Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-08-03
lce,. as large as half a large pea.

WIZ, as tdfSe DIS ildli large pea"
Thus they continued visiting me for
months until some time in the last OF
September, just after tea at the edge of a
delightful evening" heard such chirpng
and chattering that almost deafened me.
In an instant the little mother appeared,
erticing along herdear little ones, which
were almost splitting their little throats
with their gathering: and soon the faith
er appeared They ran up the steps in
to the room, and stopped just in the door,
| perfectly still except the mother, who
ran to me very hastily, stopped at my
| side. looked in my face, and began to
talk, she thought as inteliisenty4 as any
person would, conversine with me- i
never was more astonished. II supposed
that she was asking me to protect her
little ones. She stood in this manner
tor few moments, talking as fast as she
could. when she ran back to her.chi,lren
and they all commenced eating thei+
abundant meal. which had been prepar
ed for them. When finished, they flew
out, and visited me no more. | was
then convinced that the mother was ex
pressing her gratitude instead of asking
protection.
| mourned the loss of my dear little
family, not expecting ever to see them
again; when, o. how was | delighted. as
sitting in my bedroom window one Sun
day morning, early in the month of the
next June, the dear little creature that
ilrst made its appearance came running
up the walk directly to the door. Feel
ing very i'll, and the morning being rainy,
| could not 90 to let it in the family
being at church, and was obliged to let
1T so away, which it did very broken
heartedly, after waiting some time-with-
out giving it a welcome.
reconcilcd myself, thinking it would
return the next day; but waited for it,
and It did not come, and had entirely
given up the idea of seeing it any more;
when, how was | overjoyed, one morn
ing. to see it fly IN at the door and run
directly to my couch! She stopped di-
rectly before me, looked up and began
to clipper. answered here little how
de do,' and gave her some breakfast
She ran out, and soon her mate CAME
They then continued their visits from
ten to forty times day, sometimes to-
gether, sometimes alone, would often
stay and run about the room. and ap-
peared delighted when felt able to an
swer their prattIe. On stormy days, not
being able to bear the damp air from an
open door, when finding it closed, they.
would come to the window and Autter.
begging to come in. would open the
door little space, just large enough for
them TO pass through; they would imme-
diately fly to the scraper and crowd
through, evidently delio hted, and try to
show their gratitude. After taking their
meal, totally unconcerned at being shut
in. they would amuse themselves awhile,
then crowd out again and fly to their
! nest. Thus they Continued their visits
to ne again for months, quite at home,
and Fer several of the last weeks carrying
away large mess every visit, which con-
vinced me they had again little charge
to feed, when one beautiful morning,
about 10 O'Clock, such a chipping all of a
sudden, and in moment had five lit
tie visitors on the threshold of the door,
the young ones 1nttering and chirping so
as almost to deafen me, but appearing so
happy as hardly to know what to do.
threw down large mess of crumbs,
when the parents instantly ran to me
and took them to their little just fledged
children, put it in their. mouths, many
times for some minutes; after being sufli-
GENTLY fed, all flew out. Thus they
continued to come, at times all together.
sometimes the little ones, one or two at
once, sometimes one aloue, for several
days, but generally three or four togeth-
er. and hardly leaving me alone at all.
running round my feet when at table, and
picking up the mites as they fell, and
trying to amuse me. In about two
weeks they all came at once, after tea,
took an abundant meal, ran about and
chartered to me, and ran. out. saw
the dear little creatures no more.
Should they return again the coming
summer, as they probably will, shall
give you further history. In the mean
time, believe me, Sir, most respectfully
yours, c. G.
Stafford, FEB. 4, 1912
The abuve mentioned bird is the CHR
ping sparrow, [frihgiIia socilla of vii
son.j Shs and her mate have again re-
turned to visit their hostess.
Yours, &c. ]. II. l..
$50
CHINESE ETYMOLOGIES.
A writer in the Boston Courier. who
takes the signatuse Chooing Kwoh+ says;