
 The parent birds alighted in the court, and conducted 
 their little ones to the water which was set out for them, after 
 which they all returned to the nest ; here the young ones 
 rested till the afternoon, and then their parents took them 
 out, in order to shew them the orchard. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 ' You have not yet seen," said the father, "the whole ex 
 tent of this place, and I wish to introduce you to our neigh 
 bours." He then led the way to a pear-tree, in which a 
 linnet had built her nest. The old linnets seemed much 
 pleased to see their friends the redbreasts, who, with great 
 pride, introduced their little family to them. "My own 
 nestlings are just ready to fly," said the hen-linnet, "and I 
 hope will make acquaintance with them ; for birds so well in 
 structed as, I make no doubt, your offspring are, must be very 
 desirable companions." The little redbreasts were delighted 
 with the hopes of having some agreeable friends ; and the old 
 ones replied, that they had themselves received so much plea 
 sure from social friendship, that they wished their young ones 
 to cultivate it. 
 
 They then flew on to a cherry-tree, in which were a pair 
 of chaffinches in great agitation, endeavouring to part one of 
 their own brood and a young sparrow, which were engaged 
 in a furious battle, but in vain ; neither of the combatants 
 
THE ROBINS. 81 
 
 would desist, till the chaffinch dropped dead to the ground. 
 His parents were greatly shocked at this accident, on which 
 the cock-redbreast attempted to comfort them with his 
 strains ; but, finding them deaf to his music, he begged to 
 know the cause of the quarrel, which had so fatal a conclusion. 
 
 " Oh/' answered the hen-chaffinch, " my nestling is lost 
 through his own folly. I cautioned him repeatedly not to 
 make acquaintance with sparrows, knowing they would lead 
 him into mischief; but no remonstrances would prevail. As 
 soon as he began to peck about, he formed a friendship with 
 one of that voracious breed, who undertook to teach him to 
 fly and provide for himself ; so he left his parents, and con 
 tinually followed the sparrow, who taught him to steal corn 
 and other things, and to quarrel with every bird he met. I 
 expected to see him killed continually. At length his com 
 panion grew tired of him, and picked a quarrel, which ended 
 as you have seen. However, this is better than if he had 
 been caught by men and hung up, as I have seen many a 
 bird, for a spectacle, to deter others from stealing. 
 
 " Let me advise you, my young friends," said she, ad 
 dressing herself to the little redbreasts, " to follow your 
 parents' direction in every respect, and avoid bad company." 
 She then, accompanied by her mate, flew back to her nest, in 
 order to acquaint the rest of the family with this dreadful 
 disaster, and the redbreasts took another flight. 
 
 They alighted on the ground, and began pecking about, 
 when all of a sudden they heard a strange noise, which rather 
 alarmed the young ones. Their father desired them to have 
 no fears, but to follow him. He led them to the top of a 
 high tree, in which was a nest of magpies, who had the day 
 before made an excursion round the orchard, and were con- 
 versing on what they had seen, but in such a confused man* 
 
 Q 
 
82 THE ROBINS. 
 
 ner, that there was no such thing as understanding them ; 
 one chattered of one thing, and one of another. In short, all 
 were eager to speak, and none inclined to hear. 
 
 " What a set of foolish ill-bred little creatures are these/ 1 
 said the cock-redbreast ; " if they would talk one at a time, 
 what each says might afford entertainment to the rest ; but, 
 by chattering all together in this manner, they are quite dis 
 agreeable. Take warning from them, my nestlings, and avoid 
 the fault which renders them so ridiculous." 
 
 So saying, he flew on, and they soon saw a cuckoo, sur 
 rounded by a number of birds, who had been pecking at her 
 till she had scarce a feather left upon her breast ; while she 
 kept repeating her own dull note, " Cuckoo ! cuckoo!" in 
 cessantly. " Get back again to your own country," said a 
 thrush ; " what business have you in ours, dropping your 
 eggs in the nests of other birds ? Surely it would be suffi 
 cient could you have the privilege of building for yourself, as 
 we do who are natives ; but you have no right to seize upon 
 our labours, and devour our offspring." " The cuckoo de 
 serves his fate," said the hen-redbreast ; "though I am far 
 from bearing enmity to foreign birds in general, I detest such 
 characters as his, who seize upon other people's possessions. 
 I wonder mankind are so fond of cuckoos ; but I suppose it 
 is on account of their being the harbingers of summer. 
 
 " How different is the character of the swallow ; he comes 
 here to enjoy the mildness of the climate, and confers a benefit 
 on the land, by destroying many noxious insects. I rejoice 
 to see that race sporting in the air, and have had high plea 
 sure in conversing with them ; for, as they are great travel 
 lers, they have much to relate. But come, let us go on." 
 
 They soon came to a hollow tree. (< Peep into this hole," 
 Said the cock-bird to his young ones. They did so, and be- 
 
THE ROBINS. 83 
 
 held a nest of young owls. " What a set of ugly creatures/' 
 said Dicky ; " surely you do not intend to shew your fright 
 ful faces in the world ! Did ever any one see such dull eyes, 
 and such a frightful muffle of feathers !" 
 
 " Whoever you are that reproach us with the want of 
 beauty, you do not shew your own good sense," replied one 
 of the little owls ; " perhaps we may have qualities which 
 render us as amiable as yourselves. You do not appear to 
 know that we are night, and not day birds ; the quantity of 
 feathers in which we are muffled up is very comfortable to us 
 when we are out in the cold ; and I can shew you a pair of 
 eyes, which, if you are little birds, will frighten you out of 
 your wits ; and if I could fly, I would let you see what else 
 I could do/' He then drew back the film which was given 
 him that the strong light might not injure his sight, and 
 stared full at Dicky, who was struck with astonishment. 
 
 At that instant the parent owl returned; and, seeing a 
 parcel of strangers looking into her nest, she set up a screech 
 ing, which made the whole party take wing. As soon as 
 they stopped to rest, the cock- redbreast, who was really 
 frightened, as well as his mate and family, recollected him 
 self, and said: "Well, Dicky, how did you like the owl's 
 eyes ? I fancy they proved brighter than you expected ; 
 but, had they even been as ugly as you supposed, it was very 
 rude and silly in you to notice it. You ought never to cen 
 sure any bird for natural deformities ; since no one contracts 
 them by choice ; and what appears disagreeable to you, may 
 be pleasing in the, eyes of another. Besides, you should be 
 particularly careful not to insult strangers ; because you can 
 not know their merit, nor what power they may have of re 
 venging themselves. You may think yourself happy if you 
 never meet one of these owls by night ; for, I assure you, they 
 
84 THE ROBINS. 
 
 often feed upon little birds like us ; and you have no reason 
 to think they will spare you, after the affront you have given 
 them. But come, let us fly on." However, before we give 
 any further account of their adventures, let us return to their 
 benefactors. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 JUST as Mrs. Benson and her children were preparing to 
 leave the room, after having witnessed the happy meeting 
 of the redbreast family at their tea-table, the servant entered 
 and informed them that a poor woman was at the gate, who 
 had been ordered to attend in the morning. Mrs. Benson 
 desired she might come up. " Well, good woman," said the 
 benevolent lady, " how does your husband do ?" " Thanks 
 to your goodness, madam, and the blessing of God, quite 
 cheery," said the woman. 
 
 " I am happy," said the lady, " to find you in better 
 spirits than you were the other night, and do not doubt you 
 will do very well. I will order some meat and bread to be 
 sent you every day this week, and will also assist you in 
 clothing the children." Harriet's eyes glistened with bene 
 volence at seeing the woman, whose distress had so greatly 
 affected her, thus comforted ; and slipping her purse, which 
 contained seven shillings, into her mother's hand, she begged 
 her to take it for the woman. "You shall, my dear," said 
 Mrs. Benson, "have the pleasure of relieving her yourself; 
 give this half-crown to her." Harriet, with a delight which 
 none but the compassionate can know, extended the hand of 
 charity. The woman received her gift with grateful thanks ; 
 and praying that the Almighty might shower down his 
 choicest blessings on this worthy family, respectfully took 
 leave, and returned to her husband ; who, by means of the 
 
THE ROBINS. 85 
 
 nourishment Mrs. Benson had supplied her with, gathered 
 strength hourly. 
 
 As soon as she was gone, Mrs. Benson informed her son 
 and daughter that she intended to take them with her to 
 Farmer Wilson's, where she made no doubt they would pass 
 a happy day ; and desired them to get ready for the journey, 
 while she dressed herself. The young folks obeyed without 
 hesitation ; and, having given their maid very strict injunc 
 tions to feed Robin and the linnet, they attended their mamma 
 to the coach. Leaving this happy party to enjoy their pleasant 
 drive, let us go back to the robins, whom we left on the wing 
 in search of further adventures. 
 
 They soon alighted on a tree, in which was a Mockbird,* 
 who, instead of singing any note of his own, kept successively 
 imitating those of every bird that inhabited the orchard ; and 
 this with a view of making them ridiculous. If any one had 
 any natural imperfection in his singing, he was sure to mimic 
 it ; or if any was particularly attentive to the duties of his 
 station, he ridiculed him as grave and formal. The young 
 redbreasts were excessively diverted with this droll creature ; 
 but their father desired them to consider whether they should 
 like to hear him mimic them. Every one agreed that they 
 should be very angry to be ridiculed in that manner. 
 "Then," replied the father, " neither encourage nor imitate 
 them." The Mockbird, hearing him, took up his notes. 
 "Neither encourage nor imitate him," said he. The cock- 
 redbreast on this flew at him with fury, plucked some feathers 
 from his breast, and sent him screaming from the place. " I 
 have made you sing a natural note at last," said he, "and 
 hope you will take care how you practise mimicry again." 
 
