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 a particularly rough feather and drawing his beak through it.

"My friend," said Mrs. Polly in the same serious tone, "you won't deter me from doing my duty by such frivolous remarks. I have lived in the world long enough to see many generations of sparrows come and go, and I shall not see a young couple beginning life start out on such a mistaken course as you have chosen, without making an attempt to set them right. Pray, what were you married for, I should like to know?"

The sparrow considered a moment and then said waggishly,—

"Give it up."

"I can tell you," answered Mrs. Polly. "You saw that pretty bright-eyed sparrow, and you made her think there never was such a handsome, wonderful fellow as you were, and you married her without a thought of the future. It never occurred