Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/45

Rh CHAP. IV.

Anger.—Hiſtory of Jane Fretful.

FEW days after theſe walks and converſations, Mrs. Maſon heard a great noiſe in the play-room. She ran haſtily to enquire the cauſe, and found the children crying, and near them, one of the young birds lying on the floor dead. With great eagerneſs each of them tried, the moment ſhe entered to exculpate herſelf, and prove that the other had killed the bird. Mrs. Maſon commanded them to be ſilent; and, at the ſame time, called an orphan whom ſhe had educated, and deſired her to take care of the neſt.

The cauſe of the diſpute was eaſily gathered from what they both let fall. They had conteſted which had the beſt right to feed the birds. Mary inſiſted that ſhe had a right, becuaſe ſhe was eldeſt; and Caroline, becauſe ſhe took the neſt. Snatching it from one ſide of the room to the Rh