104. WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. {il

 

 

of an oak hard by. Then and there we vowed friend-
ship for the future with birds who had shown them-
selves to be of so feeling and kind-hearted a disposi-
tion, and every rook there present felt, I venture to
say, an increase of his own self-respect when he saw
how his race was honoured by this attention of the
larger and stronger bird whose claim to the chieftain-
ship of the rook and crow tribe has been generally
admitted. So pleased and proud are we all of a little
attention bestowed upon us by those of high birth and
position, and so much is Rank respected even in our
great Rook Republic.

When the mournful ceremony was concluded, and
we had all departed upon our several occupations, I
found myself overwhelmed with sadness on thinking
over the friend I had lost.. I could tell you many
incidents that had occurred to us both, but that, to
my mind, friendship is too sweet and solemn a thing
to parade before the public eye. Suffice it to say
that I was never so perfectly happy as when alone
with Glossy-back. He shared my joys; I poured out
my sorrows into his friendly ear; we had no secrets
from each other, and felt a mutual happiness in help-
ing each other in our journey through life. Oh, what
is there to equal such a friendship as this? I have
known and loved more than one female rook in my
time, and found pleasure in ladies’ society all my
life. But I have ever found them more or less fitful
and changeable, their tempers often uncertain and
variable, and their disposition generally capricious.
The longer I live the more I become convinced that
in a deep, true, heart-exchanging friendship with a