and turned very pale.

"Well," resumed grandpa, "he grew to be a man, was married and settled in life; and now came God's time to punish him. He had one child after another until they numbered five. Three[Pg 30] of them, two daughters and one son, were born stone blind.

[Pg 30]

"He was a man coarse and rough in his feelings, as a cruel man will always be; but this affliction cut him to the heart, and when it was announced to him that the third child would never open its eyes to the light of the sun, he threw up his arms and cried aloud, 'O God, have mercy on me, though I had none on the poor birds!'[Pg 31]

[Pg 31]

"Never before had he made the slightest allusion to his former cruelty, except to his wife, though it seemed by this expression, that he had always regarded it as a judgment."

 "If ever I see, On bush or tree, Young birds in their pretty nest, I must not, in play, Steal the birds away, To grieve their mother's breast.  "My mother, I know, Would sorrow so [Pg 32]Should I be stolen away; So I'll speak to the birds In my softest words, Nor hurt them in my play.  "And when they can fly In the bright blue sky, They'll warble a song to me; And then, if I'm sad, It will make me glad To think they are happy and free." 

"If ever I see,

On bush or tree,

Young birds in their pretty nest,

I must not, in play,

Steal the birds away,

To grieve their mother's breast.

"My mother, I know,

Would sorrow so

[Pg 32]

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