Page:Story of the robins.djvu/192

176 to live in this grove, after having experienced the comforts of the orchard? "Dicky and Flapsy were desirous to depart, being alarmed for their own safety. "No," said he father, "let us stay a little longer—now we will go on." They accordingly took another flight, and saw a man scattering seed upon the ground. "See there," said Dicky, "what fine food that man throws down! I dare say he is some good creature who is a friend to the feathered race. Shall we alight and partake of his bounty?" "Do not form too hasty an opinion, Dicky," said the father; "watch here with me a little while, and then do as you will." All the little ones stretched their necks, and kept a curious eye fixed on the man. In a few minutes a number of sparrows, chaffinches, and linnets descended, and began to regale themselves; but, in the midst of their feast, a net was suddenly cast over them, and they were all taken captive. The man, who was a birdcatcher by profession, called to his assistant, who brought a cage divided into a number of small partitions, in which the linnets and chaffinches were separately deposited. In this dismal prison, where they had scarcely room to flutter, were those little creatures confined who lately poured forth their songs of joy fearless of danger. As for the sparrows,