The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-01
For the Girls and Boys,
The Emigrant's Lark.

following beautiful episodo-a simple story
about poor Emigrant and his Lark
Henry Patterson, aud his wife Elizabeth
smiled from the Tower in the yeur 1884, as
Gmigrants on board II vessel heavily laden
with passengers, and bound TO Quebec.
Patterson was an intimate friend ola not
cd bird-cHtcher in London called Charley
Nash. Now Nash had determined 10 make
his friend present ofa good sky-lark To take
TO Canada with him; but not having what he
called ga real good I'm" among his collection,
he went into the country OH purpose to trap
one. In this effort he succeeded, but when
he returned to London he found that his
friend Patterson had embarked, and that the
vessel had sailed II few hours before he reach
ed the Tower Stairs. lie therefore Jumped Oh
board steamer that was starting, and over
took the ship Just as she reached Grayesend,
where he hired small boat, and then scull-
ing along side, he was soon recognized by
PattersoG and his wife, who, with II crowd
ofotlIer male and female emigrants, ofal ag-
es, We're taking last farewell of the various
objects which the vessel was slowly passing.
"Ilere's bird for you Henry" said Nash to
Patterson, as,standing up in the skifi, he took
The frightened captive out of his hat, Sand if
it sings as well in II cage as it did just now in
abe air,it will be the best you have ever heard"
Patterson, descending few steps from the
gang way, stretched out his hand and receiv-
ed the bird, which hc Immediately called
Church, in remembrance Of his faithful friend
Nash.
In the GulfofSt. Lawrence the vessel was
wrecked: almost every thing was lost except
the lives ofthe crew and passengers; and nc
cordingy, when Patterson, with his wife
hanging heavily on his arm, landed in Cana
rda, he was destitute of every thing he had
owned on board excepting Charley, whom he
had preserved and afterwards kept for three
days in the foot of an old stocking
after some few sorrows, and after some
little time, Patterson settled muselfut Toron-
10, in the lower part ola small house in King
street, the principal thoroughthre ofthe town
where he worked rs a shoemaker. His shop
had southern aspect; he drove nail into the
outside ofhis window, and regularly every
morning, Just before he sat upon his stool to
commence his daily work, he carefully hung
upon this nail common Ekylar<'s cage, which
had Il solid back of dark wood, with bow or
small wire orchestra in front, upon the bot
tom OF which there was to be seen, whenev-
cr it could be procured II fresh sod Of green
Guri.
AS Charley's wings were of'no use to him
IN this prison, the only wholesome exercise
that he could take was by hopping of'und on
his little stage; aud this he sometimes could
most cheerluIly continue to do for hours, stop
ping only occasionally to dip his bill into n
square tin box of water suspended on one
side, and then to raise it for Il second or two
towards the sky. AS soon, howeverIund on
ly when) his spirit moved him, this leuthered
captive again hoped upon his stage, and
there, standing on hit of British soil, with
his little neck cXtonded,his small head slight
3y turned, his dropping wings slightly tiutter-
ing, his bright black eyes ineutly fixed upon
the distant deep, dark blue Canadian sky. he
commenced his unprecedented morning
song his cXtemporc matin prayer
The effect of his thrilling notes; Of his
shrill joyous song, ofhs purc, unadulterated
English voice upon the people of Canada can
probably he imagined by those only who Ell
ther by adversely have been premuture!y
weaned from their mother country, or who,
from long continued absence and from hope
deferred, have learned in foreign land to APP
preciate the inestimabie blessings of their
father-land, oftheir parent home. All sorts
ofmen, driving, riding, walking propelled by
urgent business, or sauntering for appetite or
amusement, as ifby word ofcommand, stop
ped, spell-bound, to listen, for more less
time, to the inspired warbling, to the joyful
haeluiahs of u common homely Eng fish
lark! Reformers, as they leaned towards
him. heard nothing in his enchanting melody
which even they could desire to improve.
Radicals he terminated feelings of youthful
attachment to their mother country; and that
even the trading Yankee, in whose country
birds OF the most gorgeous piumnge shuttle
rather than sing, must have acknowledged
that the heaven-born talent ofthis little bird
NInaccountably warmed the knglo Saxon
blood that flowed in his veins. must own
that although always refTuned from Joining
Charley's motely audience, yet, while he was
singing, never rode by him without nc.
knowedging, as he,stood with his out stretch
edneck looking to heaven, that he was, ut al
events for his size, the most powerful advo
cate for Church aud State in her Majesty.
dominions; and that his eloquence was a.
strongly appreciated by others, Patterson re
aceived many convincing proofs.
Three times as he sat beneath the cage
proud as Lucifer, yet hammering away at
shoe sole lying in purgatory on his ap-stone
and then, with a waxed thread in each hand
suddenly extending his elbows like scara
monch, three times was he interrupted in his
work by people who each separately Offered
him one hundred dollars for his lark; an ole
farmer repeatedly offered him one hundred
acres of land for him; and poor Sussex car
ter who had imprudently stopped to hear
him sing, was so completely overwhelmed
with affection and malddie du pays, that walk.
ing into the shop, he offered for him all that
he possessed in the world, his horse and cart
Sbut Patterson would sell him to no one.'
'On certain evening in Octobe 1897, the
shutters of Patterson's shop windows were
half closed, on account of his having thai
morning been accidentally shot dead. The
widows prospects were thus suddenly ruined
her hopes blasted her goods Sold and fneed
ihardly say that made myself the owner-the