



Produced by Al Haines








  THE BIRD IN
  THE BOX


  BY MARY MEARS


  Author of "The Breath of The Runners"



  TORONTO
  WILLIAM BRIGGS




  _All rights reserved, including that of translation
  into foreign languages including the Scandinavian_

  Copyright, 1910, by
  FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY

  October, 1910




To

THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER

"NELLY WILDWOOD"

THIS BOOK IS DEVOTEDLY INSCRIBED




AUTHOR'S PREFACE

The soul of man at birth is immured in a prison.  It is like a bird
singing in a cage, heedless of the bars that confine it.  But later the
soul knows its bondage.

Panting with