The canary, its varieties, management and breeding, with portraits of the author's own birds / by the Rev. Francis Smith.

  • Smith, Francis.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The canary, its varieties, management and breeding, with portraits of the author's own birds / by the Rev. Francis Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    but for it might never be undertaken! Seeing and knowing little, many a child, we feel assured, Avould naturally be led to desire to know more. Books thereon, as a natural consequence, would be sought after with avidity, and read with profit and delight, which but for the canaries might probably lie idle and unlooked into on the shelf. As the cost is so trifling, the pleasure so great, the interest never ceasing, and the effect so good, wre feel persuaded that the idea only requires to be sug- gested for many to carry it out in practice in their nur- series and homes. At any rate, should any be led to make the experiment, we can promise them a golden mine of amusement and delight, which those who have never tried it would little credit or suspect. As Robert Nicholl sang of its kindred finch—the linnet—so may we, with equal or greater truth, say of the canary: “Some humble heart is sore and sick with grief. And straight thou earnest with tliy gentle song, To wile the sufferer from its hate or wrong, By bringing nature’s love to his relief. Thou churmest by the sick child’s window long Till aching pain itself he wooed to sleep; And when away have vanished flower and leaf. Thy lonely wailing voice for them doth weep— Linnet, wild linnet! “ God saw how much of woe, and grief, and care, Man’s faults and follies on the earth would make -r And thee, sweet singer, for His creature’s sake. He sent to warble wildly everywhere. And by our souls to love to wake. Oh ! blessed wandering spirit! unto thee Pure hearts are knit, as unto things too fair And good and beautiful of earth to be— Linnet! wild linnet! ”