dering “ Peace … peace … peace!” “ Three cheers, three cheers,”
etc., to these sympathetic northern ears became “ Louise, Louise, Louise!” Thenceforth he was Louis, the Cardinal, calling for his mate.
On March 26, a kind friend took pity on the lonely bachelor, and a caged bird, “ Louise,” was introduced to him. In the lovely dove-colored bird, with faint washings of red and the family mask and crest, the Cardinal at once recognized his kind. His joy was unbounded; and the acquaintance progressed rapidly, a mutual understanding being plainly reached during the seventeen days of cage courtship. Louis brought food to Louise, and they had all things in common except liberty.
April 12, in the early morning, the cage was taken out-of-doors and Louise was set free. She was quick to embrace her chance, and flew into the neighboring shrubbery. For six days she reveled in her
CARDINAL AND HOUSE SPARROWS
new-found freedom; Louis, meanwhile, coming and going as of old, and often carrying away seeds from the house to share with his mate.
April 16, he lured her into the house, and after that they came often for food, flying fearlessly in at the window, and delighting their friends with their songs and charming ways. Louis invariably gave the choicest morsels to his mate, and the course of true love seemed to cross the adage; but alas! Death was already adjusting an arrow for that shining mark.
April 25, Louise stayed in the house all day, going out at nightfall. Again the following day she remained indoors, Louis feeding her; but her excellent appetite disarmed suspicion, and it was thought that she had taken refuge from the cold and rain, especially as she spent the night within. The third morning, April 27, she died. An examination of her body revealed three dreadful wounds.
Louis came twittering to the window, but was not let in until a day or two after, when a new bird, “ Louisa,” had been put in the cage.