 * The mockbird is properly a native of America, but is intro 
 duced here for the sake of the moral. 
 
86 THE ROBINS. 
 
 His mate was sorry to see him disturb his temper, and ruffle 
 his feathers, for such an insignificant creature ; but he told 
 her it was particularly necessary as an example to his nest 
 lings, as mimicry was a fault to which young birds were too 
 apt to incline ; and he wished to shew them the danger they 
 exposed themselves to in the practice of it. 
 
 The whole redbreast family rested themselves for some 
 time ; and whilst they sat still, they observed a chaffinch 
 flying from tree to tree, chattering to every bird he had any 
 knowledge of; and his discourse seemed to affect his hearers 
 greatly, for they perceived some birds flying off in great haste, 
 and others meeting them ; many battles and disputes ensued. 
 The little redbreasts wondered at these circumstances ; at 
 length Pecksy inquired the meaning of the bustle. " This 
 chaffinch," replied the father, " is a tell-tale ; it is inconceiv 
 able the mischief he makes. Not that he has much malice 
 in his nature ; but he loves to hear himself chatter : and 
 therefore every anecdote he can collect, he tells to all he 
 meets ; by which means he often raises quarrels and animo 
 sities ; neither does he stop here, for he frequently invents 
 the tales he relates." 
 
 As the redbreast was speaking, the chaffinch alighted on 
 the same tree. " Oh, my old friend," said he, " are you got 
 abroad in the world again ? I heard the linnet in the pear- 
 tree say you were caught stealing corn, and hung up as a 
 spectacle, but I thought this could not be true ; besides, the 
 blackbird in the cherry-tree told me that the reason we did 
 not see you as usual was, that you were rearing a family, 
 to whom, he said, you were so severe, that the poor little 
 creatures had no comfort of their lives." 
 
 " Whatever you may have heard, or whatever you may 
 say, is a matter of indifference to me," replied the redbreast ; 
 
THE ROBINS. 87 
 
 " but, as a neighbour, I cannot help advising you to restrain 
 your tongue a little, and consider, before you communicate 
 your intelligence, whether what you are going to say has not 
 a tendency to disturb the peace of society." 
 
 Whilst he was thus advising him, a flock of birds assem 
 bled about the tree ; it consisted of those to whom the chaf 
 finch had been chattering, who, having come to an explanation 
 with each other, had detected his falsities, and determined to 
 expel him from the orchard ; which they did with every 
 mark of contempt and ignominy. All the redbreasts joined 
 in the pursuit, for even the little ones saw his character in a 
 detestable light, and formed a determination to avoid his 
 fault. When the liar was gone, the party which pursued him 
 alighted altogether in the same walk, and amongst them the 
 redbreasts discovered many of their old friends, with whom 
 they now renewed their acquaintance, knowing they should 
 soon be released from family cares ; and the young ones 
 passed a happy day in this cheerful assembly ; but at length 
 the hour of repose approached, when each individual flew to 
 his resting-place, and the redbreasts, after so fatiguing a day, 
 fell asleep. 
 
 While the redbreasts were exploring the orchard, Mrs. 
 Benson and her family, as we before shewed, set off on their 
 visit to the farm, where they met with a most welcome re 
 ception. 
 
 Farmer Wilson was a very worthy, benevolent man. He 
 had, by his industry, acquired sufficient to purchase the farm 
 he lived on, and had a fair prospect of providing for a nume 
 rous family, whom he brought up with the greatest care, as 
 farmers' sons and daughters ought to be, and taught them all 
 to be merciful to the cattle which were employed in his 
 business. 
 
S3 THE ROBINS. 
 
 His wife, a most amiable woman, had received a good 
 education from her father, who was formerly a parish school 
 master. This good man had strongly implanted in his 
 daughter's mind the Christian doctrine of universal charity, 
 which she exercised, not only towards the human species, but 
 also to poultry, and every living creature which it was her 
 province to manage. 
 
 Mrs. Benson knew that her children would here have an 
 opportunity of seeing many different animals treated with 
 propriety ; and it was on this account that she took them 
 with her, though she herself visited these good people from a 
 motive of sincere respect. 
 
 As soon as they were seated, Mrs. Wilson regaled her 
 young guests with a piece of nice cake, made by herAlaughter 
 Betsy, a little girl of twelve years old, who sat by, enjoying, 
 with secret delight, the honour which the little lady and 
 gentleman did to her performance. It happened fortunately 
 to be a cool day, and Mrs. Benson expressed a desire to walk 
 about and see the farm. 
 
 In the first place Mrs. Wilson shewed her the house, 
 which was perfectly neat, and in complete order. She then 
 took her guests into her dairy, which was well stored with, 
 milk and cream, butter and cheese. From thence they w r ent 
 to visit the poultry-yard, where the little Bensons were ex 
 cessively delighted indeed : for there were a number of cocks 
 and hens and many broods of young chickens, besides turkeys 
 and Guinea-fowls. 
 
 All the fowls expressed the greatest joy at the sight of 
 Mrs. Wilson and her daughter Betsy ; the cocks celebrated 
 their arrival by loud and cheerful Growings ; the hens gave 
 notice of their approach by cackling, and assembled their in 
 fant train to partake^ their bounty; the s irkeys and Guinea- 
 
THE ROBINS. 89 
 
 fowls ran to meet them ; a number of pigeons also alighted 
 from a pigeon-house. Betsy scattered amongst them the 
 grain which she carried in her lap for that purpose, and 
 seemed to have great pleasure in distributing it. 
 
 When their young visitors were satisfied with seeing the 
 poultry fed, Mrs. Wilson shewed them the hen-house, and 
 other conveniences provided for them, to make their lives 
 comfortable ; she then opened a little door, which led to a 
 meadow, where the fowls were often indulged to ramble and 
 refresh themselves. On seeing her approach this place, the 
 whole party collected, and ran into the meadow, like a troop 
 of schoolboys into their playground. 
 
 " You, Mrs. Wilson, and your daughter, must have great 
 amusement with these pretty creatures," said Mrs. Benson. 
 "We have indeed, madam," said she, " and they furnish us 
 with eggs and chickens, not only for our own use, but for 
 the market also." "And can you prevail on yourself to kill 
 these sweet creatures ?" said Miss Benson. " Indeed, Miss, 
 I cannot," said Mrs. Wilson, "and never did kill a chicken 
 m my life ; but it is an easy matter to find people capable of 
 doing it, and there is an absolute necessity that some of them 
 should be killed, for they breed so fast, that in a short time 
 we should have more than we could possibly feed. But 1 
 make it a rule to render their lives as happy as possible : I 
 never shut them up to fatten any longer than I can help, use 
 no cruel methods of cramming them, nor do I confine them 
 in a situation where they can see other fowls at liberty ; 
 neither do I take the chickens from the hen till she herself 
 deserts them ; nor set hens upon ducks' eggs." 
 
 " I often regret," said Mrs. Benson, " that so many lives 
 should be sacrificed to preserve ours; but \Ve must eat ani 
 mals, or they would at length eat us, at least all that would 
 
90 THE ROBINS. 
 
 otherwise support us. Besides, you remember that the Al 
 mighty granted permission to Noah and his posterity to kill 
 whatever animals they might want for food. When God 
 blessed Noah, after the flood had drowned the inhabitants of 
 the earth, on account of their wickedness, He graciously per 
 mitted Noah, whose righteousness had recommended him to 
 the favour of God, to take 'every moving thing that liveth,' 
 and to use it for meat." 
 
 Whilst this conversation passed, Frederick had followed 
 the fowls into the meadow, where the turkey-cock, taking 
 him for an enemy, had attacked him, and frightened him so 
 much, that he at first cried out for help ; but soon recollect 
 ing that this was cowardly, he pulled off his hat, and drove 
 the creature away before Betsy Wilson had arrived, who was 
 running to his assistance. 
 
 The farmer's wife next proposed (but with many apologies 
 for offering to take them to such a place) .to shew them her 
 pigsty. The name of a pigsty generally conveys an idea of 
 nastiness ; but whoever had seen those of Farmer Wilson, 
 would have had a very different one. They were neatly paved, 
 and washed down every day ; the troughs in which they fed 
 were kept clean, and the water they drank was always sweet 
 and wholesome. The pigs themselves had an appearance ot 
 neatness, which no one could have expected in such kind 
 of animals ; and though they had not the ingenuity of the 
 Learned Pig, there was really something intelligent in their 
 gruntings, and a very droll expression in the eyes of some of 
 them. They knew their benefactors, and found means of 
 testifying their joy at seeing them, which was increased 
 when a boy, whom Mrs. Wilson had ordered to bring some 
 bean-shells, emptied his basket before them. Now a scram 
 ble took place, and each pig began pushing the others aside, 
 
THE ROBINS. 91 
 
 and stuffing as fast as he could, lest they should have any 
 more than himself. 
 
 Harriet Benson said she could not bear to see such greedi 
 ness. " It is indeed," replied Mrs. Benson, " very disagree 
 able, even in such creatures as these ; but how much more 
 so in the human species ! and yet how frequent is this fault 
 amongst children in particular ! Pray look at these pigs, 
 Frederick, and tell me if you ever remember to have met 
 with a little boy who ate strawberries as these pigs do bean- 
 shells 1" Frederick's cheeks, at this question, were covered 
 with blushes ; on which his mother kindly kissed him, and 
 said she hoped he had seen enough of greediness to-day to 
 serve him for a lesson as long as he lived. 
 
