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BIRTH-DAY PRIVILEGES.

put it into your dear good young heart to ask your papa for a birth-day present of money, that you might bring my poor boy out to this sweet place, and make us the happy creatures we are now.'

"Indeed, it was that fortunate drive in the carriage that did it all,' said Lady Emily, laughing. 'What do you think, Patty? Don't you think that showed us what to ask for on our birth-day?'

"Patty answered with blushing cheeks; and merry were the peals of laughter, and happy were the looks of the party, as they partook of a little feast of fruit and cakes, and curds and whey, which Mrs. Russell had provided, as she said, to keep the three birth-days in pleasant, holiday style; and it was still a MAY sun which poured its flood of golden light upon this FOURTH PICTURE.'"

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As Lucy England concluded her story, the breakfasttable was cleared.

"And now, what shall we do next?" asked Mr. Singleton of Mr. Warden.

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On the Management of Pets-The Visit to the Poultry-yard-Pigeons -Bantams-Poultry in General-An Over-fondness for Pets to be Avoided-Odd Pets-Strange Associations of Animals-Beautiful Favourites-Rabbits-Cowper's Hares-Guinea-pigs-Dogs-BeesSilk-worms-Parrots-Gold and Silver Fish-Squirrels-Song-birds -Lines to a Sparrow.

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WHY, what say you to a walk?" replied Mr. Warden. "I have promised William a long walk, if it be agreeable to you, Singleton."

"With all my heart," said Mr. Singleton; "and where shall we go, and who will join us?" added he, looking round on the rest of the party.

"Oh, we will all go," said Lucy England; "it will not be too much for you, will it, Mrs. Warden? We will find some shade, and we will walk gently, won't we, Mr. Warden? And Lucy and Mary may go, too, may they not?" added

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A VISIT TO THE PETS.

she, interpreting aright the appealing looks of the two girls into a request that she would intercede for them.

"But oh, Papa, first, mayn't Mr. Singleton, mayn't they all first go and see my rabbits and William's pigeons. I do so long for them all to go and see our pets!" said little George, eagerly.

"By all means; pray let us go and see them first!” exclaimed Mr. Singleton; and as they all sallied from the house, William said to his brother, "But I wish, George, you wouldn't call them pets-that's such a stupid word— such a woman's word," added he, with a somewhat scornful smile.

"What's that you say, William ?" said Lucy England, turning quickly towards him, "I never expected to hear you utter such an ungallant scoff."

"Boys sometimes think it manly, aud showing their masculine superiority, to utter contemptuous words of women," said Mr. Warden, "forgetting that, by this vulgar old jest, they not only involve a slight to their own mother and sisters, but that they take a cowardly advantage (the very reverse of manly behaviour) of their social position, by attacking those who are without defence; for if a woman defend herself by replying, she only incurs fresh imputation, like a sane person accused of madness."

"As for the word pet," said Mr. Singleton, willing to cause a diversion in William's favour, seeing him look disconcerted by his father's reproof, "I maintain it to be a pretty fondling word, 'the word's a good word'—and you, my boy, will hereafter find the very best pet you can possess is a woman; and most certainly you will be a lucky fellow, if you can get one to pet you."

The party had by this time reached the poultry-yard, where they were soon surrounded by flocks of the young

CHANTICLEER AND HIS TRIBE.

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people's favourites, who showed by their eager approach the care and attention they were accustomed to receive from their young masters and mistresses. There was gallant chanticleer strutting about, surrounded by his favourite hens, now and then checking himself, and, with head on one side, stopping to peer with his bright, knowing eye at the stranger (Mr. Singleton), who replied to his glance by repeating old Chaucer's poetical and glowing praise of "Sir Chanticlere :".

"His comb was redder than the fine coral,
Embattled, as it were a castle wall;
His bill was black, and as the jet it shone,
Like azure were his leggès and his tone,*
His nailès whiter than the lily flower,

And like the burned gold was his colour."

Then there were the pretty little sprightly bantams, tripping to and fro with their dainty feathered toes; and among them trotted the white fantail pigeons, with here and there a lofty pouter, looking

like a proud pretender swelling

with insolent self-importance, while suddenly a flight of almond tumblers sprang into the air, and performed their whimsical evolutions, rolling over and over as if they had lost their senses and their equilibrium with

a sudden freak of mad joy at seeing their young friends. "That is a fine flight of tumblers you have, William," said Mr. Singleton; "I suppose they cost you some trouble in the rearing."

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"Yes, Sir," said William; we were obliged to take good care not to allow them to get bad habits of flying low by

*Tone-toes.

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MANAGEMENT OF PIGEONS.

mixing too early with the other pigeons, and we were very careful to let them take wing only once a day, at first, by strewing a little hempseed on the ground to entice them down, and then Georgy and I made sure of them by shutting them up in their house until next morning—so that now they are capital tumblers."

"They are indeed," said Mr. Singleton; "but all your pigeons look in fine health and condition."

"The great thing is to keep them very clean, and give them constant attention from the first," answered William. "For the young ones and their parents, we have that old loft up there, over the wood-house, because then we have them better under our command than in the usual pigeonhouses, such as our neighbour, Lord Rosedale's, which is round like a barrel, and is perched on the top of a pole; though, to be sure, that is better than the pigeon-houses that are built against a wall, as his is less liable to be attacked by cats and rats."

"The only defect of your plan, William," said his father, "is, that it perhaps induces too much handling of the young ones, which you know sometimes brings on a scouring."

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Oh, Papa," said little George, "that was my fault; I used to touch them, the young ones were so amusing, and it was so pleasant to take them up and stroke their pretty new feathers; but when William told me it was bad for them, I left off doing so."

"Mamma gave us some capital red earthenware pans for them to build their nests in," continued William, “which were better than the baskets we had at first; and then we can keep them often cleaned out, which prevents vermin (to which pigeons are subject), besides their having the disease of either roop or canker. After cleaning out our

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