Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-11
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY II, 1883
A TRUE STORY OF A ROBIN.


We doubs If the records of ornithology
can furnish more striking instance OF atfec-
ton and sensibility than IA displayed 10 the
following story of robin, which We can
vouch to be authentic:
"The servant of a lady residing at the north
part of Brighton, whilst occupied one day In the
scullery, was startled bya noise, which al first
was supposed to be occasioned by mouse, but,
the rlace, she at length discovered the true orr
gin of the disturbance. 1t was young robln
which had found its way into bright COPPER
coal scuttle She succeeded in capturing 1t and
took it into the parlor TO her mistress, where 1t
soon made itself quite at home, and ate the
sopped bread which was placed on Its little
beai. In short time it was quite happy IN
its comfortable quarters; but as some OF ITS
habits were not quite consistent with the clean
liuass of a ladys sitting room, and the lady had
no wish to confise 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, it would fly
out, but invariably return at a certain hour OF
the day, and its practice was then to perch upon
a eel ain fouRce of the lady's dress, and then,
looking into its MISTRESS face, il would pour
forth its cheerful little song. This went on for
some time, until, one afternoon, when the robin
wss in its accustomed place, a friend called who
wished the lady TO accompany her tor walk,
and then came the question, what was TO be done
with the robin? There it was, on its favoTits
fiounce, and the lady was prisoner until it flew
off, 1t had not yet sung its song, bnt its mis-
trees, anxious 10 Join her visitor, at last took up
a handkerchief, and waving 1t, said; "fou
must 90 now, Bobby Good bye" The bird
took the hint Immediately, and flew out Of the
window. On the following day its coming was
looked for at the accustomed hour. as a matter
of course; and the window was left open as usual
But no robin came. Another and another day
passed until at last it given up for lost to the
infinite regret Of the lady, and the great indig-
nation of the old servant who, sympathlzlng
with the bird, said: "Of course Missus couldn't
expect Robby 20 return after being treated in
such manner" There was, however, no help
fo- it. Every reparation would have been made
and apology offered that could heal the wound
inflicted upon the birds feelings! but, like
sighted lover or injured friend, he kept alooi.
sand now comes the most singular story -
One day the lady who had owned the robin was
walking by he self along Rose.hill terrace, when
suddenly 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; but, on recovering from the
confusion OF the moment, to her utter astonish.
ment she perceived the true psrpetrator Of the
assault There on paling close by, sat the
robin-her own BOBBY, singing his cid song as
loudly as ever; and having finished it, he again
took flight. And from that day the lady has
never seen the bird!
"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
sibility Of the bird; its almost human power Of
stalking to heart" and resentng what had the
appearance of an act of unkindness. Brighton
Gwardian