 In a separate sty was a sow with a litter of young pigs. 
 This was a very pleasing sight indeed to Frederick, who 
 longed to have one of them to play with ; but Mrs. Wilson 
 told him it would make the sow very angry, and her grunt- 
 ings would terrify him more than the turkey-cock had done, 
 on which he dropped his request, but said he should like to 
 keep such a little creature. 
 
 " If it would always continue little, Frederick/' said Mrs. 
 Benson, " it would do very well ; but it will perhaps grow as 
 large as its mother, and what shall we do then?" 
 
 " I fear, ladies/' said Mrs. Wilson, " you will be tired 
 with staying here ; will it be agreeable to you to take a walk 
 in the garden ?" " W T ith all my heart/' said Mrs. Benson. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson then conducted her guests into a garden, 
 which abounded with all kinds of vegetables for the table, 
 quantities of fruit, and a variety of flowers. Frederick longed 
 to taste some of the delicacies which presented themselves to 
 his eye; but he had been taught never to gather fruit or 
 flowers without leave, nor ask for any ; however, Mrs. Wil- 
 
92 THE ROBINS. 
 
 son, with his. mother's permission, treated him and his sister 
 with some fine cherries, which Betsy gathered and presented 
 in cabbage- leaves, and then took them to a shady arbour, 
 where they sat and enjoyed their feast. After which they 
 went to see the bees, which were at work in glass hives. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 TDE sight of the bees was a great entertainment not only to 
 the children, but to Mrs. Benson also, who was excessively 
 \leased with the ingenuity and industry with which these in 
 sects collect their honey and wax, form their cells, and deposit 
 their store. She had, by books, acquired a knowledge of the 
 natural history of bees, which enabled her to examine their 
 work with much greater satisfaction than she would have 
 received from the sight of them, had she been only taught to 
 consider them as little stinging creatures, which it was dan 
 gerous to approach. "This is quite a treat to rne, indeed,'' 
 said she to Mrs. Wilson ; " for I never before had an oppor 
 tunity of seeing bees work in glass hives." 
 
 " Madam," said Mrs. Wilson, "I find my account in 
 keeping bees thus, even upon a principle of economy ; for as 
 I do not destroy them, I have greater numbers to work for 
 me, and more honey every year than the last, notwithstand 
 ing I feed my bees in the winter. I have made acquaintance 
 with the queen of every hive, who will come to me whenever 
 I call her, and you shall see one of them, if you please." 
 
 On this she called, in a manner which the inhabitants of 
 the hive they were looking at were accustomed to, and a large 
 bee soon settled on her hand ; in an instant after, she was 
 covered, from head to foot, with bees. 
 
 Harriet Benson was fearful lest they should sting, and 
 
THE ROBINS. Q3 
 
 Frederick was running away ; but Mrs. Wilson assured them 
 the little creatures would not do any mischief, if no one at 
 tempted to catch them. "Bees are, in their natural dispo 
 sitions, very harmless creatures, I assure you, Master Ben 
 son," said she ; " though I own they will certainly sting 
 little cruel boys who endeavour to catch them, in order to 
 suck their bag of honey, or take out their sting ; but you see 
 that though I have hundreds about me, and even on my face 
 and arms, not one offers to do me an injury ; and I believe 
 wasps seldom sting but in their own defence." She then 
 threw up her hand, on which the queen -bee flew away in 
 great state, surrounded by her guards, and followed by the 
 rest of hex subjects, each ready to lose his own life in the 
 defence of hers. 
 
 " There is something very wonderful," said Mrs. Benson, 
 tl m the strong attachment these little creatures have to their 
 sovereign, and very instructive too. But before we take our 
 leave of the bees, let me observe to you, my dears, that several 
 other instructive lessons may be taken from their example. 
 
 " If such little insects as these perform their daily tasks 
 with so much alacrity, surely it must be a shame for chil 
 dren to be idle, and to fret because they are put to learn 
 things which will be of the utmost consequence to them in 
 the end, and which would indeed conduce to their present 
 happiness, would they but apply to them with a willing mind. 
 Remember the pretty hymn you have learned : 
 
 * How doth the little busy bee 
 Improve each shining hour,' &c. 
 
 " But come, Mrs. Wilson," said the lady, " we must, if 
 you please, take leave of the bees, or we shall not have time 
 to enjoy the other pleasures you have in reserve for us." 
 
91 THE ROBINS, 
 
 As they walked along, Frederick so far forgot himself 
 as to catch a moth, but his mother obliged him to let it 
 go immediately. "Don't you think, Mrs. Wilson/' said she, 
 " it is wrong to let children catch butterflies and moths :" 
 " Indeed, I do, madam/' replied the good woman ; " poor 
 little creatures ! what injury can they do us by flying about ? 
 In that state, at least, they are harmless to us. Caterpillars 
 and snails, it is true, we are obliged frequently to destroy on 
 account of their devouring fruit and vegetables ; but unless they 
 abound so as to be likely to do a real injury, I never suffer 
 them to be meddled with. I often think on my good father's 
 maxims, which were, ' never to take away the life of any 
 creature, unless it is necessary for the benefit of mankind. 
 While there is food and room enough in the world for them 
 and us, let them live and enjoy the blessings they were formed 
 for/ he would say." 
 
 " When I was a little girl/' said Mrs. Benson, " I had. 
 a great propensity to catch flies and other insects ; but my 
 father had an excellent microscope, through which, when 
 you look at objects, it has the effect of making them appear 
 larger than they really are ; in this he shewed me a number 
 of different insects, and I thus learned that even the minutest 
 creatures might be as susceptible of pain as myself; and I 
 declare I cannot put any thing to death without fancying I 
 hear its bones crack, and that I see its blood gushing from 
 its veins and arteries ; and so far from having a pleasure in 
 killing even the disagreeable insects which are troublesome in 
 houses, I assure you I cannot do it myself, nor see it done 
 without pain ; and yet they certainly may be considered as 
 enemies, and as such we have a right to destroy them." 
 
 " To be sure, madam/' said Mrs. Wilson; "for without 
 cleanliness we could not enjoy health. It goes against me to 
 
THE ROBINS. Q5 
 
 demolish a fine spider's web, and yet they make a house look 
 very dirty ; but I seldom have any in mine ; for I took care, 
 when I first came to live in it, to destroy the nests ; and the 
 old spiders, finding there was no security for their young 
 ones here, have forsaken the house ; and I am inclined to 
 think the same vigilance in respect to other disagreeable in 
 sects would have the same effect." 
 
 " Doubtless/' said Mrs. Benson ; " but, pray tell me, 
 do you destroy the webs of garden spiders also?" "Not 
 unless they are so many as to be troublesome and disagree 
 able," replied Mrs. Wilson. "I should not myself 'like to 
 have the fruits of my industry demolished, nor my little ones 
 taken out of my arms, or from their warm beds, and crushed 
 to death." "I am of opinion," said Mrs. Benson, "that it 
 would be a good way to accustom one's self, before one kills 
 any thing, to change situations with it in imagination, and to 
 suppose how we should feel were we bees, or ants, or butter 
 flies, 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." 
 
 " Well," said Harriet, " I am sure I shall never kill any 
 thing without first magnifying it in my mind, and thinking 
 what it would say for itself if able to speak." " Then, my 
 dear, I will engage for you," replied her mother, " that you 
 will put but very few creatures to death ; but, in order to 
 have a proper notion of their form, you must study natural 
 history, from whence you will learn how wonderful their 
 ccnstruction is, how carefully and tenderly the inferior crea 
 tures provide for their young, how ingenious their various 
 employments are, how far they are from harbouring malice 
 
96 THE ROBINS. 
 
 against the human species, and how excellently they are 
 formed by their great Creator for the enjoyment of happiness 
 in their different states, which happiness we have certainly 
 no right wantonly to disturb. 
 
 " Besides, it is really a meanness to destroy any creature 
 because it is little, and in children particularly absurd to do 
 so ; for, upon this principle, they must themselves expect to 
 be constantly ill-treated, though no animal stands more in 
 need of tenderness than they do for many years from the 
 time of their coming into the world ; and even men and 
 women might expect to be annihilated by the power of the 
 great Creator, if every thing that is little were to be destroyed. 
 
 " Neither do I know how we can precisely call any thing 
 great or little, since it is only so by comparing it with others. 
 An ant or a fly may appear to one of its own species, whose 
 eyes are formed to see those parts which we cannot discover 
 without glasses, as considerable as men and women do to 
 each other ; and to creatures of the dimensions of a mite, one 
 of the size of an ant doubtless looks formidable and gigantic. 
 I therefore think it but justice to view insects with micro 
 scopic eyes, before we do any thing to them that is likely to 
 give them pain, or to destroy their works unnecessarily." 
 
 During this conversation, Frederick kept running about 
 making choice of flowers, which Betsy Wilson gathered and 
 formed into nosegays for his mother, his sister, and himself. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE next place Mrs. Wilson took her guests to was a barn 
 yard, in which was a large horse-pond. Here her young 
 visitors were delighted with the appearance of a number of 
 geese and ducks ; some were swimming in the water, some 
 
THE ROBINS. 97 
 
 diving, others rooting in the mud to see what fish or worms 
 they could find. 
 
 " It appears very strange to me," said Harriet, "that any 
 creatures can take delight in making themselves so dirty." 
 "And yet," replied Mrs. Benson, " how many children do 
 the same, without having any excuse for it. The ducks and 
 geese grub about so in search of the necessaries of life ; but I 
 have seen boys do it merely for diversion, and sometimes at 
 the hazard of their lives." 
 
