Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-10-04
THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST.
Let me not think an action mine own way,
But as thy love shall sway,
Rcsignlhg up the rudder TO thy skill

Let me not think an action mine own way
But as thy love shall sway,
Resignlhg up the rudder to thy skill
George He'bef.
One day when was a very little girl
(Which is a long time ago. made dis
covery. The place where | made it was
not very remote, being a holly bush at the
bottom of our garden; and the discovery
was not great one in itself, though ]
thought it very grand. had found Il
blackbrd's nest with three young ones in
it.
The discovery was made on this wise.
l was sitting one morning on log Of
wood opposite this holly bush, reading the
story of Goody Twoshoes, and thinking
to myself how much | should like 20 be
like her, and to 20 about the village with
raven, pigeon, and lark on my >houI-
ders, admired and talked about by every
body. All sorts Of nonsense passed thro'
my head as sat with my book on my
lap, staring straight before ne; aud !
was just fancying the hind Of condescen-
sion with which | would behave to every
body when became a Goody Twoshoes,
when saw bird fly out Of the holly
bush, and 20 away. II was a blackbrd;
there was 10 doubt OF Il; and II must
have a nest in the tree, or why had ii
been there so long Down went my
book, and flew to make my discovery.
a bIackbrds nest with three young ones
stood still at first, in my pure pleasure
at the sight; and then, little 10y little,
grand ideas came into my head.
| would be kind to these little black
birds q tLoughO; would take them
home out of this cold tree, and make
large nest Of cotton wool, which would
be much better for them than to be where
they were, and feed them, and keep them
and then when they were full grown,
they would, of course, love me more than
any one else, and be very tame and
grateful and | should walk about with
them on my shoulders, like Goody Two
shoes, and be admired by everybody
for, | am ashamed to say, most of my
day-dreams ended with this, to be admir-
ed by everybody. was SO wrapped up
in these thoughts, that did not know,
till his hands were laid upon my shout
ders, that my friend, the curate Of the
village, had come up behind mo. He
lived next door to u, and often used to
climb over the wall that divided our gar
dens to bring me flowers for nv little bed
lie was tall, dark, not very young man,
and the best hand at max ing fire balloons, |
mending toys, and making a broken wax
doll as good as new with knot knitting /
needle that you can imagine had heard .
grown up people call him grave and 81
lent, but he always talked and laughed to
me.
What are you doing, little woman? ?
he said.
Il have got nest Of poor little birds
! answered; i am so sorry for th,m
here in the cold but they will be all
right when have got them in doors.
shall make them beautiful nest Of cot
ton wool. Won't it be nice P
spoke confidently ; for had so work
ed up my fancy that felt quite con-
temptuous pity for all the wretchcd little
birds who were hatched every year with
out me to rear them. At the same time
| bad general idea that grown people
always did throw cold water on splendid
plans like mine; so was more indignant
than surprised when my friend, the Gu
rate, tried to show me that it was quite
impossible to do as | wished. The end
of all his arguments was that | must
leave the nest in lis place But | Ind a
great turn for ds7utinS, and was not in
clined to give up the point. You told
me on Sunday said, perlly, that we
were never too little to do kind things
let me do this
IF could be sure, he said, looking
at me, that you only wish to do a Mind
thing
got more angry and rude.
Perhaps you think want to kill
them ] said.
lie did not answer, but taking both my
hands in his, said sravcly, Tell me, my
child, which do you wish most--to be
kind to these poor little bird, or to have
the honor and glory of having them, aud
of bringing them up
To be kind TO them said |, getting
very red | don't want any honor and
glory and l felt ready to cry.
Well, WELL he said, smiling, then
know you will believe me when tell you
that the kindest thing you can do for
these little birds, is to leave them where
they are. And il you like, you can come
and sit here every day Till they are able