This exercise was carried on with much spirit until the children were called to dinner. [Pg 45] [Pg 45] CHAPTER IV. THE CANARY EXHIBITION. After he had eaten his dinner, Fred accompanied his father to the barn to assist him about the work, then fed his fowls and Annie's lamb, after which he returned to the house, eager to hear grandpa's account of the exhibition. "I dare say," began the old gentleman, "that your mother[Pg 46] can remember more about it than I can. The owner of the canaries was a Frenchman, who had for many years devoted himself to the business of educating birds. There were a great number of them, some of which were over twenty years old. [Pg 46] "During the exhibition the canaries were arranged in order at one end of the stage, and came forward as they were called by name.[Pg 47] [Pg 47] "One of them, whose name, I think, was Major, was dressed in a tiny suit of military uniform. He had a chapeau on his head and a sword in his claw: after sitting upright for some time, Major, at the word of command, freed himself from his dress, and flew to his cage. "Another came forward with a slender stick in his claws. This he put between his legs, and holding his head down, suffered [Pg 48] himself to be turned round and round, as if he were being roasted." [Pg 48] Annie was listening in open-mouthed wonder to these astonishing feats. "O grandpa!" she exclaimed, "I hope there was no fire there." "No, of course not," cried Fred; "but what did the others do, grandpa?" "I can think of but two more feats, my dear. Several of them[Pg 49] came out together and practised some gymnastic exercises."
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