 " Have you any fish here ?" said Frederick to Mrs. Wilson. 
 " I believe none of any consequence, sir ; the ducks and the 
 geese would take care that none should grow to any con 
 siderable size ; but there are plenty in a pond which you will 
 see in the next field : and I hope to have the pleasure of see 
 ing you, at dinner, eat of some perch which were caught there. 
 Sometimes we catch fine carp and tench, but only with nets, 
 for neither my good man nor I can bear the cruel diversion of 
 angling ; nor do we allow our children to follow it, from a 
 notion that it hardens the heart, and leads to idleness." 
 
 " Pray, tell me, mother, is it cruel to kill frogs and 
 toads ?" " Ask Mrs. Wilson, my dear, she has more to do 
 with such reptiles than I have,'"' said Mrs. Benson. " Why, 
 miss," replied Mrs. Wilson, " though I by no means like to 
 see such creatures as frogs and toads in my house, I do not 
 make an outcry, and condemn every one to a violent death 
 which is accidentally found in my cellars or other places ; 
 on the contrary, I generally have them thrown into a ditch 
 at some distance, to take their chance. There are many birds 
 and water- fowl that feed on young frogs and toads, which 
 will in general keep them from multiplying so as to be a 
 nuisance to us; and it is time enough for us to take arms 
 against them if there happen to be a very extraordinary in- 
 u 
 
9S THE ROBIXS. 
 
 crease of them. My good man is as particular m 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 harm 
 less. 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 a birds' nesting?" "No, sir," said she, "I hope I have 
 not a child amongst my family capable of such barbarity. 
 In the course of the summer, they generally have young birds 
 to nurse ; which fall out of their nests or lose their parents, 
 Dut are seldom successful in rearing them ; and we have only 
 one in a cage which they reared last summer. Yet we have 
 plenty of singing; for the sweet creatures, finding they may 
 enjoy themselves unmolested in the trees, treat us with their 
 music from morning to night, of which you had a specimen 
 in the garden. Sparrows, indeed, my husband is under the 
 necessity of destroying, for they are such devourers, they 
 would leave him but little corn to carry to market if he did 
 not shoot them ; but he never kills the crows, because they 
 are very serviceable in picking up grubs, and other things 
 injurious to farmers ; we only set a little boy to watch our 
 new sown grain, and he keeps making a noise, which effec 
 tually frightens them." " Oh," said Frederick, " I nurse 
 young birds too. I have got a linnet and a robin redbreast, 
 and I feed a hundred beside." 
 
 Mrs. Wilson smiled, and, addressing herself to Mrs. Ben 
 son, said, " Now, madam, we will, if you please, return to 
 the house ; for I fancy by this time dinner is nearly ready, 
 and my husband and sons are about coming home." 
 
THE ROBINS. 99 
 
 Mrs. Benson was a little tired with her ramble, and was 
 really impatient to see Farmer Wilson and the rest of his 
 amiable family. When she drew near the house, she was 
 met by the worthy man, who gave her a most cordial wel 
 come, and said he was proud to see so much good company. 
 Nancy, the eldest daughter, to whom the mother had en 
 trusted the care of inspecting the additional cookery which 
 she had ordered, and who, for that reason, was not to be 
 seen in the morning, now made her appearance, dressed 
 with perfect neatness ; health bloomed in her cheeks, and 
 cheerfulness and good humour sparkled in her eyes. With 
 this engaging countenance, she easily prevailed on Master 
 Frederick to let her place him by her at the table, round 
 which the two other visitors, the master and mistress of the 
 house, and the rest of their offspring, consisting of Thomas, a 
 fine youth of eighteen, four young boys, and little Betsy, were 
 soon seated. 
 
 The table was covered with plain food, but by the good 
 management of Nancy, who had made an excellent pudding, 
 it made a very good figure, and Mrs. Benson afterwards de 
 clared, that she had never enjoyed an entertainment so much. 
 And the pleasure was considerably heightened by the happy 
 countenances of the whole family. 
 
 The farmer, who was a very jocose man, said a number of 
 droll things, which diverted his little visitors very much ; and 
 soon after dinner he begged leave to depart, as he was sheep- 
 shearing ; but said he thought the young gentlefolks might 
 be diverted with the sight, so invited them to pay him a 
 visit in the field, and left Joe and Neddy to conduct Master 
 Frederick to it. 
 
100 THE ROBINS 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE young farmers were rather shy at first, being afraid that 
 their guests would laugh at their country talk ; but when they 
 observed how kindly they behaved to their sisters, they en 
 tered into conversation, and told Master Benson a hundred 
 particulars about animals with which he was before un 
 acquainted ; and he, in return, related all he knew about his 
 redbreasts and other pensioners. 
 
 Mrs. Benson now expressed her desire to see the sheep- 
 shearing ; on which Mrs. Wilson and her daughter conducted 
 her and Miss Harriet to the field, where they arrived at the 
 conclusion of the operation ; and a very pleasing sight it was 
 to behold the happy creatures, who lately waddled under a 
 heavy heating load, relieved from their burden, leaping and 
 frisking with delight, whilst the accumulated wool seemed, as 
 it lay, to promise comfortable clothing for man, who, desti 
 tute of such a supply, would be in danger of perishing with 
 cold in the ensuing winter. 
 
 Harriet observed the innocent countenances of the sheep 
 and lambs, and said she thought it was a thousand pities to 
 kill them. 
 
 " It is so, my dear," said her mother ; " but we must not 
 indulge our feelings too far in respect to animals which are 
 given us for food : all we have to do is to avoid barbarity. It 
 is happy for them that, having no apprehension of being 
 killed, they enjoy life in peace and security to the very last ; 
 and even when the knife is lifted to their throats, they are 
 ignorant of its destination ; and a few struggles put an end 
 to their pain for ever. But come, Mrs. Wilson, will you 
 favour us with a sight of your cows?" "With pleasure, 
 
THE ROBINS. 101 
 
 madam/' said she ; " they are by this time driven up to be 
 milked." Mrs. Wilson then conducted her visitors towards 
 the farm-yard. 
 
 " Perhaps, madam," said she as they walked along, "the 
 young lady and gentleman may be afraid of horned cattle ?" 
 "I believe," replied Mrs. Benson, "I may venture to say 
 that Harriet has no unreasonable fears of any living creature ; 
 it has been my endeavour to guard the minds of my children 
 against so distressing a weakness ; but whether Frederick's 
 heart has acquired courage enough to enable him to venture 
 near so many cows, I cannot tell." " O yes, mother," cried 
 Frederick, " I would sooner get up and ride into the yard on 
 the horns of them than run away." " Well, we shall soon, 
 put your courage to the proof," said Mrs. Benson ; "so come 
 along, sir." 
 
 "As for my children," said Mrs. Wilson, "they are re 
 markably courageous in respect of animals : all the creatures 
 belonging to us are very harmless and gentle, which is the 
 natural consequence of kind treatment,, and no person need 
 be afraid of walking in any part of our grounds ; but it is 
 difficult to persuade some people that there is no danger, for 
 they are apt to imagine that every loose horse they see will 
 gallop over them, and that every creature with horns will 
 gore and toss them." 
 
 "Very true," replied Mrs. Benson ; "and I have known 
 many as much afraid of a toad, a frog, or a spider, as if cer 
 tain death would be the consequence of meeting them ; when, 
 if these persons would but make use of their reason, they 
 would soon be convinced that such fears are ill-grounded. 
 Frogs, and even toads, are very harmless creatures ; and so far 
 from offering an injury to any human being they may chance 
 t.o meet, they hop away with all possible expedition, from a 
 
102 THE ROBINS. 
 
 dread of being themselves destroyed ; indeed, I knew a bene 
 volent gentleman who taught his daughters to lift up and 
 handle any toads they met in their path, in order to convince 
 his neighbours, that their belief of the animal's being poison 
 ous was unfounded. Spiders drop suddenly down, with a 
 view to their own preservation only; and therefore it is 
 highly ridiculous to be afraid of them. 
 
 " Horses and oxen are much more formidable creatures ; 
 they certainly could do us a great deal of mischief, if they 
 were conscious of their superior strength ; but God has wisely 
 ordained that they should not be so ; and having given man 
 kind dominion over them, He has implanted in their nature 
 an awe and dread of the human species, which occasion them 
 to yield submission to man, when he exerts his authority in 
 a proper manner. 
 
 " It is really a very wonderful thing, Mrs. Wilson, to see 
 a fine lively horse submitting to the bit and harness, or a 
 drove of oxen quietly marching under the direction of one 
 man. But it is observable, that these creatures which are 
 the most useful to us are the easiest tamed, and yield, not 
 only singly, but in flocks, to mankind, nay, even to boys, 
 This shews at once the goodness and power of the Creator. 
 
 "From what I have said, my dear," added Mrs. Benson, 
 " you must perceive that it is a great weakness for a human 
 being to be afraid of animals." 
 
 By this time the party were advanced pretty near to the 
 farm-yard, and Frederick espied one of the cows peeping over 
 the gate ; on which, with a countenance expressive of fear, he 
 ran hastily to his mother, and asked her whether cows could 
 toss people over gates and hedges? "What a silly question, 
 Frederick," said she; "pray look again, and you will perceive 
 that it is impossible for such large heavy creatures to do so 
 
THE ROBINS. 103 
 
 and these inclosures are made on purpose to confine them 
 within proper bounds. But did not you boast just now that 
 'you could ride on the horns of one of them.' That I shall 
 not require you to do, for it would very likely make the 
 creature angry, because cows are not accustomed to carry 
 any load upon their heads ; neither would I allow you to run 
 after them with a stick, or to make any attempt to frighten 
 them ; but if you approach as a friend, I make no doubt you 
 will be received as such ; so summon your courage and attend 
 us, the cows will not hurt you, I can assure you." 
 
