The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-03-21
Ti)e Californian.
FOR THE BOISAND GIRLS
The Bishop and his Birds.
From Forester. Playmate.

The Bishop and his Birds.
From Fo,rester's Playmate.
Docs it ever occur to you. my young friends
a'you sit costly down to read good book
what blessing it is that YOU are able to dc
SO? Or do YOU forget all abou, the matter
and think only Of your book? lam afraid
this last state Of mind is the most probable
The fact is, all of US are very apt to forget the
blessings we have, and keep wishing for those
We have not. And FIVE we're to obtain what
We desire, very likely We should throw them
aside, also, and commence hankering after
something else.
Well: to desire proper things is very CON-
mendable, only We ought not forget the bless
inss We have. To be able to read is one of
the greatest blessings that you can possibly
be possessed of. And you ought never to
take book or paper into your hands with
Cut thinking how fortunate you are.
In our New England, boys and girls have
every facility tor instruction in reading. 1t
is indeed rare to find one who cannot read
unless it be the child of foreign parents
But it must be remembered that no other peo-
pie under the sun have advantages like ours.
Education in most enlightened countries.
even is expensive and obtained with difficulty.
But among Us. you can hardly get out Of sigh,
Of a school house, whore free schools are KEEP,
half the year round.
Did you ever read the story Of the Bishop
and his birds? Here it is A worthy bis
hop who died lately a; karisbon, had for hi
coat OF arms, two 6eldla-es, with the motto
Are not two srarrows sold for far,hins : ;
THIS strange device had often excited the
attention of his acquaintance, and many per
son, had wished to know its origin 1t wa.
generally understood that the good man haze
chosen it for himself. and that it bore refer
enre to some event in his early life. One ds,
an intimate friend asked him its meaning
and the bishop replied by relating the follow
ing story
Fifty or sixty years ago, lite boy resided
at village near DiIIengen, on tho banks Of
The Danube. Hi, parents were very poor
aud 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-be berries. and
carry them to neishboring distiller, who
wanted them for making Hollands.
Day by day the poor boy went to his task.
and on his road he passed the open window.
Of the village school, where he $. the school
master teaching number of boys of about
the same age as himself H. looked at these
boys with feelings Of envy, so earnestly did
he long TO be among them. lie was quite
aware it was in vain 10 ask hi. father to send
him to school, for Ee knew that his parents
had no money to pay the school master; and
he often passed the whole day thinking, while
he was gathering the juniper, berries, wha,
no could possibly do to please the school
master, in the hope Of getting some lessons.
lone day, when he was walking sadly a.
long, he saw too Of the boys belonging to the
school, trying to set a birdtrap, and he asked
one what it was for. The boy told him that
the schoolmastcr was very fond of fedfares.
and that they were settn. trap to catch
some. This delighted the poor boy, for he
recollected that he had often seen a great
number of these birds in the juniper wood.
where, they came to eat the berries, and be
had no doubt but he could catch some.
1.-THE next day the little boy borrowed an
old basket Of his mother, and when he wen,
to the wood, he had the great delight to catch
two fieldfares. He then put them in tie ba'-
ket, and tying an old handkerchief over it,
he took them to the schoolmaster's house,
just as he arrived at the door, he saw the two
little boys who had been setting the trap, and
with some alarm he asked them if thew had
caught any birds? They answered in the
negative and the boy, his heart beating with
joy.gainsd admittance into the schoolmaster's
presence. In few words he told how b.
had seen the boys setting the trap. and how
he had caught the birds to bring them as
nrpspnf IN rho m stor
IA present, my good boyr cried the
schoolmaster, you do not look as if YOU could
afford to make preseasa. Tell me your price
and will pay it to you and thank you be-
Sides"
80 would rather give them to you, sir, if
vou please, said the boy"
The schoolmaster looked at the bow who
stood before him. with bare head and fee,
and ragged trousers that reached only halt
way down his naked legs"
"'lou are very singular boy said he.
but ifyou will not tax. money, you must tell
me what can 10 for you; AZ cannot accept
your present without doing something for it
IN return. 10 there anythin: can do for
your"
"'Oh, yes !! said the boy, trembling with
delight; you can do for me what should
like better than anything else"
"'What is that?' asked the schoolmaster.
smiling"
"'Teach me to read cried the boy, falling
on his knees; oh dear, kind cir, teach me
10 read" -"