undertook to sell "if 'twas
so she could," without profit to herself; a little stationery, and a few
small wares, thread and needles, hairpins and whalebone--and there were
a great many birds. Elmerton was a great place for cage-birds, and Miss
Penny was "knowing" about them; consequently, when any bird was ailing,
it was brought to her for advice and treatment, and there were seldom
less than half a dozen cages in the sunny window. One shelf was devoted
to stuffed birds, it being the custom, when a favorite died, to present
it to Miss Penny for her collection; and thus the invalid canaries and
mino birds were constantly taught to know their end, which may or may
not have tended to raise their spirits.

One morning Miss Penny was bustling about her shop, feeding the birds
and talking to Miss Prudence, the door between the two rooms being open.
She was like a bird herself, Miss Penny, with her quick motions and
bright eyes, her halting walk which was almost a hop, and a way she had
of cocking her head on one side as she talked.

"So I says, 'Of course I'll take him, Mis' Tree, and glad to. He'll be
company for both of us,' I says. And it's true. I'd full as lieves hear
that bird talk as many folks I know, and liever. I told her I guessed
about a week would set him up good, taking the Bird Manna reg'lar, and
the Bitters once in a while. A little touch of asthmy is what he's got;
it hasn't taken him down any, as I can see; he's as full of the old
Sancho as ever. Willy Jaquith brought him down this morning, while you
was to market. How that boy has improved! Why, he's an elegant-appearing
young man now, and has such a pretty way with him--well, he always had
that--but now he's kind of sad and gentle. I shouldn't suppose he had
any too long to live, the way he looks now. Well, hasn't Mary Jaquith
had a sight of trouble, for one so good? Dear me, Prudence, the day she
married George Jaquith, she seemed to have the world at her feet, didn't
she?"

"_Eheu fugaces_," said a harsh voice from a corner.

"There, hear him!" said Miss Penny. "I do admire to hear him speak
French. Yes, Jocko, he was a clever boy, so he was. Pretty soon Penny'll
get round to him, and give him a good washing, a Beauty Bird, and feed
him something real good."

"'_Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume,
Labuntur anni_;'

tell that to your granny!" said Mrs. Tree's parrot, turning a bright
yellow eye on her knowingly.

"Bless your heart, she woul