 Neddy Wilson then began laughing, from the idea that 
 a boy should be afraid of a cow, which made Frederick 
 ashamed of himself; and, quitting his mother's gown, by 
 which he had held fast while she was speaking, he laid fast 
 hold of Neddy's hand, and declared his resolution to go as 
 near the cow as he would. I will not take upon me to say 
 that his little heart was perfectly free from palpitation ; but 
 that lay in his own bosom, where none could discover its 
 feelings but himself; so let us give him as much credit for 
 courage as we can, and acknowledge him to be a fine little 
 fellow, in thus getting the better of his fears. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE whole party now entered the farm-yard, where they saw 
 eight fine cows, fat, sleek, and beautifully clean, who yielded 
 several pails of rich milk, the steam of which, added to the 
 Veath of the cows, cast a delightful fragrance around. Mrs. 
 Wilson then entreated her company to return to the house, 
 where she had provided a cup of tea for them ; though it 
 must be said for this sensible woman, that it was a luxury in 
 
104 THE ROBINS. 
 
 which she seldom indulged, unless when some of her neigh 
 bours had the kindness to come and visit her neat and well- 
 appointed dairy. 
 
 The farmer now came back and refreshed himself with a 
 cup of ale, which was very comfortable after the fatigues of 
 the day. 
 
 "I have had," said Mrs. Benson, "great pleasure in 
 viewing your farm, Mr. Wilson, which appears to me to 
 afford all the desirable comforts and conveniences of life, and 
 I most sincerely wish a continuance of your prosperity. If 
 it is not an impertinent question, pray tell me, did you in 
 herit the farm from your father, or was it purchased with, 
 the fruits of your own industry?" 
 
 " Neither my wife nor I have led an idle life, I assure 
 you, madam," replied the farmer; " but next to the blessing 
 of Heaven, I think myself in a great degree indebted to my 
 cattle for my good success. My father left me master of a 
 little farm, with a few acres of land well cropped, a horse, a 
 cow, a few sheep, a sow and pigs, a jackass, and a few poul 
 try ; these have gradually multiplied to what you now see me 
 possess, besides numbers that I have sold ; and I have had 
 fine crops of hay and corn ; so that every year I laid by a 
 little money, till I was able to purchase this farm, which 
 has proved a very good one to me." 
 
 " There is something so uncommon in hearing a farmer 
 attribute a part of his success in life to his cattle, that I 
 ihould be obliged to you, Mr. Wilson," said the lady, " if 
 you would account to me for this circumstance." 
 
 " Most readily, madam," said he. " When I was a very 
 young man, I heard a fine sermon from the pulpit, on the 
 subject of shewing mercy to brutes, which made a great im 
 pression upon my mind ; and I have ever since acted towards 
 
THE ROBINS. 105 
 
 all dumb creatures as I would to mankind, upon the prin 
 ciple of doing as 1 would be done by. 
 
 " I always consider every beast that works for me as my 
 servant, and entitled to wages ; but as beasts cannot use 
 money, I pay them in things of more value to them ; and 
 make it a rule, unless in cases of great necessity, to let them 
 enjoy rest on the Sabbath-day. 
 
 " I am very cautious of not letting my beasts work beyond 
 their strength, and always give them their food in due sea 
 son ; nor do I ever suffer them to be beat or cruelly used. 
 Besides giving them what I call their daily wages, I indulge 
 them with all the comforts I can afford them. 
 
 " In summer, when the business of the day is over, my 
 horses enjoy themselves in a good pasture, and in winter 
 they are sheltered from the inclemencies of the weather in a 
 warm stable. If they get old, I contrive some easy task for 
 them ; and when they can work no longer, I let them live 
 on the common without it, till age and infirmities make their 
 lives burdensome to themselves, when I have them put to as 
 easy a death as possible. 
 
 " Though my cows and sheep do not work for me, I think 
 them entitled to a recompense for the profit I receive from 
 their milk and wool, and endeavour to repay them with the 
 kindest usage ; and even my jackass finds mercy from me, for 
 I could not bear to see so useful a creature ill-treated ; and 
 as for my dogs, I set great store by them on account of their 
 fidelity." 
 
 " These are very excellent rules indeed, Mr. Wilson, and 
 i wish they were generally followed," said Mrs. Benson ; "for 
 I believe many poor beasts suffer greatly from the ill-treat 
 ment inflicted on them ; the horses in post-chaises and hack 
 ney-coaches in great towns particularly." 
 
106 THE ROBINS. 
 
 " Yes, madam/' said the farmer, te I have lieard so ; and 
 could tell you such stories of cruelties exercised on brutes in 
 the country, as would quite shock you; and I have seen such 
 instances myself of the ill effects of neglecting them, as have 
 confirmed me in the notions I learnt from the good sermon I 
 told you of." 
 
 " 1 am much obliged to you for your information, Mr. 
 Wilson/' said Mrs. Benson, " and hope my children will 
 never forget it ; for it certainly is a duty to extend our cle 
 mency to beasts and other animals. Nay, we are strictly com 
 manded in the Scriptures to show compassion to the beasts 
 of others, even to those of our enemies ; surely, then, those 
 which are our own property, and work for us, have a peculiar 
 claim to it. There is one custom which shocks me very 
 much, and that is, pounding of cattle ; I fancy, Mr. Wilson, 
 you do not practise that much." 
 
 ' { Madam/' replied he, " I should much rather pound the 
 owners of them, through whose neglect or dishonesty it gene 
 rally happens that horses trespass on other people's land. 
 If any beast accidentally gets into my grounds, I send it 
 home to its owner, for it certainly is no wilful fault in the 
 creature to seek the best pasture it can find ; but if I have 
 reason to suppose his owner turned him in, I then think my 
 self obliged to do what the law directs in that respect ; but 
 though it is a secret I am obliged to keep from my neigh 
 bours, I may safely confess to you, madam, that I have not 
 the heart to let the poor beast starve in a pound. As there 
 are no courts of justice in which beasts can seek redress, I set 
 up oae for them in my own breast, where humanity pleads 
 their cause/' 
 
 " I wish they had such an advocate in every breast, Mr. 
 Wilson/' said the lady. " But my watch reminds me we must 
 
THE ROBINS. 10? 
 
 now take our leave, which I do with many thanks to you and 
 Mrs. Wilson for your kind entertainment and good cheer, 
 and shall be happy to return your civilities at my own house ; 
 and pray bring your whole family with you." 
 
 Mrs. Benson then desired her son and daughter to pre 
 pare for their departure. Frederick was grown so intimate 
 with little Neddy that he could scarcely be prevailed on to 
 leave him, till he recollected Robin and the linnet. 
 
 As they returned in the coach, Mrs. Benson remarked 
 that Farmer Wilson's story was enough to make every one 
 who heard it careful of their live stock, for their own sakes ; 
 " but," said she, " the pleasure and advantage will be greatly 
 increased if it is done from a principle of humanity as well as 
 interest." Harriet answered, that she hoped she should 
 never treat animals ill, nor place her affections on them too 
 strongly. " That, my dear/' replied her good mother, " is 
 the proper medium to be observed." 
 
 In a short time they arrived at home. The maid, to 
 whose care the birds had been entrusted, gave a good account 
 of her charge ; and Harriet and Frederick went to bed in 
 peace, after a day spent with much pleasure and improve 
 ment. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE next morning the redbreasts attended at Mrs. Benson's 
 as usual, and Robin was still better, but his father began to 
 fear he would never perfectly recover from his accident ; how 
 ever, he kept his apprehensions to himself, and suffered the 
 iittle ores to entertain their lame brother with a relation of 
 what they had seen the day before in the orchard. Frederick 
 
108 THE ROBINS. 
 
 and Harriet were so diverted with the chattering and chirping 
 of the little things, that they did not miss the parent's song. 
 When the young ones had stayed as long as she thought 
 right, the hen-redbreast summoned them away, and all took 
 leave of Robin, who longed to go with them, but was not 
 able. The father reminded him that he had great reason to 
 rejoice in his present situation, considering all things ; on 
 which he resumed his cheerfulness, and, giving a sprightly 
 twitter, hopped into Frederick's hand, which was spread open 
 to receive him. The rest then flew away, and Harriet and 
 her brother prepared for their morning tasks. 
 
 The redbreasts alighted, as usual, to drink in the court 
 yard, and were preparing to return to the orchard, when 
 Flapsy expressed a desire to look a little about the world; 
 for she said it would be very mopish to be always confined 
 to the orchard ; and Dicky seconded her request. Pecksy 
 replied, that however her curiosity might be excited, she 
 had known so much happiness in the nest, that she was 
 strongly attached to the paternal spot, and could gladly pass 
 her life there. The parents highly commended her con 
 tented disposition ; but her father said, as there was nothing 
 blameable in the inclination Dicky and Flapsy discovered for 
 seeing the world, provided it was kept within due bounds, he 
 would readily gratify it : then asking if they were sufficiently 
 refreshed, he took wing, and led the way to a neighbouring 
 grove, where he placed his little tribe amongst the branches 
 of a venerable oak. 
 
 Here their ears were charmed with a most enchanting 
 concert of music. On one tree a blackbird and a thrush 
 poured forth their strong melodious notes ; on another, a 
 number of linnets joined their sweet voices ; exalted in the 
 air, a skylark warbled a delightful song; whilst a brother of 
 
THE ROBINS. 109 
 
 the wood, seated on a cool refreshing turf, made the grove 
 r e-echo with his melody ; to these the nightingale joined his 
 enchanting lay. In short, not a note was wanting to com 
 plete the harmony. 
 
