The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-06-11

how was i to fnd 1t among an
hundred others just like it.
The knot I had seen was 50 exactly
like other knots, upon other limbs
all around it, that the prospect Of
finding it seemed hopeless one.
But Ill try, sir" is my favorite motto.
1 laid myself down as nearly as pos.
sible in the position l originally oc.
after some twenty |
experiment, came to the con
clusion that my head had been too
much confused by the shock Of my
fall ard ducking, for me to hope to
make much out Of this method. Then
I went under the tree, and commen.
cling at the trunk with the lowest
limb, which leaned over the water, l
followed it slowly and carefully witl
my eye out to the EXTREMIST twig,
noting carefully everything that
seemed Ike knot. This reduced
no satisfactory result after half an
hours trial, and with an aching neck
! gave it up in despair, for I saw half
dozen kdots, either one of which
seemed as likely to be the right one
as the other. l now changed my
tactics again, and, ascending the
tree, 1 stopped with my feet upon
coch one of these limbs and looked
dozen along its length. TWAS very
tedious proceeding, but I rersevcred.
Knot after knot deceived me, but, at
last, when just above the middle Of
the tree, caught a sharp CLEAN
among the leaves, Of gold and purple,
and looking down upon the last limb
to which l had climbed almost lost
my footing for the joy when l saw
about three feet out from where /
stood: the glistening back and wings
Of the little bird just covering the top
of one Of those mysterious knots
,has VAS about the size Of half a hens
egr. lis slancirg head, lorS bill
aud keen eyes, weye tuned upwards
aud perfectly still, except the iatser,
. :
with the most dauntitss expression. M
It seemed 10 have not the slightest
intention of moving, and 1wouii not
have disturbed it for tho world, Il
WAS sufficient delight - ne gaze on
my long sought treasures. Its pure
white breast -or threat, ralher--for
the breast was sunk in the nest
formed such o sweet and innocent
contrast with the srlendor of its back,
head an.l wings! This is tho most
common variety with us, and is about
a size larger than the scarlet throat
| could see that this wonderful, little
creature, had not only formed the
outside Of its nest to correspond in
shape and size exactly with the
natural knots on other limbs--but
hod SO skilfu'ly covered the outside
with the same kind of moss which
grew upon them, that no eye however
practiccd, could have discovered the
deception from beneath. Having
gratihcd my curiosity as far as pru-
dent, without running the risk of
driving her from the nest, desc nded
cautiously and ran homo with tho
news; and great was the JOY thcreut
between my little playmate and
myself.
Now came the anxious time for us;
we we're dying to get sight of the
eggs, and yet afraid to disturb tho
birds. | conquered this difficulty at
last, by patience. / found, after
watching for several mornings, that
they both lcf. the nest on warm days
about noon, and were gone sometimes
near an hour. We took this op-
portunity, and having climbed up
first, so as to show her, my sister fll.
lowcd-..thc girls u$ca to climb like
SPUR, els, in Kentucky, in my young
days!-and many were the express
sions of childish delight, ms she
pcered over and saw these three
little cggs.,,.ahout the size of black
eyed peas Lying like snowy pearls,
(ifnot diamonds, as used to expect
embedded in fairy case, all lined
with cyenct.down, or the delicate
floss Of cliin.hair. We did not touch,
or even breathe on it, and descended
quickly, lest the old birds should find
us there.
was unexpectedly compelled to
leave home nhon, his limo, and INV
sister promised ,hni she would not dis.
lurh the nest ill my return. After an
unexpected detention Of three weeks,
got lnck, and the first thing the next
morning wo were on our way, with
many misg'vings, 10 visit our treasures.
climbed lhc tree md TO rny infinite
asromislmen,, two birds entirely filed
The nest, and in such full size and
perfect plumnge ,ha, though. must
hnye como too late, and that these were
li,o old oncs. They looked al mo as
boldly MS have sccn young eagles look
unninchingly, on the intruder into their
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