Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-09-08

to cut in the world, when he found himself, as
winter drew on, in company with sparrows chat
fnches wagtas, tomtits, and other ignotabes
of small standing, waiting of morning on the
shiny side Of hedge for the sun to thaw the
snow-covered bank that he might begin routing
with the rest for the chance of a breakfast
More than once he had narrow escape of his
lfe through Charley Fowler raking the afore-
said hedge with his gun-a ceremony which de-
termined him to keep at a respectful distance if
possible from any salutations OF that sort in fu-
ture.
The winter wore off, as winters will do, and
before March had blown away all his breath,
Dick had made acquaintance with another lnnet,
whom we shall call Dolly. He had rendered his
bill, which Dolly had accepted.
"Now," said he to Dolly" we'll show the old
folks how to manage matters. I'm not going
to build my house in dwarfish bush, where we
may sit day after day and see nothing. like
to look at the world, and see what's going on
in it'
With that the young couple set off to Dicks
native lane, and called upon the old couple,
whom they found busy in refitting the old nest
While the old matron and the young bride sded
off together, Master Dick announced to his sire
his intention of setting an example to the race
of lnnets by assuming loftier position in soci-
ETY.. 81 cannot imagine any reason," said he,
"why we innets should shut ourselves in such
dark holes as we all of us do, while the hoarse
crow and the hooting owl take possession of the
lofty trees, and look around far and wide upon
the beauties and riches of nature. | am resolv-
ed to assert our equal right with them, and build
my first nest in the top of yonder oak that will
be u noble residence-a right royal dwelling"
"Very fine, dare say" replied the old bird;
" but if your mate lays her eggs atop OF that
oak, it's my notion they'll never be anything
but eggs; but you can try, of course, if you
like"
"That certainly SHALL" said Dick and with
that, calling Dolly to bear beak to the work,
the couple commenced operations by laying the
first stick in the highest fork of the topmost
bough. The work went on merrily, both part
ners laboring necessarily at their airy throne,
which was to be a model for their whole tribe.
In few days it was finished, and who so pleas
ed as our young couple with their new house?
They took possession with much fuss and ado,
and twitted the old folks in the bush below as
being without particle of proper ambition.
The sun went down, and Dick and Dolly went
up to roost in their lofty domicil. Dark night
came on apace, and with the night dismal
storm of rain and wind and thunder flash came
the lightning! crash came the thunder! up and
down. this side and that, rocked the young coup
lie and their new nest, from which they moment
arily expected to be pitched out. In spite of
the admirable penthouse they made by overlap
ping the edge of the nest with their wings, the
heavy bullets of rain beat through their feeble
guard and wet their trembling toes. Already
they began to doubt the prudence of the step
they had taken, and to wish their new house
could by any possibility be removed to quiet
er locality, when-crash. came another tre-
mendous burst Of thuuder, and down they were
borne to the ground, along with the branch up
on which they had erected their dwelling, and
which the lightning had rent away. They man
aged to escape without much damage beyond
the fright, and flutterng into dry and tranquil
spot under the thickest hedge, got through the
rest of the terrible night as well rs they could.
Mastar Dicks consequence had completely
departed before the dawn of morning. His
ideas on the subject of building had undergone
thorough revolution, and he now professed
himself as much alarmed at the presumption of
his parents in having their nest six feet above
the level of the ground, as he had been before
disgusted with their want of spirit in building
so low. "NO, no." said he, no more thunder
storms about my head for me; selfpreservation
is the first law of nature; henceforth, like the
lark-the lark is wise Bird build upon the
ground Come, Dolly, you know we have no
time to lose; we have the whole work to do
over again, and the sooner we begin the bet
ter"
So to work they went again upon the ground
in the lane, under the shelving grass upon the
brink of the brook. After few days of indus
trious labor, another home was ready for their
use, and they promised themselves much snug
and comfortable enjoyment in q spot secure from
the angry blasts of the tempest and the obser-
walton of man or beast. No sooner, however,
was the work finished, and Dick had got into it
to look around and realize his comfortable po-
stion, than up tramps old Jubbin, farmer Fal-
lows donkey, and nosing down to drink at the
brook, claps his " forefoot" plump upon the mid
die of the nest, and crushes it to pulp in the
mud at the bottom. Dick astonished beyond
measure, though narrowly escaping with his life
could not resist scolding the donkey; but the
patient look of the ass was too much for Dicks
dispeasure, and there was nothing left for him
but to select third position, and to set about
building third house, the demand for which
was now becoming urgent as the season was far
advancing.
BY this time Dicks opinion of his own supe-
rior sagacty was very considerably modified,
and though more anxious than ever to see him.
self comfortahlv settled he wns in no hurry TO