 The little redbreasts were so exceedingly charmed, that 
 for a while they continued listening with silent rapture ; at 
 length Dicky exclaimed, " How happy should I be to join the 
 cheerful band, and live for ever in this charming place !" 
 
 " It is," replied his mother, " a very pleasant situation to 
 be sure ; but could you be sensible of the superior advantages 
 which, as a redbreast, you may enjoy by taking up your 
 abode in the orchard, you would never wish to change it ; 
 for my own part, I find myself so happy in that calm retreat, 
 that nothing but necessity shall ever drive me from it." 
 
 Pecksy declared, that though she was much delighted 
 with the novelty of the scene, and charmed with the music, 
 she now felt an ardent desire to return home ; but Flapsy 
 wished to see a little more first. " Well/' said the father, 
 " your desires shall be gratified ; let us take a circuit in this 
 grove, for I wish you to see every thing worth observation in 
 every place you go to, and not to fly about the world, as 
 many giddy birds do, without the least improvement from 
 their travels." On this he spread his wings as the signal of 
 departure, which his family obeyed. 
 
 Observing a parcel of boys creeping silently along, " Stop," 
 said he, " let us perch on this tree, and see what these little 
 monsters are about." Scarcely were they seated, when one 
 of the boys mounted an adjacent tree, and took a nest of 
 half-fledged linnets, which he brought in triumph to his com 
 panions. 
 
 At this instant a family of thrushes unfortunately chirped, 
 which directed another boy to the place of their habitation ; 
 
110 THE ROBIXS. 
 
 on which he climbed, and eagerly seized the unfortunate little 
 creatures. Having met with so much success, the boys left 
 the grove to exult, at their own homes, over their wretched 
 captives, for ever separated from their tender parents, who 
 soon came back, laden with the gains of ih ir labour, which 
 they had kindly destined for the sustenance of their infant 
 broods. 
 
 The little redbreasts were now spectators of those parental 
 agonies which had been formerly described to them ; and 
 Pecksy cried out, " Who would desire to live in this grove, 
 after having experienced the comforts of the orchard?" 
 Dicky and Flapsy were desirous to depart, being alarmed for 
 their own safety. " No," said the father. " let us stay a 
 little longer : now we will go on." 
 
 They accordingly took another flight, and saw a man 
 scattering seed upon the ground. " See tlure," said Dicky, 
 "what fine food that man throws down; I dare say he is 
 some good creature who is a friend to the feathered race ; 
 shall we alight and partake of his bounty ?" 
 
 " Do not form too hasty an opinion, Dicky," said the 
 father; "watch here a little while, and then do as you will." 
 All the little ones stretched their necks, and kept a curious 
 eye fixed on the man. In a few minutes a number of spar 
 rows, chaffinches, and linnets descended, and began to re 
 gale themselves ; but, in the midst of their feast, a net was 
 suddenly cast over them, and they were all taken captives. 
 The man, who was a bird-catcher by profession, called to his 
 assistant, who brought a cage, divided into a number of small 
 partitions, in which the linnets and chaffinches were sepa 
 rately deposited. In this dismal prison, where they had 
 scarcely room to flutter, were those little creatures confined, 
 who lately poured forth their songs of joy, fearless of danger. 
 
THE ROBINS. Ill 
 
 As for the sparrows, their necks were wrung, and they were 
 put in a bag together. The little redbreasts trembled for 
 themselves, and were in great haste to take wing. " Stay," 
 said the father, " Dicky has not yet made acquaintance with 
 this friend of the feathered race." " No/' said Dicky, "nor 
 do I desire it ; defend me, and all who are dear to me, from 
 such friends as these!" "Well," said the father, "learn 
 from this instance, never to form a hasty judgment, nor to 
 put yourself into the power of strangers, who offer you favours 
 you have no right to expect from their hands. " 
 
 " Indeed, my love," said the mother-bird, "I am very 
 anxious to get home ; I have not lately been used to be long 
 absent from it, and every excursion I make endears it to me." 
 "Oh, the day is not half spent," replied her mate; "and I 
 hope that, for the gratification of the little ones, you will 
 consent to complete the ramble. Come, let us visit another 
 part of tho grove ; I am acquainted with its inmost recesses." 
 His mati acquiesced, and they proceeded on their journey. 
 
 At 1 .jngth, the father hastily called out, " Turn this way ! 
 turn this way !" The whole party obeyed the word of com 
 mand, and found the good effects of their obedience ; for, in 
 an instant, they saw a flash of fire ; a thick smoke followed 
 it, and immediately they heard a dreadful sound, and saw a 
 young redstart fall bleeding to the ground, on which he strug 
 gled just long enough to cry, " Oh, my dear father, why did 
 I not listen to your kind admonitions, which I how find, too 
 ^ate, were the dictates of tenderness !" and then expired. 
 
 The little redbreasts were struck with consternation at 
 this dreadful accident ; and Pecksy, who recovered the soon 
 est, begged her father would inform her by what means the 
 redstart was killed. " He was shot to death," said he ; "and 
 had you not followed my directions, it might have been the 
 
112 THE ROBINS. 
 
 fate of every one of you ; therefore, let it be a ksson to you 
 to follow every injunction of your parents with the same 
 readiness for the future. 
 
 "You may depend on it, our experience teaches us to 
 foresee many dangers which such young creatures as you 
 have no notion of; and when we desire you to do or to for 
 bear any thing, it is for the sake of your safety and advantage ; 
 therefore, Dicky, never more stand, as you sometimes have 
 done, asking why we tell you to do so and so ; for had that 
 been the case now, you, who were in a direct line with the 
 gunner, would have been inevitably shot." 
 
 They all said they would pay implicit obedience. " Do 
 so," said he ; " but in order to this, you must also remember 
 to practise, in our absence, what we enjoin you when present. 
 For instance, some kinds of food are very prejudicial to your 
 health, which we would not, on any account, let you taste 
 when we are by ; these you must not indulge in when away 
 from us, whatever any other bird may say in recommendation 
 of them. Neither must you engage in any dangerous enter 
 prise, which others, who have natural strength or acquired 
 agility, go through with safety; nor should you go to any 
 places which we have pointed out as dangerous, nor join any 
 companions we have forbidden you to make acquaintance 
 with. 
 
 " This poor redstart might have avoided his fate ; for I 
 heard his father, when I was last in the grove, advise him 
 not to fly about by himself till he had shewn him the dangers 
 of the world." 
 
 Pecksy answered, that she knew the value of parental 
 instruction so well, that she should certainly treasure up in 
 her heart every maxim of it ; and the others promised to do 
 the same. " But," said Flapsy, " I cannot understand the 
 
THE ROBINS. 113 
 
 nature of the accident which occasioned the death of the 
 redstart." 
 
 '* Neither can I explain it to you, my dear," replied the 
 father. " I only know that it is a very common practice 
 with some men to carry instruments, from which they dis 
 charge what proves fatal to many a bird ; but I have, by 
 attentive observation, learnt how to evade the mischief. But 
 come, let us descend and refresh ourselves a little, as we may 
 do it with safety ; and then we will see if we cannot find a 
 place where you can have amusement, without being exposed 
 to such dangers as attend the inhabitants of woods and 
 groves. 
 
 " Are you sufficiently rested to take a pretty long flight?" 
 " Oh, yes," cried Dicky, who was quite eager to leave the 
 spot in which, a short time before, he had longed to pass his 
 life. The rest joined in the same wish, and every wing waa 
 instantly expanded. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE father led the way, and in a very short time he and 
 his family arrived at the estate of a gentleman, who, having 
 a plentiful fortune, endeavoured to collect all that was curious 
 in art and nature, for the amusement of his own mind and 
 the gratification of others. He had a house like a palace, 
 furnished with every expensive rarity ; his gardens, to which 
 the redbreasts took their flight, were laid out in such a man 
 ner as to afford the most delightful variety to the eye. 
 
 Amongst other articles of taste was an aviary, which was 
 built like a temple, enclosed with brass wire ; the framework 
 was painted green, and ornamented with carving gilt ; in the 
 I 
 
114 THE ROBINS. 
 
 middle a fountain continually threw up fresh water, which 
 fell into a basin whose brink was enamelled with flowers ; at 
 one end were partitions for birds' nests, and troughs con 
 taining various kinds of seeds and materials for building 
 nests. This part was carefully sheltered fro'Ji every incle 
 mency of the weather. Numbers of perches were placed in 
 different parts of the aviary, and it was surrounded by a most 
 beautiful shrubbery. 
 
 A habitation like this, in which all the conveniences of 
 life seemed to be collected, where abundance was supplied 
 without toil, where each gay songster might sing himself to 
 repose in the midst of ease and plenty, safe from the dangers 
 of the woods, appeared to our young travellers desirable be 
 yond all the situations in the world ; and Dicky expressed an 
 earnest wish to be admitted into it. " Well," said the father, 
 " let us not determine hastily ; it will be advisable first to 
 inquire whether its inhabitants are really happy before you 
 make interest to become one of the number ; place yourselves 
 by me on this shrub, and whilst we rest ourselves we shall 
 have an opportunity of seeing what passes." 
 
 The first bird that attracted their notice was a dove, who 
 sat cooing by himself in a corner, in accents so gentle and 
 sweet, that a stranger to his language would have listened to 
 them with delight ; but the redbreasts, who understood their 
 import, heard them with sympathetic concern. 
 
