Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-03-17

dreamed all night Of the sun and the
beautiful bird.
The next morning when our little
flower. fresh and cheerful, again spread
out all her white leaves in the light
sunshine and blue air, she heard the
voice Of the bird; but he sung 40 motsn.
fully. Alasl the poor lark had good
reason fol sorrow; he had been caught
and put into cage close by the open
window. llo sang Of the Joys OF a free
aud unrcstraIned flight he sang OF the
young green corn In the fields, and of
the pleasure Of having been borne up
by hts wings Ia the open alr. Tho
poor bird was certainly very unhappy,
as ho sat u prisoner IN his narrow
eagel
The little daisy would 10 willingly
have helped him. but how could shoY
Ah, that she knew not. she quite forgot
how beautiful was all around her, how
warmly the sun shono. how pretty and
white were her leaves Alasl she
could only think Of tho imprisoned bird
whom u was not IN her power 10
help, All at once, twolillle boys came
out OF the gardens one OF them had
knife in bis hand, ~ large and ~ sharp
as that with which the gIrl had cut the
tulips, They went up straight 10 the
little daisy. who could not imagine
what they wanted.
Here wocan cut nice piece Of turf
for the lark, said one Of the boys and
he began To cut deep all around tho
daisy, leaving her In the centre,
Tear out the flower, said the other
boy; and the little daisy trembled all
over for fear; for she knew that if she
were torn out she would die, and she
wished 20 much 10 live. as she was 10
be put into the cage with the impris'
oned lark.
No. leave IL alonop said tho first, ii
looks 40 pretty" aud 80 II was lcn
alone, and was put into the lark's
cage.
Bat the poor bird loudly lamonlel
the loss OF his freedom, aud beat his
wings against the iron bars OF his cage;
aud the liltlo flower could not speak,
could not say u single word OF comfort
to him, much rs she wished 10 do so,
Thus passed The whole morning.
There u NO water hcro!" sang tho
captive lark, "thcy have all gone oui
and forgotten me; not drop of water
10 drink my throat Il dry aud burning
there IA iire and Ice within me and lhe
mir Is 80 hcayyl Alas, | must die. |
must leave the warm sunshine. the
green lrees, aud all tho beautiful things
which God has ercatedl Aud then he
pierced his bcak Into tho cool grass,
10 order TO rcrfaah himself little
aud hts eye fell upon the daisy. aud
he bowed 10 her. and said. Thou too
wilt wither here, poor little howerl
They have given mo thee, aud the
piece OF green around thee, instead OF
the whole world which possessed
beforel Every little blade of grass is
10 bo 10 mo green tree, thy every
white petal, fragrant nowerl Alasl
thou only reminnest me Of what have
lost.
"0h that | could comfort himl"
Thought the daisy; bu she could not
move single petal, yet the fragrance
which came from her delicate blossom
was stronger than il usuul with this
flower; the bird noticed II. and although
painting with thirst, he tore the green
blades in very anguish, he did not
touch the nowep.
1T was evening. and yet no one
came TO bring the poor bird drop of
water; he stretched out his slender
wings, and shook then convulsively-
his song was monrnlul wail-his little
head bent towards the flower, and the
birds heart broke from thirst and de-
sire. The flower could not now as on
preceding evening fold together her
leaves and sleep; sad and sick she
dropped to the ground.
"fhe boys did not come till then
morning; and when they saw the bird
was dead they wept bitterly. They
dug pretty grave, which they adorn-
ed with flower petals; the birds corpse
was put into pretty red box; royalty
was the poor bird buriedl-Whilst he
yet lived and sang they forgot him,
left him suffering in his cage, and now
he was highly honored and bitterly be-
walled.
"But the piece ofturf with the daisy
in it was thrown out into the street; no
one thought of her who had felt most
for the little bird, and who had so
much wished to comfort"