I can't believe there are prettier pigeons than mine anywhere in the
world. Every morning and every afternoon I feed them myself, and they
are so tame they eat out of my hand, or out of the basin when I hold it
for them.
There is some one else who thinks them as pretty as I do, and I'll tell
you all about her. It was last year, early in the autumn, that I went
out with the pan into the front yard to feed them, and walked down the
stone steps, calling the pigeons all the way, while they flew after me.
I didn't notice anything in the road, which was just in front of me,
until I saw a very big man in a grand livery picking his way across the
yard, and then I noticed a carriage had stopped in front of the house,
and the lady inside was looking at me and at my pigeons. She beckoned me
to come to her; but I was too shy, and ran into the house, to find
Mother, who went out to the lady, and I followed just behind her.
And what do you think the lady wanted? To buy my pigeons--my beautiful
pigeons! She offered me a dollar, and then two, and then three; but I
shook my head every time, and hugged the pigeon that was in my arms. At
last she showed me five dollars in gold, and asked if I would let them
go for that. But I couldn't--it didn't seem as if any money could pay me
for the loss of my pigeons.
Mother said I must do as I liked about it, for they were my very own,
but she said five dollars was a great deal of money, and more than the
pigeons were worth; only I didn't think so.
Then the lady said she wouldn't ask me any more, but in case I changed
my mind she would give Mother her card. I was sorry I couldn't let her
have my birds, but then I dare say she has lots of pretty things, and I
have only my pigeons.
Well, Father and William laughed at me for some time about the pigeons;
and if I wanted any money for shoes or anything, Father would say,
"Dear me! how well Mary's five dollars would have paid for this!" But
that was only laughingly, for he would never have taken my money.
This spring my pigeons made a nest, and there were two eggs in it, and
after a time two birds, that grew just like the others. I was thinking
about the lady one day, and I thought, as I had refused to sell her the
old birds, I had better offer to give her the young ones. So next day
William carried them over in a basket, and left them at the house.
A few days after, the carriage stopped again before our house, and this
time the lady came in and sat in the parlor, and ate a piece of Mother's
cake and drank a glass of new milk. But before she went away she gave me
a parcel which she said was for my very own, and she hoped I would take
as good care of it as I did of my pigeons. And when I looked there was
the most beautiful work-case in the world! I used not to like my sewing,
but now I do, because I use the work-case and the silver thimble every
time!
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