A Silver Brand — page 79: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A. SILVER’ BRAND. Sa midget which had gathered its last honey-drop; “but—dear, dear! how happy it must have been. They do seem so happy, all the birds. And the humming-bird somehow seems to be of a finer and daintier nature than the others. I hold my breath always when I watch them. Oh, Nat, I don’t be- . heve I like it, after all. It was killed to make a fine ornament for my hat. Poor little humming-bird!” And by the time she had ended, the sweet voice was tremulous, and the bright drops slipped down | upon her cheek. , Nat smiled upon her tenderly. . “Do you think I would have given it to you. pierced by that cruel thought, my tender-hearted Lina? Take comfort with the humming-bird, my child. It was not killed for you. Indeed, it was not killed at all, It died in a cage, pined, I suppose, for its tropical home, for it was brought alive from south America. It is of a very rare species—too valuable to be neglected inany way. I think the man who lost it shed genuine tears when that pretty head began to droop. The only cruelty that you can connect with it, was the taking it when a fledgling and giving it a cage.” 3 “Poor little humming-bird!” repeated Lina, softly; but she looked up into Nat’s face with a- tender smile, adding, “But I shall wear it now. Is this one like it, the one you are at work on?” “No; not so beautiful a creature, but the nearest I could approach to yours. This also is intended fora hat. I must try to be impartial to my little friends.” “Tor Serena!” exclaimed Lina, witha glad laugh. “Oh, Nat, that was well thought indeed. Will she come to-day? Itis so long since J have seen her. I have not had time to tell you what a dreary time I have had of late. I have had my cage door barred too.” | “You!” exclaimed Nat, but in a carefully modu- lated voice. “What do you mean, Lina?” She gave a short, impatient sigh. “It is another of the mysteries, I suppose. One can never tell what will be next. Ihave been in- COomMmicboo cS com