Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-10
BOB O'LINK.
BY rITz-JANEs o'BRTEN.

TWAS noon in summer. The earth lay
breathless in the head, with its thousand
tongues in wood and field too faint for
their low, accustomed mysterious speech.
The Long Island shore, white and crescen-
ted, barred its bosom like Danae to the
golden embraces of the sun. In the mca.
dows the heavy crested grasses with nod.
ding heads beat time to the sweet wash of
waves upon the beach. Yellow spires OF
the golden-rod pierced the air like stee-
pies. The tulip tree, robed like a priest
in iereal green, held up to heaven with
branching arms n thousand golden chali-
Ces. Far away across the Sound lay the
Connecticut shore trembling through the
mist, while behind me- from the green
recesscs Of a deserted garden, the oriole
poured forth his monotone Of sorrow.
As | sauntered down the little path
that led from he old house where | was
boarding for the summer, to MY favorte
haunt 10y the sea-shore, with clouds Of
insects springng from the grass like liy-
inr spray aI every siep tOON, suuue"-
" heard the saucy notes of that low com
clan of birds, the Bob O'Link. As |
have always had friendly feeling tow
AIDS this ornthological JcTccT, set TO
work to obtain an interview with him. -
was not long in discovering his whegCa-
bout,. lie was sitting on n stump OF a
rail chatteriug vehcmently, and as well as
understood his language, impudcntly /;
preening his feathers, cooking his head
on one side, as if he had o passion for see
in, nature upsidcdown, and shaking his
wings as thourh he contemplated an i'm
mediate migration to the coast OF Africa.
Abou. every half-m mute or 50 he would
suddenly leave his pearcl, and hying n
little distance, flop into the long meadow
grtss whence instantly would proceed q
most astounding vocal effort, after which
he would re.appear and resume ms rail III
triumph. His frequent journeys to the
same spot, led me TO suspect that he hat
some private interest in that quarter-a
nest or young bride, perhaps, and that
he was in fact passing his honeymoon.
SO walked toward the place III which |
saw him disappear last, determined TO be
witness OF his domestic bliss.
1t seemed to me that human head was
lying alone and bodiless in the deep
green sea of grass that surrounded me-
4 beautiful youths head, blonde andsp spir-
itual, looking up at me with calm, un-
heightened look, wAilc nesting c.ose io
its pale, rounded check, hushcd and rath'
er astonishcd by my appearance, sat Mas
ter Bob OF ink.
The head however, was not without &
body. The long bending grass met oyeI
the form, leaving exposed only tho pale
BEAUTIFUL face, which looked hke an eX
quisite venetian picture framed III gol'
and green
"Good morning, Sir" said the youth IL
asweet voice us bent over him, looking
lsuprose little bewildered at this sud
den apparition, and fordling at the Sam
time Master Bob OLink with his lon
slender fingers. Good morning, SIR
Good morning." | answered. "Iol
seem to he taking things quietly here.
He gave sudden glance downward
toward ms feet, and sad smile tllckeie
over his lips. .-,.
"I am obliged to take things quietly
be answered
"Ah! an invalid | suppose. ! al
sorty."
81 am paralyzed, Sir"
No words can paint the tone OF ute
despair in which he made this terriol
statement. lfycu have ever spoken wit
aman who has spent some twenty year
in solitary confement, you will have ne
ticed the unearthly calm of his voice, tn
low monotone of sound, the Loneliness
accent. Well, this lads voice sounded 81
He talked like one shut out OF lie.
made place for myself in the grass an
sat down beside him.
81 was attracted by your bird" SAID
thought he had a nest here, and SO 10
loved him. trust am not intrudiag
"Not at all, sir, am glad to have som
one to speak to. As for Bob, he has
nest here, but it's in my heart: Heis IL
only thing on earth that loves me.
"You take sad view of life, my irlen
Your calamity is great. no doubt, o'
STILL,
"Ah sir, it's all well enough to talk
when you have limbs, health and treedo!
When you can work and 60 out into II
and tread the earth with the full consclou
ness Of being, But when eyer since yo