At such moments the countenance of the boy beamed as it had
done in the days of his happiness; his cheeks flushed with color,
and out of his large blue eyes, which rested with inexpressible
tenderness upon the bird, there issued the rays of intelligence and
sensibility. He had now something to love, something to which all
his gentle sympathies could flow out, which hitherto had all been
suppressed beneath the harsh treatment of his keepers.
He was no longer alone, he was no longer joyless! His little friend
was there in the great cage among the twittering companions who were
indifferent to the little prince. In order to know him at first
sight, and always to be able to recognize him, Louis took the rose-
colored ribbon from the neck of the automaton, and tied it around
the neck of his darling. The bird sang merrily at this, and seemed
to be as well pleased with the decoration as if it had been an order
which King Louis of France was hanging around the neck of a favorite
courtier.
It was a fortunate thing for the boy that Simon himself was fond of
birds, else the objections of his wife would soon have robbed the
little fellow of his last remaining comfort. It was for the keeper a
little source of amusement, an interruption in the dreadful monotony
of his life. The birds were allowed to stay therefore, and their
singing and twittering animated a little the dark, silent rooms, and
reminded him of the spring, the fresh air, the green trees!
But very soon this source of comfort and cheer was to be banished
from the dismal place! On the 19th of December, 1793, the inspectors
of the Temple made their rounds.
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