Page:A Kentucky Cardinal.djvu/160

 more the house-wren met me at the rotting gate-post, and cried aloud, “per-se-cu-test—per-se-cu-test—per-se-cu-test—per-se-cu-test!” And as I peeped into the brush-pile, again the brown thrush, building within, said, “thou—thou—thou!”

Through all the years since I had thought myself changed, and craved no greater glory than to be accounted the chief of their apostles. But now I was stained once more with the old guilt, and once more I could hear the birds in my yard singing that old, old chorus against man’s inhumanity.

Towards the middle of the afternoon I went away across the country—by any direction; I cared not what. On my way back I passed through a large rear lot belonging to my neighbors, and adjoining my own, in which is my stable. There has lately been imported into this part of Kentucky from England the much-prized breed of the beautiful white