 " Oh, my dear, my beloved mate," said he, " am I then 
 divided from you for ever? What aval's it that I am fur 
 nished here with all the elegancies and luxuries of life,? De 
 prived of your company, I have no enjoyment of them ; the 
 humblest morsel, though gained with toil and danger, would 
 be infinitely preferable to me, if shared with you. Here am 
 T shut up for the remainder of my days, in society for which 
 
THE ROBINS. ^15 
 
 I have no relish ; whilst she who has hitherto been the be 
 loved partner of all my joys is for ever separated from me ! 
 In vain will you, with painful wing, pursue your anxious 
 search in quest of me ; never, never more shall I bring you 
 the welcome refreshment ; never shall I hear your soothing 
 voice, and delight in the soft murmurs of the infant pair 
 which you hatched with such care, and nursed with such 
 tenderness ! No, my beloved nestlings, never will your 
 wretched father be at liberty to guide your flight and instruct 
 you in your duty." Here his voice faltered, and, overcome 
 with bitter reflections, he resigned himself a prey to silent 
 sorrow. 
 
 " This dove is not happy, however/' said the hen- red 
 breast to her mate, " and no wonder. But let us attend to 
 the notes of that lark." His eyes were turned up towards 
 the sky, he fluttered his wings, he strained his throat, and 
 would to a human eye have appeared in raptures of joy ; but 
 the redbreasts perceived that he was in violent grief. " And 
 am I to be constantly confined in this horrid place?" sang 
 he. " Is my upward flight to be impeded by bars and wires ? 
 Must I no longer soar towards the bright luminary, and make 
 the arch of heaven resound with my singing ? Shall I cease 
 to be the herald of the morn, or must I be so in this con 
 tracted sphere ? No, ye partners of my captivity, henceforth 
 sleep on and take ignoble rest, and may you lose in slumber 
 the remembrance of past pleasures. O cruel and unjust 
 man ! was it not enough that I proclaimed the approach of 
 day, that I soothed your sultry hours, that I heightened the 
 delights of evening, but must I, to gratify your unfeeling 
 wantonness, be secluded from every joy my heart holds dear, 
 and condemned to a situation I detest ? Take your delicious 
 dainties, reserve your flowing stream for those who cnn relish 
 
116 THE ROBINS. 
 
 them, but give me liberty ! % But why do I address myself to 
 you who are heedless of my misery?" Here, casting an 
 indignant look around, he stopped his song. 
 
 " What think you now, Dicky," said the redbreast ; 
 " have you as high an idea of the happiness of this place as 
 you conceived at the first view of it?" " I cannot help 
 thinking still," replied Dicky, " that it is a charming retreat, 
 and that it must be very comfortable to have every thing pro 
 vided for one's use." "Well," said the father, "let us 
 move and observe those linnets who are building their nest." 
 Accordingly they flew to a tree, the branches of which formed 
 a part of the shelter of the aviary, where they easily heard, 
 without being themselves observed, all that passed in it. 
 
 " Come," said one of the linnets, "let us go on with our 
 work and finish the nest, though it will be rather a melan 
 choly task to hatch a set of little prisoners. How different 
 was the case when we could anticipate the pleasure of rear 
 ing a family to all the joys of liberty I Men, it is true, now, 
 with officious care, supply us with the necessary materials, 
 and we make a very good nest ; but I protest I had much 
 rather be at the trouble of seeking them. 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 ati extensive prospect, 
 in joining a choir of songsters whom we accidentally met ! 
 But now, our days pass with repeated sameness ; variety, so 
 necessary to give a relish to all enjoyment, is wanting. In 
 stead of the songs of joy we formerly heard from every spray, 
 our ears are constantly annoyed with the sound of mournful 
 lamentations, transports of rage, or murmurs of discontent. 
 Could we reconcile ourselves to the loss of liberty, it is im- 
 
THE ROBINS. 117 
 
 possible to be happy here, unless we could harden our hearts 
 to every sympathetic feeling." 
 
 " True," said his mate ; " yet I am resolved to try what 
 patience, resignation, and employment will effect ; and hope, 
 as our young ones will never know what liberty is, they will 
 not pine as we do for it." Saying this, she picked up a 
 straw, her mate followed her example, and they pursued their 
 work. 
 
 At this instant, a hen-goldfinch brought forth her brood, 
 who were full fledged. " Come," said she, "my nestlings, 
 use your wings ; I will teach you to fly in all directions. 7 ' So 
 saying, the little ones divided, one flew upwards; but emulous 
 to outdo a little sparrow, which was flying in the air above 
 the aviary, he hit himself against the wires of the dome, and 
 would have fallen to the bottom, but that he was stopped by 
 one of the perches. 
 
 As soon as he recovered, " Why cannot I soar as I see 
 ether birds do V said he. 
 
 " Alas !" cried the mother, " we are in a place of confine 
 ment ; 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. " Stop/' said the father, " let us first hear what those 
 canary-birds are saying." 
 
 The canary-birds had almost completed their nest. " How 
 fortunate is our lot," said the hen-bird, "in being placed in 
 this aviary ! How preferable is it to the small cage we built 
 in last year !" " Yes/' replied her mate : " yet how comfort 
 able was that, in comparison with the still smaller ones in 
 
118 THE ROBINS. 
 
 which we were once separately confined! For my pait, I 
 have no wish to fly abroad, for I should neither know what 
 to do, nor where to go ; and it shall be my endeavour to in 
 spire my young ones with the same sentiments I feel. Indeed, 
 we owe the highest gratitude to those who make such kind 
 provision for a set of foreigners, who have no resources but 
 their bounty ; and my best lays shall be devoted to them. 
 Nothing is wanting to complete the happiness of this place, 
 but to have other kinds of birds excluded. Poor creatures! 
 it must be veiy mortifying to them to be shut up here, and 
 see others of their kind enjoying full freedom. No wonder 
 they are perpetually quarrelling; for my part, I sincerely 
 pity them, and am ready to submit, from a principle of 
 compassion, to the occasional insults and affronts I meet 
 with." 
 
 " You now perceive, Dicky," said the cock-redbreast, 
 " that this place is not, as you supposed, the region of per 
 fect happiness ; you may also observe, that it is not the 
 abode of universal wretchedness. 
 
 tl It is by no means desirable to be shut up for life, let the 
 place of confinement be ever so splendid ; but should it at 
 any time be your lot to be caught and imprisoned, which may 
 possibly be the case, adopt the sentiments of the linnet and 
 the canary-birds : employment will pass away many an hour 
 that will be an heavy load if spent in grief and anxiety ; and 
 reflections on the blessings and comforts that are still in your 
 power, will lessen your regret for those which are lost. But 
 come, pick up some of the seeds which are scattered on the 
 outside of the aviary, for that is no robbery, and then return 
 to the orchard." Saying this, he alighted on the ground, as 
 did his mate and her family, where they met with a plentiful 
 repast in the provisions which had been accidentally scattered 
 
THE ROBINS. 119 
 
 by the person whose employment it was to bring food for the 
 inhabitants of the aviary. 
 
 When the robins had sufficiently regaled themselves, all 
 parties gladly returned to the nest, and every heart rejoiced 
 in the possession of liberty and peace. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 FOR three successive days nothing remarkable happened 
 either at Mr. Benson's or in the redbreasts' nest. The little 
 family came to the breakfast-table, and Robin recovered from 
 his accident, though not sufficiently to fly well ; but Dicky, 
 Flapsy, and Pecksy, continued so healthy, and improved so 
 fast, that they required no farther care ; and the third morn 
 ing after this tour to the grove, &c. they did not commit the 
 least error. When they retired from the parlour into the 
 court-yard, to which Robin accompanied them, the father 
 expressed great delight that they were at length able to pro 
 vide for themselves. 
 
 And now a wonderful change took place in his own 
 heart. The ardent affection for his young, which had 
 hitherto made him, for their sakes, patient of toil, and fear 
 less of danger, was on a sudden quenched ; but, from the 
 goodness of his disposition, he still felt a kind solicitude for 
 their future welfare ; and, calling them around him, tie thus 
 addressed them : 
 
 " You must be sensible, my dear young ones, that, from 
 the time you left the egg-shell till the present instant, both 
 your mother and I have nourished you with the tender est 
 iove. We have taught you all the arts of life, which are ne 
 cessary to procure you subsistence, and preserve you from 
 
120 THE ROBINS. 
 
 danger. We have shewn you a variety of characters in the 
 different classes of birds, and pointed out those which are to 
 be shunned. You must now take care of yourselves ; but, 
 before we part, let me repeat my admonition to use indus 
 try, avoid contention, cultivate peace, and be contented with 
 your condition. You, Robin, I would advise, on account of 
 your infirmity, to attach yourself to the family where you 
 have been so kindly cherished." 
 
 While he thus spake, his mate stood by ; who, finding 
 the same change beginning to take place in her own breast, 
 viewed her young ones with tender regret ; and, when he 
 ceased, cried out, " Adieu, ye dear objects of my late cares 
 and anxiety ! May ye never more stand in need of a mother's 
 assistance ! Though nature now dismisses me from the ar 
 duous task which I have long daily performed, I rejoice not, 
 but would gladly continue my toil, for the sake of its attend 
 ant pleasures. Oh! delightful sentiments of maternal love, 
 how can I part with you ? Let me, my nestlings, give you a 
 last embrace/' Then spreading her wings, she folded them 
 successively to her bosom, and instantly recovered her tran 
 quillity. 
 
