Helen Maria Williams - Julia (Extracts) lyrics

One morning, as she pa**ed the cottage, she looked in at the window, and saw little Peggy standing at the table, taking some flies out of a bowl of water, and placing them in the sun, where they shook their wet wings, and were a**isted in the operation of drying themselves by Peggy; who put her face very close to the table, and endeavoured to revive them with her warm breath. When Ju∣lia entered the cottage, the child, who knew her well, looked up in her face, and told her to "come and see how glad the flies were to get out." Peggy was endeared to Julia by her kindness to the flies; for she herself felt for every thing that had life, with a degree of sensibility which many would account a foolish weakness. She had frequently been en∣gaged in the very same business of rescu∣ing flies from destruction; and, when she Page saw a worm lying in her path, had often conveyed it to a place of safety among the untrodden gra**, to prevent its being crushed by some foot less careful than her own. We do not pretend to justify these actions, which people, who have firm nerves for every pain that does not reach themselves, may probably ridicule; but we think it our duty to relate the fact. Julia had indeed no lesson of humanity left untaught by her grandfather. She had seen the linnets and sparrows, who built their nests in the neighbourhood of that good old man, secure of a comfortable provision in winter; and the robins, who ventured to his gate, had always met with an hospitable reception. He had often, when recommending tenderness to animals, pointed out to his grand-daughter that pa**age in scripture— Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten be∣fore God! —Dear, and venera∣ble old man! how congenial to thy spirit Page was this tender a**urance!—by what heart is universal benevolence cherished as it was by thine! ... As the morning was fine, Julia got out of the carriage at Charlotte's door, and walked home. In her way, she saw a young bird that was unable to fly, hop∣ping on the pavement. A boy seized it, whom she bribed with a shilling to re∣linquish his prize, which she was taking home, when it escaped from her hand, and fell down the area of a house. She desired the servant, who attended her, to knock at the door; and a search was made for the little fugitive, but it could no where be found. Julia wrote the following lines on this incident. ELEGY On finding a young THRUSH in the Street, who escaped from the Wri∣ter's Hand, as she was bringing him home, and, falling down the Area of a House, could not be found. MISTAKEN Bird, ah, whither hast thou stray'd? My friendly grasp, why eager to elude? This hand was on thy pinion lightly laid, And fear'd to hurt thee by a touch too rude. Is there no foresight in a Thrush's breast, That thou down yonder gulph from me would'st go? That gloomy area lurking cats infest, And there the dog may rove, alike thy foe. I would with lavish crumbs my Bird have fed, And bought a crystal cup to wet thy bill; I would have made of down and moss thy bed, Soft, though not fashion'd with a Thrush's sk**. Soon as thy strengthen'd wing could mount the sky, My willing hand had set my captive free: Ah, not for her, who loves the muse, to buy A selfish pleasure, bought with pain to thee! The vital air, and liberty, and light, Had all been thine: and love, and rapt'rous song, And sweet parental joys, in rapid flight, Had led the circle of thy life along. Securely to my window hadst thou flown, And ever thy accustom'd morsel found; Nor should thy trusting breast the wants have known, Which other Thrushes knew, when winter frown'd. Fram'd with the wisdom Nature lent to thee, Thy house of straw had brav'd the tempest's rage; And thou, thro' many a spring, hadst liv'd to see The utmost limit of a Thrush's age. Ill-fated Bird! and does the Thrush's race, Like Man's, mistake the path that leads to bliss; Or, when his eye that tranquil path can trace, The good he well discerns, thro' folly miss?