Litchfield enquirer., 1856-11-13

Sweet day, 50 pure, 40 calm, 90 bright
9 Thsbrlaal Of the earth and sky"
IssEs4nN edt-l.. -. sse
49, The Bishop and his Birds.
A worthy bishop. who died lately at Rats
Ton. bad for his arms two feldfares, with the
saotto--@ Are not two sparrows sold for far
tsisfs r. This strange esa* ee -sssas had 6ftca
excited attention, and many persons had wished
to know its origin, as it was generally reported
that the bisnop had chosen it for himself, and
that it bore reference To some event in his early
life. One day an intimate friend asked him its
meaning. aud the bishop replied by relating
the following story -
Fifty or sixty years ago. little boy resided
in q small village near Dillengen, on the banks
Of the Danube His parents was very poor,
aud, almost as soon as the boy could walk, he
was sent into the woods to pick up sticks for
fuel. When he grew older, his father taught
him to pick the juniper berries, and carry them
to a neighboring distiller, who wanted them
for making hollands.
Day by day the poor boy went to his task,
and Gu his read he passed by the open windows
Of the village school, where he saw the schools.
master teaching number of about the same
age as himself. He looked at these boys with
feelings almost of envy, SO earnestly did he
long to he among them. He knew it would
be in vain to ask his father to send him to
school, for he knew his parents had no money
to pay the schoolmaster and he often passed
the whole day thinking, while he was gather
ing the juniper berries, what he could possibly
do to please the schoolmaster, In the hope of
getting some lessons One day, when he was
walking sadly along, he saw two of the boys
belonging 10 the school trying to set a bird
tr.i, and he asked one Of them what it was
.or The boy told him that the schoolmaster
was very fond Of feldfares, aud that they were
setting the trap to catch some This delight
cd the poor boy, for he recolected that he
had often seen great number of them in the
juniper wood, where they came to eat the ber-
ries, and he had no doubt but be could catch
some 6, - v
The next day the boy borrowed an old bask-
ct Of his mother, and when he went to the
wood, he had the delight to catch two field.
fares. lie put them in the sbaskct, and tying
an old handkerchief over it., he took Thorn to
the school-house Just as he arrived at the
door, he saw the two little boys who had been
s., ting the trap, and with some alarm asked
them if they had caught any birds. They an.
swerep in the negative and the boy with q
heart beating With joy, gained admittancc into
the schoolmasters presence. In o few words
he told how he had seen tho boys setting the
trap, and how he had caught the birds, to
bring them as present to the MASTER
o., a present, my good boy !" cried the school.
master, YOU do not look as if you could afford
10 make presents. Tell me your price, and I
will pay il to you, and thank you besides"
II would much rather give them to you,
sir, If you please said the boy.
The schoolmaster looked at the boy as he
stood before him, with bare head and feet, and
ragged trowsers that reached only half way
down his naked legs. You IRE very singu-
lar boy !" said, he bus if you will not take
money, you must tell me what can do for
You as cannot accept your present without
doing something for it in return Is there any
thing can do for you z" ~
ga Oh, yes y said the boy, trembling with
delight "you can do for me what l should
likc better than any thing else" -
What is that r asked the schoolmaster;
smiling. s 9
Teach me to read" cried the boy, falling
on his knees oh, dear, kind sir, teach meto
read" 81 sisa
The schoomaster complied. The boy came
TO him at his leisure hours, and learned so ram
idly that the school-master recommended him
to a noblcman who resided in the neighbor.
hood. This gentleman, who was as noble in
his mind as n his birth, patronized the poor
boy, and sent him to school ut Ratisbon. The
boy profted by bis opportunities and when he
rose, as he soon did, to wealth and honors he
adopted two fieldfares as his arms. 49,
What do you mean =, cried the bishops
friend: TI5 .T ~ $50 F
81 meau," returned the bishop, with d
smile, that poor boy was MYSELF"