The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11
WASHINGTON, D. G..
Tx rpr Couyray. .Mly %

if YOU or your thousands of readers could help
me out of it.
Very early this morning, as was passing
through an unoccupied chamber, heard cry
of distress. 1t seemed to fill and food the
whole room; but at length found that it pro-
ceeded from the fireplace. j sounded the
tocsin, and the whole family marshalled them
selves in every stage of dishabille. NIGEL"
suggested one, in whom mouse inspires more
fear than would regiment of volunteers with
a band of music and park of artillery. " Burn
ing up, SUPPOSE" said another who had just
been looking at the charming and graphic pie
lures in an old copy of Fox's Book of Martyrs.
But, AS no FIRE had been kindled, this was hard
ly probable An immediate investigation was
determined on Gimlets, or hammers, or what
ever you call those things that people pull out
nails with, were brought, the iron fre-board
wrenched from its place, and | peeped ill.,
Black as Acheron. lamp was lighted, and
there was a little broken birds nest, and four
little birds, spilled out on the SCOT that had
fallen on the hearth. For many weeks we had
heard kind of rumbling in the chimney,
cluded it to be the chimney swalows-and
now here they were We took out the nest in
fragment. 1t was built entirely of sticks
short bits perha ps an inch and half long,
Just twisted together, and seemingly stuck by
cement. There was not shred Of down, or
anything SOFT on the inside, but it was COM
paratively smooth, the ends of the sticks having
been made to come on thezoutside. We picked
up the birds, one by one, from the soot and a
most distressed family they were-bulky bod
les, disgusting skinny necks, straight little hor-
rid pinfeathers that did not half cover their
horrid thin skin, big heads, cold legs and claws,
eyes shut close, months widefopen, and such
mouths and threats, yawning chasms that
threatened to swallow you whole or at least
looked as if they would like to do tin short
ugly as real babies, aud, like real babies, yell
ing at the top OF their voices IN deafening
quartette of bird-baby agony well, it must
be confessed there was something to cry for
To be walked out of a morning nap by ones
house crashing about ones ,ars, and to be
hurled, house and all, down a precipice of six
hundred feet, is not agreeable, and the poor
birds cannot be blamed for making an ado
about 1T. Now, the question arises, what shall
do with them? The first thing was to get them
a new house. The branch of tree on which
pair of robins had built their nest was blown
down, in a Storm a few days ago. and the four
eggs fell out and were broken, whereupon the
bereaved robins left the place. This nest was
brought in. 1t was made of hay, and was of
course much warmer and softer than the other !;
but We thought they must be accustomed to
the unwonted luxury, even if it did slightly
enervate their frames. | put them in, and
then came another caterwauiing from the chin
ney. A further search brought to laht another
fragment Of the nest, with fifth bird clnging
to it for dear life. He was placed with his
brothers, and then they were all put back in
the fire place, in the hope that the old bird
would hear their cries, and take prompt meas
ures for their relief The fire-board was prop
ped open, that she might have light enough to
see the case in all its bearings, if she shopld
wish to take a survey; but all to no avail.
Two hours passed away and there were no
signs of rescue. | thought the young things
would certainly starve; SO l took them out
again, and attempted to feed them with mo-
lasses gingerbread !; but they were in such con-
WILSON'S of hurry, and wriggled about so, that
l couldn't get the gingerbread in, though they
opened their mouths to incredible extent.
What shall do with them? If they were real
babies, could put them out to nurse, or bring
them up with the bottle, or they would cOntrive
TO come up of themselves, somehow, as babies
do, when they are emphatically born into the
world, and nothing short. There were Romu-
las and Remus for instance, sucked by 3 wolf,
and throYe upon it, But these birds don't
take kindly 10 gingerbread, and don't suppose
bread and butter, or roast beet, would be any
more successful. have just put them out ON
fork of the peach tree in the garden, and am
now sitting near it, but not in sight, to watch
a a..
the kitten, who has had half an eye on the nest
in very suspicious way.
That kitten. | must tell you about her, AS q
kind of offset to the birds. They are total
failure, but she may be considered a perfect
success, "A decided shit" We brought her
home SurreptliouSly in basket as the head
Of the house has put veto cats, and we
feared would put toe, and pretty heavy one,
too, on kittens. But this kitten stood in mmi-
nent danger of watery grave, and, being q
kitten of remarkable personal beauty, and ex-
ceedingly amiable aud afectionate disposition,
We concluded 10 make an effort in her behalf.
So, as said, she Was smuggied into the house,
and let loose ia all her beiplessness, orphanage,
and charms 1t was touching and impressive
scene. Her conhding innocence won the most
obdurate heart which & first endured, thSp
pitied, then embraced She was . city kit.
ten-had never been upstairs outdoors in
her life. Ii was necessary, however. TO her
health, 10 her happiness, to her highest fuIpse
usefulness as cat and q mother that she
should be accustomed TO Outdoors" So !
"took her up tendcrly,' and launched her on
the front door step. She was scared out Of her
senses, scarcely stirred, but mewed piteously
all the while. The next day, determined to
stay with her myself When vent down stairs,
she seemed to remember her frightal expert
eaee of the day before, and chung to me wish
the utmost tenacity, and kept up a steady new
nag. When | sat down near her, however, she
seemed to be cOmforted, and recovered in 2
measure her kitteny spirits Presently, grave
old gander came along. He is a gentleman
who has seen the world was brought from over
the sea, and is not easily imposed upon. He
saw that the kitten was o newcomer, and
he proceeded to institute an inquiry by pOking
his red nose into her face. Kitty was discon-
certed, and retired behind me; but curiosity
presently overcame fear, aud she crept softly
again to the door.sill, and peered cautiously
out this way and that, to see what had becoWe
OF her late acquaintance. He was Illustrating
In bath, splashing about in very iordly way,
and Kitty watched him with the most unso
phisticated and unmitigated interest. The next
day, we borrowed littie white kitten, and put
them out together. But they we're not inclined
TO be sociable. One took one end Of thS door
step, and the ether the other; after cycling each
other with mutual dissatisfaction for about five
minutes, they marched off ip osrosite direc-
tons, without so much as taking leave. This
morning, however, before breakfast, it was an
nounced that the two kittens were bacominp
intimate, and, looking ont of the window Tiers
'hey were, to be sure, In a state of high glori6-