The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-27
LOVE AND TENDERNESS.

uSt by the WINDOW hangs green bird
cage. Two canaries are its occupants A
tin lid which belongs to large wide mouthed
jar, is tied up in one corner of the cage, and
just above it's rim you may see the tip Of
canary's tail and the top of its head. She is
sitting She las laid an egg. She had no
proper accommodations for such an event, and
hence has taken the hest she could find. She
has dropped her tiny treasure on the naked
tin. and has been warming it for hours, even
without a nest. Poor little birdl Poor little
destitute mother! IF left free as God made
you, with no wiry bars to pen you in. you
would not have been thus overtaken. Some
light swinging. leafy twig, emhowered in shade
and sheltered by a tree trunk or by rock, or
hidden in a briery thicket, would have been
dressed and trimmed. cushioned and feathered
and lined with the softest down. so that nature
had made you MAJ ernal, your little soul would
have swelled with nope and love- as you would
have been rocked by the gentle breeze. in such
a palace as man has never framed. Poor lit
tie prisoner Bell
But you shall have a nest yet, and as good
a one as these rough, clumsy fingers know
how to build.
Mother. where's the cotton7 Minnie, my
girl. go bring father some moss Poor little
thing-you don't know that tear trickled
down your owners cheek Bless your little
soul. you don't know tear from dew drop,
but you peak and squeak-these are your
tears. All! but here's the cotton! Here,
too. comes Minnie's moss! Now for building
I am no bird. my little Bell, but I'll make you
a nest in some fashion-it shall be round and
lady like; and soft. and smooth and warm.
There-ihat'll do. guess; dou't you think so
mother?' ...--- D., -..s..5. .---.
Yes; it looks very snug indeed.
Come Bell. my little bird, you must hop in
now So saying. Mr.. Conrad put his hand
into the cage, but upon seeing the terror of
the birds, he Withdrew it again. saying sooth-
ingly, 'There-there-don't be frightened
don't fly so wildly-I would not hurt you for
the worldP E
'Oh, faiherr exclaimed Minnie, as Bell flew
from her tin nest. what dear little egg it is
Yes my child, it is dear little egg and 1
think dear little bird will come out oft
"A bird, father!-why it's only an egg! Isn't
III. motherP a ta
Yes, my child, but all birds come out of
eggs .- .
But, mother. bird couldn't get into that
little egg s-
Yes. my child replied her father. this lit.
tie egg, that conld easily go inside of mothers
thimble, think will become a little canary.
If it does, it shall be yours Mr. Conrad
spoke slowly, for he was gradually putting his
hand into the cage again. Minnie could not
understand how even a very small live bird
could possibly come ont of such little egg,
but still she believed her father, notwithstand-
ing; and when he told her that it should be
her own. she was delighted and pressed wild
ly against him, saying. Shall it be? Shall it
bef In fact she disturbed her father, and he
had to say to her, Gently! Gently! Don't
shake! must handle this egg very tenderly.'
Mr.. Conrad was obliged to lift the egg. So
as to put the nest he had made under it. inside
the tin jar,lid. As he did so, in order to in,
terest his child and keep her from shaking
him, he said slowly. 'Steady-s-t-e-a-d-y-
--.... -.l... i5z 5.g...I.7 4, y-ff5
Crash!-the egg had clipped and brokeni
Poor little mother birdl Poor little anxious
Hutterer! You are bereavedl Your child is
dead!
Reader, are you a mother2 You are.
Well, mother-hirds have souls. They yearn
over their offspring as you do over yours.
They warm into being their little ones; they
feed them ungrudgingly till they can feed
themselves; they clothe them with maternal
wings till their festhery coats from God are
ready; as they brood over them. they spread
out their wings as if to hag their little ones;
Il
when you clasp your little one to your bosom,
whilst it draws life and disposition from your
breast. Feel tenderly then towards birds
feel tenderly towards everything that lives
and moves. If you feel so you will act so.
If you act so your children will catch yoar
spirit, and tenderness 10 them, begotten by
the radiance of your own soul, will comfort
your declining years will nurse you when dis
j ease arrests you, will soothe YOUR diving mo.
ments, close your lifeless lids weep hot tears
|, at your coffin side, imprint sincere and linger-
ing kisses on your cold and icy lips, and final
4 ly, they will. with outstretched arms and gueh.
ing emotion, meet you in another world, in
the presence of Him who. when he made man
and bird. angel and insect. transplsnted into
each for culture, and fresh from His own holy
heart, instincts of tenderness; 40 that vhenever
creation might behold affection, it should in
heart, il not in thought, recognize God, and
consciously or unconsciously the whole senti
eut universe should worship the Lord of
Hosts Love--for God is love--you can do
!, ,l..-k a. Ill