"Oh!" cried Harriet, "I cannot bear the thought of what the poor little creatures must suffer."
"Well," said Edward, "since you feel so much for them, I think, Harriet, you will make the best nurse. What say you, Lucy, will you give the nests to Harriet?"
"With all my heart," replied his sister; "and pray do not plague me with any more of them."
"I do not know that my mamma will let me accept them," said Harriet; "but if she will, I shall be glad to do so."
Frederick inquired what birds they were, and Edward informed him there was a nest of linnets, a nest of sparrows, and another of blackbirds. Frederick was all impatience to see them, and Harriet longed to have the little creatures in her possession, that she might rescue them from their deplorable condition, and lessen the evils of captivity which they now suffered.
Her mamma had left her with her young companions, that they might indulge themselves in innocent amusements without restraint; but the tender-hearted Harriet could not engage in any play till she had made intercession in behalf of the poor birds; she therefore begged Lucy would accompany her to her mamma, in order to ask permission to have the birds'
