The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-12-01


out bsilafng spot bsf Is a esfeealef.s
beach vas under the ~indsw. sndlfsqusus
hsmnrrinF. saving. and pIsaiar ssts
going On. had liHle hope that they xcsla
choose loexlioa snder our roof. To ny
surprise. hossssr. they som began 10
build intbe crouch 0i bean ossf lhe 0pea
door way. ! wss delighted. aud speai
more Time watching Than apsany wise.
people ~oold have spprovrd. u ~ss. in
iael. beautiful liills drama Of domestic
love. The molher bird vas 90 b8sy. cad
50 important; and her mate vas 90 silsn-
tive! Never Gid sny newly nsnied
couple lake more siisfaesion ri.h their
6rst nicely snanged drawer of BABY
clothes Than they did in lashioning their
little woven cradle.
The fshrr bird SCARCELY ever LEFT The
aide Of he neat. There he nae al day
long. lsillering IN tones that we're most
obviously ihe oulpourings oflose. Some
times be ~esld bring in straw. or hair. 70
be enierssvea in The precious lillIs fab
ric. One day my attention vas arrested
BY very unusual lwiilsring. and ] sac
him cireling rouad wiIh . large doway
feather In his bill. He bent evefthe unfin-
ished neat, and offered il 10 he mate with
The mos, graceful and loving sir iaasina.
Die; and when she put up her mouth 10
lake il he poured forth such agu.hof glad
some sound. il seemed % II pride and az.
faction hand swelled his heart oil il was
almost too big Cor h,s hlile bosom. The
whole transaction vac ihe preliiesi piece
Of fond coquery on both sides that II vas
ever my good lock 70 witness.
Ii vas evident that The bird had formed
correct opinions on /. The woman ques-
,ion;" iorduring The process ofineubauon.
he volunteered 10 perform bis share Of
household duty. Three OF four times day
would he, with coaxing twi,lerinss. per.
suede his patient mate 10 fy abroad for
food; and ihe moueni she left The eggs. be
would take Tie maternal station, aud give
. loud alarm whenever cat or dog came
about The premises. He certsinly perform.
ed The Office with far less ease and grace
than she did: il was something 10 The style
sf an old bachelor leudins babe; bot ne.
ver,heless il shored that HE heart wss
kind. and his principles correct concerning
disision Of labor. When The young once
cane forth, he pursued he same equaliz-
Ing policy. and broogh, Il least bali The
food Cor his greedy lIssie family.
But when they became old enough 20
fy. the veriest nisan,hrope ~osld have
laughed 20 watch their maneuvres! Sach
cbirping and i~i,,erins! Such diving
down Iron Tho nest and flying ep sea,n!
Such wheeling round 10 circles. talking 70
The young ones oil The While! Such cling
ing TO the SIDES Of ,he shed with their
sharp cla~s. 70 shov ihe timid li,ils fecss
l,ngs that ,hers was no need Of falling!
For three days ali this vas carried on
9th increasing activity. ltsss obvious
ly an infant fying school.
But their talking and fussing was Of no
avail. The little dowRy things looked
dosn, and then looked up. and alarmed
., the iafini,y u space, sunk down into
the nest again. Al length The parents
grew impsnen,. ssd summoned their
Az | vas picking up chips
on Q day, I found my head encircled wiih
a swarm Of swallows. They few up TO
the nest, and jsbbered away to the young
ones! then clung to the walls. looking
back to tell hos the ,hing was done; they
dived and wheeled. and balanced, foa,ed,
in manner perfectly beautiful 10 behold.
The pupils were evidently much excl
ted. They jumped on The edge Of the
nest, and iwiusred and shook their feath
ere. and waved their wings. and then hop
ped back again, saying. "l.s pretty sport
but We cant do it,"
Three times The neighbois came, and
repeated their graceful lesson. The third
time two oil the young birds gave . sud-
den plunge downwa ard. and then Au,!rred
and hoped ill they lighted on smsll
upright log. Aud oh! such praises ss
we're warbled by The whole troop! The
air was filled Si,h their joy! Some we're
flying around swift as ray Of light; 9th
ers we're perched on the hoe handles and
the teeth Of the rake; mulutudes clung 70
the wall, after the fashion of their petty
kind. and Two we're swinging in mos,
graceful style on pendsnt hoop. Never.
while memory las,s, shall | forget the
swallow party! have frolicket with
blessed nature much and often; but this
above all her ganbols, spoke into my in
mos, heart like the glad voice. OF little
children. The beautiful family continued
to be our playmstes until The falling leaves
gave token OF approaching winter. For
some time the little ones came hame re-
sularly 10 their nest al night. Twas ever
on the atch to welcome them. and count
that none were missing. A sculptor
might have taken a lesson in his art from
these little creatures. perclied so graceful
ly on the edge Of their clsy-bu'l, cradle.
Fac, asleep. with their heads hidden under
their folded wings. Their familiarity was
wonderful. IL | hung gown on nail. |