Page:Story of the robins.djvu/206

190 The little redbreasts knew not what sight to expect, and begged their parent to gratify their curiosity. "Well, follow me," said the father; "but I believe you must alight on the cross-bars, or you will not be able to examine the beauties of these fowls." They did so, and in the first pen was a pair of partridges. The size of these birds, so greatly exceeding their own, astonished them all; but not withstanding this, the amiable Pecksy was quite interested by their modest, gentle appearance, and said she thought no one could ever wish to injure them.

"True, Pecksy," replied the father, "they have, from the harmlessness of their disposition, a natural claim to tenderness and compassion, and yet I believe there are few birds who meet with less; for I have observed that numbers share the same fate as the redstart which you saw die in the grove. I have myself seen many put to death in that manner. For a long time I was excessively puzzled to account for this fatality, and resolved, if possible, to gratify my curiosity. At length I saw a man kill two partridges and take them away. This very man had shown me great kindness, in feeding me when I first left my father's nest; so I had no apprehension of his doing me an injury, and resolved to follow him. When