THE BIRD-FANCIER AND HIS PETS. 35

body else does it. I was ill last week, and had
to keep my bed for two whole days; and Sally,
my old servant, she fed them, and looked after the
shop; and would you believe it, miss, all the little
rascals sat with their heads tucked under their
wings or drooping down, and never whistled a
note, though Sally did her best to cheer them up !
Even old Poll, there, who has so much to say at
times, never answered a question, I'm told, but kept
asking, in the crossest tone of voice, 'Where's the
master?' or crying out 'Shop !' to make me come
running to attend a customer, though Sally was
there for the purpose. It's not every day we have
a young lady from India, Mrs. Bevan," he said,
laughing, when they were preparing to leave; "you
must really allow me to give the little missie a
present. It's fair time, you know, marm," he con-
tinued; and he took down such a lovely canary,
as yellow as gold, and presented it to Bertha.
 "Well, I must-say, Bertha, you will have a
lot of pets collected to show mamma when she
comes,-a hen and chickens, a pair of rabbits,
and now a canary bird. Thank you very much,
Mr. Jones; you must come and pay us a visit very
soon, and see how we are treating the pretty
creatures."