 The old redbreasts, having now only themselves to pro 
 vide for, resolved to be no longer burdensome to their bene 
 factors; and, after pouring forth their gratitude in the most 
 lively strains, they took their flight together, resolving never 
 to separate. 
 
 The first morning that the old redbreasts were missing 
 from Mrs. Benson's breakfast- table, Frederick and his sister 
 Were greatly alarmed for their safety ; but their mother said 
 she was of opinion that they had left their nestlings, as it 
 was the nature of animals in general to dismiss their young 
 as soon as they were able to provide for themselves. " That 
 
THE ROBINS. 121 
 
 is very strange/' replied Harriet. " No, my dear," said Mrs. 
 Benson, " it is wisely ordained by Providence, that the 
 parents' love shall continue no longer than their offspring 
 want their care ; were it otherwise, they would be prevented 
 from rearing a new family, by the wants of the older broods. 
 Whilst the weakness of their young requires it, they attend 
 them with the anxiety of the tenderest parent ; but once the 
 nestlings are strong enough to provide for themselves, instinct 
 directs them to prepare their nest for a new family, to whom 
 they may shew the same affection." " Well, I wonder," said 
 Harriet, " what would become of my brother and me, were 
 you and papa to serve us so !" 
 
 " And is a boy of six, or a girl of eleven years old, capable 
 of providing for themselves?" said her mother. "No, my 
 dear child, you have need of a much longer continuance of 
 your parents' care than birds and other animals ; and there 
 fore God has ordained that parental affection, when once 
 awakened, should always remain in the human breast, unless 
 extinguished by the undutiful behaviour of a child." 
 
 At that instant the young ones arrived, and met with a 
 very joyful reception. The amusement they afforded to Fre 
 derick reconciled him to the loss of their parents ; but Harriet 
 declared she could not help being sorry that they were gone. 
 " I shall, for the future," said she, " take great notice of 
 animals ; for I have had much entertainment in observing 
 these robins." " I highly approve your resolution, my dear," 
 said Mrs. Benson, " and hope the occasional instruction I 
 have at different times given you, has furnished you with 
 general ideas respecting the proper treatment of animals. I 
 will now inform you upon what principles the rules of con 
 duct I prescribe to myself on this subject are founded. 
 
 " I consider that the same almighty and good God, whc 
 
122 THE ROBINS. 
 
 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 con 
 ferring reciprocal benefits. 
 
 " There is no doubt that the Almighty designed all beings 
 for happiness, proportional to the faculties he has endued 
 them with : and whoever wantonly destroys that happiness, 
 acts contrary to the will of his Maker. 
 
 " The world w live in seems to have been principally 
 designed for the use and comfort of mankind, who, by the 
 Divine appointment, have dominion over the inferior crea 
 tures ; in the exercise of which it is certainly their duty to 
 imitate the supreme Lord of the universe, by being merciful 
 to the utmost of their power. They are endued with reason, 
 which enables them to discover the different natures of brutes, 
 the faculties they possess, and how they may be made ser 
 viceable in the world ; and as many of the more useful ani 
 mals are indebted to men for the necessaries of life, men 
 have an undoubted right to their labour in return. 
 
 " Several other kinds of animals, which are sustained at the 
 expense of mankind, cannot labour for them ; from such they 
 have a natural claim to whatever they can supply towards the 
 food and raiment of their benefactors ; and therefore, when 
 we take the wool and milk of the flocks and herds, we take 
 no more than our due, and what they can very well spare : 
 as they seem to have an over-abundance given them, that 
 they may be able to return their obligations to us. 
 
 " Some creatures have nothing to give us but their own 
 bodies : these have been expressly destined by the Supreme 
 Governor as food for mankind, and He has appointed an 
 extraordinary increase of them for this very purpose ; such 
 an increase as would be very injurious to us if all were suf- 
 
THE ROBINS. 1 2 3 
 
 fered to live. These we have an undoubted right to kill ; but 
 should make their short Jives as comfortable as we can, and 
 let their deaths be attended with as little pain as possible. 
 
 "Other creatures seem to be of no particular use to man 
 kind ; but as they serve to furnish our minds with contem 
 plations on the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, no 
 doubt they answer important ends in the creation, though 
 we cannot see them. They should not be wantonly killed, 
 nor treated with the least degree of cruelty, but should be at 
 full liberty to enjoy the blessings assigned them ; unless they 
 abound to such a degree as to become injurious, by devour* 
 ing the food which is destined for man, or for animals more 
 beneficial to him, whom it is his duty to protect. 
 
 " Some animals, such as wild beasts, serpents, &c. are in 
 their nature ferocious, noxious, and venomous, and capable 
 of injuring the health, or even destroying the lives of men, 
 or other creatures of a higher rank than themselves : these, 
 if they leave the secret abodes which are allotted them, and 
 become offensive, certainly may with justice be killed." 
 
 While Mrs. Benson was giving these instructions to her 
 daughter, Frederick diverted himself with the young red 
 breasts, who having no kind parents now to admonish them, 
 made a longer visit than usual ; so that Mrs. Benson would 
 have been obliged to drive them away, had not Pecksy, on 
 seeing her move from her seat, recollected that she and her 
 brother and sister had been guilty of an impropriety ; she 
 therefore reminded them that they should no longer intrude, 
 and led the way out of the window ; the others followed her, 
 and Mrs. Benson gave permission to her children to take 
 their morning's walk before they began their lessons. 
 
124 THE ROBINS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 As the old robins, who were the hero and heroine of my tale, 
 are made happy, it is time for me to put an end to it ; but 
 my young readers will doubtless wish to know the sequel of 
 the history ; I shall therefore inform them of it in as few 
 words as possible. 
 
 Harriet followed her mother's precepts and examples, 
 and grew up a general benefactress to all people, and all 
 creatures, with whom she was in any way connected. 
 
 Frederick was educated upon the same plan, and was 
 never known to be cruel to animals, or to treat them with an 
 improper degree of fondness ; he was also remarkable for his 
 benevolence, so as to deserve and obtain the character of a 
 good man. 
 
 Miss Lucy Jenkins was quite reformed by Mrs. Benson's 
 lecture, and her friend's example ; but her brother continued 
 his practice of exercising barbarities on a variety of unfortu 
 nate animals, till he went to school ; where, having no oppor 
 tunity of doing so, he gratified his malignant disposition on 
 his schoolfellows, and made it his diversion to pull their 
 hair, and pinch and tease the younger boys ; and, by the 
 time he became a man, had so hardened his heart, that no 
 kind of distress affected him, nor did he care for any person 
 but himself ; consequently he was despised by all with whom 
 he had any intercourse. In this manner he lived for several 
 years ; at length, as he was inhumanly beating and spurring 
 a horse, merely becar.se it did not go a faster pace than it 
 was able to do, the poor creature, in its efforts to evade his 
 blows, threw his barbarous rider, who was killed on the spot* 
 
 Farmer Wilson's prosperity increased with every succeed- 
 
THE ROBINS. 123 
 
 ing year ; and at last afforded him the means of settling his 
 children comfortably in the world : and he and his wife lived 
 to a good old age, beloved and respected by all who knew 
 them. 
 
 The parent redbreasts visited their kind benefactors the 
 next winter ; but, as they were flying along one day, they 
 saw some crumbs of bread which had been scattered by Miss 
 Lucy Jenkins, who, as I observed before, had adopted the 
 sentiments of her friend in respect of compassion to animals, 
 and resolved to imitate her in every excellence. The red 
 breasts gratefully picked up the crumbs, and, encouraged by 
 the gentle invitation of her looks, determined to repeat their 
 visits, which they accordingly did, and found such an ample 
 supply, that they thought it more advisable to go to her with 
 their next brood than to be burdensome to their old bene 
 factors, who had a great number of pensioners to support ; 
 but Frederick and Harriet Benson had frequently the pleasure 
 of seeing them, and knew them from all their species by 
 several peculiarities, which so long an acquaintance had 
 given them the opportunity of observing. 
 
 Robin, in pursuance of his father's advice, and agreeably 
 to his own inclinations, attached himself to Mrs. Benson's 
 family, where he was an exceedingly great favourite. He 
 had before, under the conduct of his parents, made frequent 
 excursions into the garden, and was, by their direction, en 
 abled to get up into trees, but his wing never recovered suf 
 ficiently to enable him to take long flights ; however, he found 
 himself at liberty to do as he pleased ; and, during the sum 
 mer months, he commonly passed most of his time abroad, 
 and roosted in trees, but visited the tea-table every morning, 
 and there he usually met his sister Pecksy, who took up her 
 abode in the orchard, where she enjoyed the friendship of her 
 
126 THE ROBINS. 
 
 father and mother. Dicky and Flapsy, who thought their 
 company too grave, flew giddily about together. In a short 
 time they were both caught in a trap-cage, and put into the 
 aviary which Dicky once longed to inhabit. Here they were 
 at first very miserable ; but after a while recollecting their 
 good parent's advice, and the example of the linnets, they at 
 length reconciled themselves to their lot, and each met with 
 a mate, with whom they lived tolerably happy. 
 
 Happy would it be for the animal creation if every human 
 being, like good Mrs. Benson, consulted the welfare of in 
 ferior creatures, and neither spoiled them by indulgence nor 
 injured them by tyranny ! Happy would mankind be, if 
 every one, like her, acted in conformity to the will of their 
 Maker, by cultivating in their own minds, and those of their 
 children, the divine principles of general benevolence. 
 
 From the foregoing examples, I hope my young readers 
 will select the best for their own imitation, and take warning 
 by the rest, otherwise the history of the Robins has been writ 
 ten in vain. 
 
 THE END.