Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-05-26
A True Story.

II We doubt if the records of ornithology car
furnish more striking instance Of affection and
i sensibility than is displayed In the following
story of robin, which we can Youch to be au.
thentic: % EsZt5 i151l4ai af m li~ s5 i-'
1.-THE servant of lady residing at the north
part of Brighton, whilst occupied one day in the
scullery, was startled by noise, which at first
was supposed to be occasioned by mouse, but,
on examination of the various pots and pans in
the place, she at length discovered the true ori.
gin of the disturbance. 1t was young robin,
which had found its way into bright copper
coal al-scuttle. She succeeded in capturing it and
took it into the parlor to her mistress, where It
soon made itself quite at home, and ate the sop
ped bread which was placed on its little beak.-
In short time 1t was quite happy in its COIN
Portable quarters; but, as some of its habits
were. not quite consistent with the cleanli-
ness of lady's sitting room, and the lady had
no wish to eonfine it to cage, full opportunity
was given to the little stranger to recover its
liberty by the window being thrown open. Of
this opportunity, however, the robin only avail
| ed itself to certain extent--that is IL would
fly out, but invariably return at certain hour
of the of the day, and its practice was then to
perch upon certain founce of the ladys dress,
and then, looking into its mstresss face, it would
pour forth it's cheerful little song This went
on for some time, until, one afternoon, when the
robin was 10 its accustomed place, friend call
ed who wished the lady to accompany her for o
walk, and then came the question, what was to
be done with the robin There it was on its
favorite hounce and the lady was prisoner until
it flew off Itl.ad not yet sung its song, but its
mistress anxious to join her visitor at last took
up handkerchief, and waving it, said "You
must 20 now, Bobby. Good bye" The bird
took the hint Immediately, and few out of the
window. On the following day its coming was
looked for at the accustomed hour, as matter
of course and the window was left open as u
sua But no robin came. Another and another
day passed until at last t was given up for lost,
to the Infinite regret of the lady, aud the great
indignation of the old servant, who, sympsthi.
zing with the bird said: "Of course Missus |
couldn't expect Bobby to return after being
treated in such manner" There was howey.
er, no help for it. Every reparation would have
been made and apology offered that could heal
the wound inflicted upon the birds feelings! but
like a sighted lover or injured friend, he kept
aloof 40 e Hg.J isl .s 80 -rslg;. s
"And now comes the most singular story
One day the lady who had owned the robin was
walking by herself along Rose-hill terrace, when
she was alarmed and almost blinded
by something striking against her face. She
thought at first that it was stone thrown by
some careless boy bat, on recovering from the
confusion of the moment, to her utter astonish-
nent she perceived the true perpetrator of the
assault. There on q paling close BY, sat the
own Bobby, singing his old song as
loudly as ever; and having finished it, he again
took flight. And from that moment the lady
has never seen the bird. ..fsl b WoH Z ,iaig Il
"We can vouch for these facts, singular as
they may appear, and affording as they do such
powerful evidence, not only Of the intelligence
and affection of the robin, but of the acute sen.
sibikty of the bird; Its almost human power OF
taking to heart and resentipg what had the ap-
pearance OF unkindness. ."-Brighton Guardian.