New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-02-20
Feeding the Birds.

Mr. Willis, in his Home journal, has the follow
| ing charming little story.
Ihave two very sociable sets of visitors, every
morning early, in my study, at the northwest
corner Of the house; first two or three little folks
in their slippers and night gowns, who jump out Of
their beds to follow Llama the cook as she comes
through the entry, punctually at halfpast s. with
the tea-tray for my writing table, and the bread
Tor my presently expected birds; and, second the
,ffteen or twenty little pensioners, in only their
bare feet and feathers, who (when there Ii snow
upon the ground are certain to be at the outside
of the window with the earliest daylight, and
whom the children loye 10 see made happy with
the crumbs It ID full hour after the tea.tray. Of
course, before the birds come; but when we have
broken up the cruss and strewn the feast over the
roof Of the portico, (early 20 ~ not to Brighten
the youngest Of them with the opening Of the
window ] we pass the rest of the time ii telling
stories before the fire, talking over the dogs and
their behavior, and getting ready for the lady's
lessons and work. 50 you are introduced to our
morning party, # you please consisting Of, say
twenty birds on the outer side Of the window, and
on the inner side, 4 rosy troop Of little folks, and
their Natural Penciler BY the Way, best known to
you by the initials of Z" N. P. w
Now, looked with some anxiety for the return
Of my birds with the first snow-storm this winter
Every day, riding home in the edge Of the twi-
light, took good look at the Glove Mountain
and Skunnemunk 1.-THE parenthesis in our horizon
which incloses all promises Of stormy, and one
evening In particular Il think December 20), my
friend Torrey, the blacksmith, who hears from the
weather by rheumatic telegraph, had sung out as
passed his shop in the village that he \ felt
snow storm in his bones And It came accord
ingly Enter Llama with my tea, the next morn.
ing, and the kind dark face under her bandana
was quite contrast to the snow-white hemlocks
looking IN at the windows. OF course we should
see the birds! The broadcast was oil crumbled
and spread, and the little nightgowns and waited
patiently for our feathered guests with the day
light. And oh, such 1uttering as there was, with
the first gray over the mountains in the east.
The dear old birds were there tthe same, knew
BY their finding their way 10 the same tree-hidden
windowsill, at the coolest corner Of the house,
and there they were all made happy with the
breakfast they expected.
And i and my little folks were as happy as theY
It was delightful to find that we could soften the
winter for the poor little houseless outside the
window In the eold-so delightful that they were
happier for us-that we were remembered and re-
visited BY them for our kindness Of last year. 1t is
something to be thought Of in the woods-some-
thing to have birds that would be sorry If we were
gone! They would not know-snch little ones as
these-why the death that might come to as should
stop remembrance oftatsrn and with every will
lingness 10 go hence when my time shall come,
could wish trust 1t is not irreverent to say) that
there were hopes of still being joyfuIIy remem-
hered at the waking OF beloved ones and OF still
lninistering kindly watching and crumb-giying
from the windows of the spirit land
POPULAR DANCES or SiBEi.fa.- The popular
dances ii Siberia greatly resemble those OF the
Almes Of Masfalont, and of the Nubian boatinea
above Syene; yet it IL more decent. 1t consists in
sort OF pantomime- bride seeking to elude the
pursuit of her lover. The young Tangnt girls
lend to this pastime degree of modesty and art
Ilessness which renders them charming; they know
how, above all, to give to their physiognomies
those little airs of timdty and coquetry which OBJ
tain such great success upon our theaters. Tired
Of pursuing that which always escapes him, the
lover pouts in his turn, and goes FOR refuge among
the crowd of spectators but through that spirit of
contradiction natural TO the fair in Siberia,
his mistrust ut changes her humor, strives to
bind him with her scarf. and ID SO doing, goes
through multitude Of fablsdur. all as chaste al
graceful Peace is then made; the lovers swear
TO each other eternal fidelity and sign their prom
ise by grand pas Jisdl. The young beauty then
receives, as encouragement, kiss from all the
strangers who have assisted 10 her triumph Be-
| fore and since my voyage upon the Lena. have
seen the best boaarifaas Of SPAIN the egyptian Al
mees the most distinguished artists Of he ballets
Of London, Paris. Naples and Milan; but to nv
i eyes they have not yet contrised to poetise the
/ dance and are very inferior in skill and pantomme
10 the gracefully shaped Tangut girls of The Lena
Hong Kong Trade Report.