Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-04
select Tales.
The Messenger Bird,
OR THE SPIRIT OF TRUE BENEVO-
LENCU

LENCL.
The amiable wife cf the celebrated author
Helvetius, whose graccs and qualities inspired
her husband in the production Of his charming
poem on "Iiappiness possessed a remarkable
passion for birds; and having devoted much
time to the interesting stady Of OrnithoIogy, she
knew all the various modes Of rearing and fee
ding them.
AT the beautiful country scat Of Autcuil, Mad
anne lIevetius has caused the erection Of an e-
egant and commodous ayiary, IN which were as
sembled felthered and tuneluI thronr; anc
which was an asylum for all the birds Of the snr-
rounding country during the Indictment month,
Of winter. The aviary was only closed at night
in order to secure its inmates from being attack
ed by destructive animals In the morning
when Nadine II. had distributed with her own
hands the peculiar food suited to their different
natures, she opened their prison doors, and per
mi ted them TO enjoy entire freedom Hopping
from spray to spray, they would then make the
surrounding woods merry with their melodiou,
notes.
1t frequently h1ppcned that during the fine
weather in summer, but few Ct this Joyous troop
returned to the asylum where the most tender
care disputed with abundance. An insect, taken
on the wing--the muddy water of pond-and
the slightest shelter afforded by twig-whare
often preferred to the long ers of grin--the del
icate seed-the clear limpd fountain, and the
nests of moss and down. which decorated the
avary; 50 true to nature is it, that not ever i'm
prisonment in palace with every luxury, CIR
compensate for the loss of liberty and mdepen
dence But, when came frost and snow, dnt
the winds whistlcd chill through the ea1es,
trees, then would these little ldgitiyes gladly re.
turn to enjoy the sweets Of hospitality; bringing
with them not a few strangers, who sought alsc
an asylum from cold and and hunger.
1t was never without regret thai Madame
Helyetius separated herself from her numerou,
and beloved guests but the celebrity of her
name the charm of her society aud the grace,
of her person and manner, called her to become
the ornament of a gay capital to which she US
ulIly repaired about the first of January.
The memorable severe winter of 1888, plo.
duced in France, unparalleled distress and mis-
fortune. Rivers, choaked by ice piled moan
tains high, broke through their natural blrrers
and destroyed indiscrininatey castle aud cot
tage. Wild be lists, embroidered by the paags ID
hunger, dlrted into the sheepfolds, and besier
ing the hamlet, attacked the infant in its cradle
The bodies of men were found upon the HIN.
way petrlied by cold; and in The fields and
woods, game of every kind was seen extended
dead upon the snow Oue would have though
that the solar system was deranged that the
earth had deviateG from its course so complete
iy had the temperature of France-which is no
one of the least advantages she derives from ma
ture-changed into that Of Greenland or Nova
Zenlbla
It was then that the Madame lTelyetius-
after having assured herself that her numerou,
feathered family at Auteu were we'll provided
for, and not suffering in any manner the effect;
Of such dsasterous winter,--occupie hersel
in Paris, in afording relief to the unhappy poor
Her touching pity extended itself to all the SUI
fering beings around her