Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-08-20
The Bishop and the Birds.
A STORY FOR BOY:

A Bishop in the north of Europe had for his
arms two of the birds called field .fares with the
motto, "Are not two sparrows sold for far
thingY" On his being questioned by an init
mate friend, he thus explained the natter
"Fifty or sixty years ago little boy resided
in village near Dillengen, on the banks of the
Danube. His parents were poor and almost as
soon as the boy could walk, he was sent into
the woods to pick up some sticks for fuel
When he grew older, his father taught him to
pick the juniper berries, and carry them to a
rneighboring distiller, who wanted them for ma
king Hollands. Day by day the poor boy went
to his task, and on his road he passed by the o.
pen windows of the village school, where he
saw the schoolmaster teaching number of boys
about the same age as himself lie looked
at these boys with feelings of envy, so
earnestly did he long to be among them. He
was quite aware it was in vain to ask his father
to send him to school, for he knew that his pa
rents had no money to pay the schoolmaster: :
and lie often passed the whole day thinking,
whilst he was gathering the juniper berries,
what he could possibly do to please the school
master, in the hope of getting some lessons
One day, when he was walking sadly along he
saw two of the boys belonging to the school try
ing to set bird trap, and he asked one what it
was for The boy told him that the master was
very fond of eldfares, and that they were setting
the trap to catch some This delighted the poor
boy, for he recollected that he had seen great
number of these birds in the juniper woods,
where they came to eat the berries and he had
no doubt that he could catch some.
''The next day, the little boy borrowed an old
basket of his mother, and when he went to the
wood he had the great delight to catch two
L IL ,~,,t+ +ha,, in fha hocE
ing an old handkerchief over it he took them to
the schoolmasters house. Just as he arrived at
the door, he saw the two little boys who had
been setting the trap, and, with some alarm,
asked them if they had caught any birds They
answered in the negative; and theboy, his heart
beating with Joy gained admittance to the
schoolmaster's presence In few words he
told how he had seen the boys setting the trap
and how he had caught the birds to bring them
as present to the master.
ga present. my good boy" cried the school
master; "you do not look as if you could afford
to make a present. Tell Inc your price and
will pay it to you, and thank you besides
II would rather give them to you, sir, if you
please" said the boy.
"The schoolmaster looked at the boy, who
stood before him with bare head and feet, and
ragged trowsers that reached half way down his
naked legs.
'You are very singular boy" said he; "but
if you will not take money, you must tell me
what can do for you. as cannot accept your
present without doing something for you in re-
turn. Is there anything can do for you2
"Oh yes" said the boy trembling with de-
light, 'you can do for me what l should like
better than anything else"
"What is that" said the schoolmaster smil-
ing.
''Teach me to read" said the little boy, fall
ing on his knees % dear kind sir teach me
to read"
''The schoolmaster complied. The boy came
to him at his leisure hours and learned so rapid
ly that the schoolmaster recommended him to
nobleman residing in the neighborhood. This
gentleman in mind as in birth, patronzed the
poor boy and sent him to school at Ratisbon.
The boy profted by his opportunities: and when
he rose as he soon did, to wealth and honors, he
adopted the two tieldfares as his arms"
"What do you mean?" cried the bishops
friend
81 mean," returned the bishop with smile,
ssthat the Door boy was mySeIf'