however, are always the friends of Nature. The owner of this garden delights to see and hear us. He is now approaching--you need not fly away: listen to what he says:

I.

Again the balmy zephyrs blows;
"Fresh verdure decks the grove:
Each bird with vernal rapture glows,
" And tunes his notes to love.

II.

"Ye gentle warblers hither fly
"And shun the noon-tide heat:
My shrubs a cooling shade supply,
"My bowers a safe retreat.

III.

"Here, freely hop from spray to spray,

"Or weave the mossy nest;

"Here rove and sing the livelong day,
"At night, here sweetly rest.

IV.

Amid this clear translucent rill

"That trickles down the glade,

"Here bathe your plumes, here drink your fill, And revel in the shade,

V.

"No school-boy rude, to mischief prone "E'er shews his ruddy face;

"Or twangs his bow, or hurls a stone, "In this sequestered place.

VI.

"Hither the vocal thrush repairs, "Secure the linnet sings;

"The goldfinch dreads no slimy snare "To clog her painted wings.

VII.

"Sad Philomel! ah quit thy haunt,
"Your distant woods among ;
"And round my friendly grottos chaunt
"Thy sweetly plaintive song.

"Let not the harmless red-breast fear, "Domestic bird! to come

"And seek a sure asylum here

"With one who loves his home.

IX.

"My trees for you, ye artless tribe, "Shall store of fruit preserve:

"Oh, let me thus your friendship bribe!

"Come, feed without reserve. H

"For

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THE CANARY-BIRD.

X.

"For you, these cherries I protect,
"To you these plums belong :
"Sweet is the fruit that you have peck't,
"But sweeter far your song.

XI.

"Let, then, this league betwixt us made
"Our mutual interests guard;
"Mine be the gift of fruit and shade;
"Your songs be my reward!"*

* Invitation to the Feathered Race, by the Reverend Mr. Graves.

CHAP. IX.

Again I'll listen to your grave debates;
I'll think I hear your various maxims told.

JACO.

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PRAY," said the Canary to the yellow-hammer, "what hollow shouting cry was that which, every now and then, resounded through the woods last night?" Truly, cousin," said the other, "I ought to have asked how you slept? but, really, I forgot the novelty of your situation. The voice you heard

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was that of an owl.-This is a bird whom you not very likely to see: for he seldom comes abroad before others are asleep." "Indeed," chirped the Canary-Bird, "what can be his motive for such a practice as that?"

"I am scarcely able to say," returned the yellow - hammer:

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night, no doubt, has some charms, though we creatures of the day do not admire them. In that season, there are flowers that blow; birds that sing; stars in the heavens; and luminous insects upon earth; so that night is not altogether forsaken. But

though