"Dick tried to explain in his bird fashion, and did so, I thought, very intelligibly, but, then, as you know, all human beings are so very difficult of comprehension. So she took me out in spite of all my poor cousin's protests, and laid me on the table in her room. On the following Sunday, when Mary was to stay at home with the little ones while nurse went to church, she remembered me, and brought me down to amuse the young Spensers. Like all the rest of their race, they soon became tired of me, and I was thrust away in this dusty cupboard till now. Of all the histories that have been related to amuse you, none, I am sure, have surpassed mine for vicissitudes and changes. I was the early companion of Duchesses and Lords, and yet have been doomed to endure the society of coachmen and stable boys, and to be rescued from a rackety bird-cage to end my days in a dusty cupboard!"
Then the Shuttlecock ceased to speak, and betook herself to her corner, to bewail in private the sad downfall she had endured.
"And now," said the Ball, "I will call upon our venerable friend, the Noah's Ark; I am sure he will be able to tell us a great deal that is very interesting about himself and his numerous tribe."
The poor old Ark creaked slowly forward, and announced his willingness to add his history to the rest, beginning in the following words.
CHAPTER IX.
WHAT BECAME OF NOAH'S ARK AND ALL ITS BEASTS.
