The Spirit Of Liberty

koon after the close of the long1 French wor in Europe, a boy was standing on one of the bridges that cross the Tbames at London, with a number of small birda in a cage for sale. A sailor, who was passing, observed the little prisoners rluttering about n the cage, peeping throagh the wires, and manife&ting their eager desiro to regain their liberty. He stood for 8ome time looking at the birds, apparently lost in thought. At length, addressing the boy, he said : 'How niuch do you ask for your birds?' 'Six pence apiece, eir,' was the reply. 'I don't ask how much apioce,' said the sailor, but how much for the lot? I want to bu the whole.' There's your nioncy,' said the sailor, andopening the enge door, he Iet all the bircld fly away. The boy, loolcing quite astonished, exclnimed, What did you do that for, sir? You have lost all your birds.' 'I teil you, boy, I was three years shut up in a French prison, as prisoner of war - I know how precious überiy is, and I ani resolved never to see any thing deprived of it that I can tnake freo.'