The Bird Sat on His Hand. The Bird Sat on His Hand. "Well," said daddy, "I suppose you are ready for your story, and this evening I am going to tell you about a little boy I saw as I passed by a ward in a hospital I was visiting to-day." Jack and Evelyn sat up and listened eagerly, as they loved to hear about other little boys and girls. "This little boy," daddy continued, "was in the bed nearest the door I passed, and I noticed him particularly because on a table near his bed was a large cage containing a small yellow canary bird. I asked the nurse if pets were allowed in the ward and why this little boy especially wanted a bird. She told me that the little boy was an orphan and had been brought into the hospital one "So the bird was sent for, and instead of dying the little boy began to grow better each day, and the bird's singing entertained and gave pleasure to the other patients in the ward. The bird was very tame, and when the little boy opened the cage door he would hop out and over the bed-quilt and perch on the little boy's hand. "The canary made friends with every one. He was not at all afraid of the grave doctors "I stepped inside the room and asked the little boy how long he had had the bird. 'Oh,' he said, 'a lady who came to visit the orphans' home gave him to me when I was ill in bed with mumps! That was six years ago, and he has been such a friend to me ever since. His name is Mumps, too, as I thought his chest looked as fat as my cheeks, and the name has always clung to him. He adores flowers, and whenever a patient has any, Mumps flies over and pulls off the petals and eats them.'" "Oh," said Evelyn as daddy paused, "I wish I could have a canary!" "Well, maybe I'll bring you one to-morrow," replied daddy. "And I'll help you feed him," said Jack. |