Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-03-04
ASse z & cried awhat the Cosstss
gave me for the robins. Here, Leon, Is


3, nSss, !" 81 csied, awhat the Coasass i
gavene for the robins Here, Leon, Is
your share z
Leon took the money, but only to fling
il Ill indignantly 1t his cousin feet, burst
ing into tears as he did 50.
y Some may think I ought TO be sorry to-
tell Of this tit Of passion in my noble little
hero, but am not. Whilethe angry tears
we're yet flowing, be rushed out Of his ia
theirs cottage and ran towards the cha
teau. He did not stop to rest, or slacken
his pace, till he reached the great hall
aoor. Then he paused, and the thought
of the dnsky arches Of the old hall, hung
with faded banners, and the grim statutes
in the srInor standing along its walls, and
that stern, black bearded Count, whom he
might meet, almost took away his courage.
He stood poised on the tips Of his toes,
with his hand on the great knocker, hesi-
tatlng and fearing, when, oil at once, he
seemed to hear again the wild, mournful
cry of the mother robin then his. heart
grew brave, and he boldly sounded the
knocker
When servant went to the Countess
and told her another little peasant boy
wanted to see her, she happened to be in
the nursery paying visit to her baby .son,
the heir to thetitle and estate of Count de
Vallence She was sitting by his side,
fondly watching him, as he lay asleep in a
beautiful cradle, all satin and down. and
fine linen and rich lace. The lady looked
surprised when she saw Icons flushed and
fearful face.
"Why, my child" said she, kindly.
awhat do you want with me p
ri want those little birds" he replied
rather bluntly.
s.Those BIRDS" she answered, "why,
did not Auguste give you part of the mo-
neyy I told him to-
81 don't want my money" said Leon.
81 want the birds back again. It wasn't
good Of you to buy them. 1t was wick
ed thing to steal away their little ones, and
the nice nest they have worked so hard to
make. Amt you afraid that they will fly
up to God and tell him all about it? And
how would you feel to have some great
giants boy come and steal your little one
and carry it away, in that pretty nest,
there 2"
At first the Countess smiled at the earn
est little speech-then the tears rushed to
her eyes; she bent down and kissed her
sleeping baby, then turning to Leon, she
laid her hand caressingly on his head, say
ing -:
II thank you, MY dear child, for, the
lesson you have taught ME. Surely, you
shall have the robins back again. I ask
pardon Of you and of God. ~
| ssAnd Of the birds" added Leon.
''And of the BIRDS" repeated the Coun-
tess, smiling a little at the child's simple
ity.
So Leon received the nest of little young
robins, and took it safely back to the old
oak tree in the forest He stopped on the
way to dig some worms, with which he fed
his little feathered friends, who we're get
ting quite clamorous with hunger.
When he had fixed the nest securely
in its old place, he hid himself in clumE
of bushes near by to watch for the coming
of the old birds. All the afternoon he
watched and waited and still they did moi
come.
At last, when it was almost twilight
the time for flowers and little birds to &C
to sleep, he saw the two robins-he was
sure they were thesam birds-come slow
ly winging their way towards the oak. L
seemed they could not sleep away from
their home, although it had been made'st
desolate.
The male bird few in among the upper
branches, and pearched on one of them
but the female stopped in a tree near by
It appeared that she was hardly equal te
the sight Of the dear old place.
Soon Leon saw sthe male bird Autter or
/ his perch, and turn his head quickly this
way and that. He had heard those little
complaining voices chirping below him
Then he darted downward, and hoveree
over the nest moment to be sure they
were all there, then few to his mate to tel
her the glad news.
| In another moment they were both back
to the nest, hopping and lowering about
1it-chirping joyfully and lovingly in an
swer to the eager little chirps of their
younger ones. Late as it was, they flew
about and got up a supper of worms fol
their young ones.
After that, while the mother bird spread
over them her soft warm wings, and hush.
ed them to sleep with the happy beating
of her heart, the father bird few up to a
thrash above them, and burst into glad,
delicious song.
"He is thanking Cod" said Leon soft
ly to himself, reverently taking off his lit
tie cap, and making the sign of the Gloss
she is thanking God Little Pill
grim.