“For some time I lost in sleep the sense of my misfortunes, but was roused from my slumber by a rude shock. Ah! conceive my anguish and terror, at finding myself within the death-dealing clutches of a large tabby cat! Puss would no doubt have made that morning an exquisite breakfast, had not Providence interfered, and sent the master of the house into the garden at that, to me, critical moment. At a word from this man, who held the animal in complete subjection, Grimalkin released me, and suffered her master to take me in his hand, while she purred round him, evidently with exultation at what she had done.
“After a short investigation, I was taken into the house, and consigned to a cage of curious construction, in an apartment which contained about a hundred birds of different species. It was not long before I learnt that my present owner was a bird-fancier; and I was soon after fated to undergo the most exquisite tortures, as the means of teaching me a variety of tricks and graces, to which I was before a stranger, such as drawing up a bucket of water, standing on one leg with a paper gun under my wing, and twisting round my perch like a rope-dancer. These accomplishments, though they may be amusing to an inconsiderate spectator, will, I am sure, afford but little pleasure to the feeling breast, when they know the tortures which are inflicted on a tender, unresisting animal, when they hear how our delicate limbs are twisted to agony, or goaded with red-hot knitting-needles. But why should I shock the susceptible mind by a minute detail of such barbarities? Already, in imagination, I perceive the eye of pity drop a tear on the page—the generous heart throb with indignation. Oh Sensibility! sweet inmate of the human breast! may thy soft dictates impress betimes the minds of my youthful readers—may they turn with disgust from every scene of cruel sport, and follow the glorious example of their blessed Redeemer in gentleness and mercy!
“It will, I trust, afford satisfaction to my reader to learn, that I was soon after relieved from such persecutions by an old maiden lady, who took a fancy to me, and purchased me at an exorbitant price. My joy at the exchange may be easily imagined; and I became so very tame, that, as I was a particular favourite, I was indulged with the range of the whole apartment, and suffered to peck the sugar out of her cup at breakfast. Thus, in the vicissitudes of life’s changeful scene, do luxury and misery tread alternately on the heels of each other.
“The whims and caprices of this old lady would afford ample diversion to those who take delight in ridiculing the infirmities of human nature. For my own part, I think no practice so truly despicable; besides which, gratitude ought to restrain those who eat of the bread and drink of the cup of their superiors, especially (as was the case with my mistress) when a good heart makes ample compensation for a number of peculiarities.
“The death of my venerable owner again consigned me to new hands, and I became the property of her niece, Mrs. Torrent, with whom I was once more subjected to every kind of ill usage that it was possible for me to bear. This lady had three children, peevish, ill-bred, and disgusting. Every visitor was tormented by their impertinence, every domestic the slave of their caprices, and every dumb animal the object of their mischievous pastime. To please these little wretches, I was taken from my cage, a string was fastened to my slender leg, to which Master Tommy attached a pasteboard toy, which he denominated a flying Harlequin, and the weight of which caused me extreme pain. Yet I was compelled to drag it about; and if I failed to perform my task to his satisfaction, I was urged to obedience by a needle’s point. At other times Miss Sophy would spin my cage round, till I dropped from my perch, sick, giddy, and almost expiring.
“These and such tyrannical amusements they were permitted by their foolishly-indulgent parents; and I should, in all probability, have been the victim of their cruelty, had I not been at last so fortunate as to make my escape.
“Again I had the wide world before me, and again was my life endangered by a rapacious bird of prey, who saw and pursued me. Exerting the utmost swiftness of which my wings were capable, I flew over hill and valley; but, notwithstanding all my speed, I must inevitably have been overtaken by my dreaded foe, had not I fortunately perceived a young lady sitting at a window, into which I immediately flew, and sheltered myself in her bosom. Surprised and alarmed, she gave a loud shriek; but the palpitations of terror, which had before agitated my bosom, changed to rapture when I perceived my pursuer retreat in affright at the sound of her voice; and my delight was still further augmented, when I discovered, in my fair preserver, my former mistress, Eliza Fitzallan, at that time Mrs. Somers, the union of the young lovers having taken place since my flight.
“In the same apartment were assembled Fanny and her husband, with Mr. and Mrs. Fitzallan; and my happiness was complete, when, after regarding me attentively for some time, Eliza declared to young Somers that I was the very bird she had brought away from the farm.
‘I know him,’ said she, ‘by the particular formation of one of his claws, which must have received a hurt when it was first hatched; and now I have found my pretty creature, I will take care of it.’
‘I think, Eliza,’ said her husband, ‘you had better give it to Mrs. Fitzallan. You are going back into the country, where we shall be at no loss for birds; and I think Mrs. Fitzallan will set greater store by this than any one she might purchase.’