Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1855-09-06

ows, the Bobolink was the envy OF my
boyhood. He crossed my path in the
sweetest weather. and the sweetest season
Of the year when all nature called to the
fields, and the rural feeling throbbed in
every bosom but when |, luckless urchin!
was doomed to be mcwed up, during the
Iivelong day, in that purgato:y of boy
hood, a school-room, it seemed as itthe
little varel mocked at me, as he flew up
in full song, and sought to taunt me with
his happier lot. Oh, how | envied him
No lessons, no task, no hateful school !;
nothing but holiday frolic, green fields and
fine weather. Had | been then more
versed in poetry, might have addressed
myself 10 him in the words OF Logan to
the cuckoo:
ssSweet bird, thy power is evergreen,
Thy sky is ever clear:
Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,
No winter in thy year.
oh. could fly. I'd fly with thee,
We'd make joyful wing,
Our annual visit round the globe,
Companions of The spring. -
Further observations and experience
have given me different idea of this lit.
tie feathered voiuptuary, which | will ven
ture to mpart for the benefit OF my school,
boy readers, who may regard him with
the same unxualitied envy and admiration
which once indu!ged. | have shown
him only as l saw him at first, in what
may call the poetical part of his career.
when he in manner devoted himself to
elegant pursuits and enjoyments, and was
bird Of music and song, and taste, and
sensibility and refinement. While this
lasted he was sacred from injury. The
school-boy would net fling stone at him,
and the merest rustic would pause to listen
to his strain. But mark the difference.
As the year advances, as the clover BIOS
SONS disappear, and the spring fades into
summer, he gradually gives up his elegant
tastes and habits, doffs his poetical suit OF
black, assumes russell, dust garb, and
sinks to the gross enjoyments OF common
vulgar birds. His notes no longer vibrate
on the ear /; he is stuffing himself with the
seeds Of the tall weeds on which he lately
swung and chanted so melodiously. He
has become ''bon vivant,' ''gourmand;. ).
with him now there is nothing like the
'sioys of the table" In little while he
grows tired Of plain, homely fare, and is
off on a astronomical tour in quest o
foreign luxuries. We next hear of him
with myriads of his kind banvueting among
the reeds of the Delaware, and grown
corpulent with good feeding. He is the
Reed-bird now, the much sought-for titbil
of Pennsylvania epicures, the rival in un.
lucky fame of the ortolan +? Wherever he
goes, pop! pop! pop! every rusty flrelock
in the country is blazing away. He sees
f, his companions fall by thousands around
him.
! Does he take warning and reform
Alas, not he! Incorrigible Again he
wings his flight. The rice swamps of the
south invite him. He gorges himself
among them almost to bursting he Can
scarcely fly for corpulency. He has once
more changed his name, and is now the
famous Rice.bird of the Carolinas. Las'
stage of his career, behold him spitted
with dozens of his corpuldnt companions
and served up; a vaunted dish, on the table
of some Southern gastronome.
Such is the story Of the Bobolink: once
spiritual, musical, admired, the joy Of the
meadows, and the favorite bird Of spring;
finally, gross little sensualist, who ex.
plates his sensualisum in the larder. His
story contains moral worthy the atten.
ton Of all little birds and little boys warn.
ing them to keep those refined and intel.
lectual pursuits, which raised him to SO
high pitch Of popularity during the early
part of his cnreer; but to eschew all ten.
dency to that gross and dissipated in.
diligence which brought this mistaken lii.
tie bird to an untimely end. @ zaaa'
y-5..a.
The TINES IN CALlFoRNIA.-Rents
have fallen in California two-thirds in one
year, and wages almost in portion. Ser
want woman can get $50 $50 per month
according to capacity and worth. s3pe1
dozen is now the standard price for wash
ing. A good dwelling house, lathec
and plastered, can now be had with ever,
convenience tora family, at $50 per month
Food is cheaper in California than it is il
Atlantic States.
Atthe last session Of the Pennsylvania
Legislature, the following announcement
of the arrival Of his colleague was made
by member.