A robin came, in the severity of winter, to the window of an honest farmer, and appeared as though he wished to enter. Then the farmer opened the window and kindly took the confiding little animal into his dwelling. He picked up the crumbs that fell from the table. The children loved and valued the bird. But when spring again appeared and the trees were covered with leaves, the farmer opened his window, and the little stranger flew into a neighboring grove, and built his nest and sang his cheerful song.
And behold, when winter returned, the robin came again to the dwelling of the farmer, and brought his mate with him. And the farmer, together with his children, rejoiced greatly, when they saw the two little animals, as they looked with their clear, small eyes, confidently round. And the children said, “The birds regard us as though they had something to say.”
Then the father answered, “If they could speak they would say, Friendly confidence awakens confidence, and love produces reciprocal affection.”
Echo: a Dialogue.
The following dialogue between Echo and a glutton was written in 1609:—
Glut. Who curbs his appetite’s a fool.
Echo. Ah, fool!
Glut. I do not like this abstinence.
Echo. Hence!
Glut. My joy’s a feast, my wish is wine.