Lizzie is showing her grandfather her pet bird. Her grandfather has the gout, and cannot walk. He has to keep his foot resting on a stool, and all the amusement he has, is derived from Lizzie and her pet bird. It is a Canary. She has a nice blue ribbon fastened to its foot so that it cannot fly away. It is eating a cherry from the hands of the old gentleman. The Canary bird is the most charming of all singing birds. They can be tamed and when so, are very playful and full of capers. I will tell you some of their tricks. Some years ago, there was an Italian gentleman exhibiting some funny birds in New York. I went to see him and his birds. One Canary jumped on the back of a crow and rode him around the room. Another Canary bird stood on the barrel of a pistol, when his master discharged it, without stirring at the report. The master then suspended a ring from the ceiling to within a few feet of the floor. The ring was surrounded with pitch and on fire. At his bidding, four or five of the birds would fly through the ring, without burning their feathers. He harnessed one to a little wagon and made him draw it around the table. I was highly amused, and determined to buy a nice Canary and learn it some tricks.

I am saving my pennies, and will soon have a pet like Lizzie's.