Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-04-04
Our Sermon on Birds

+ Spring has come at last, and the
swelling buds seem bursting into leaf
and flower to the music of the sweet
singing birds that have returned for
their summer residence among US, to
cheer and bless the hearts of all lovers
Of nature, with their thrilling songs
The blue bird and the robbin are the first
that have made their appearance here,
but they will soon be followed by 9TH
ers, when every grove, and orchard, and
shade tree will be vocal with their mel
ody. We bespeak for them, from all
our readers, cordial welcome, and a
kind and careful protection. Only think
THAT sad and somber world this would
be with out the birds and the flowers
We have no patience with the rude
and thoughtless habit, to give it no
harsher name, which leads most boys,
and men too, out, of sheer wantonness,
to destroy and frighten these beautiful
inhabitants OF the trees.
Even those who have no emusic in
their SOULS" and do not, therefore, reap
"heart harvest" from the presence, and
music Of the birds, should still spare
and protect them for their money value.
1t is not always wise to act on mere ap-
pearances, even in matters of present
gain. To those who have not studied
the habits of the birds, and do not look
beyond the apparent fact that they do
consume some grain and fruit, it seems
to be good policy to destroy them. But
this is sad mistake Observation has
long since proved tn t, in the destruction
ofiusects, they pay back, a hundred fold.
for all the grain and fruit they consume.
But for the busy labor of these beautiful
helpers, the fields and orchards of the
husbandman would soon become sterile
from the ravages of insects, beyond the
power of man to control.
There is not an inhabited country in
the world that would not be famine
struck, in ten years, if the birds were
extei minated.
But, it is not only in the destruction
of insects that the birds are the helpers
and co workers with the husbandman.
They are his willing laborers in the
fields and fence rows, gathering up the
scattered seeds of tae thistle. the nettle,
the dock, and whatever noxious weeds
infest the lands, destroying. in their
quiet, cheerful, active habits, what would
otherwise be pestilent nuisance that
would be beyond the power Of man, al
m st, to shate. who has not watched
the wrenand little sparrow or snow bird
which stay with us during the winter,
gathering their frugal meals from the
decayed weeds and rubbish of the fence
rows? Their whole winter support is
thus derived from the seeds of the va
rious weeds, which, but for their keen
sight and good digestion, would burst
into prolific harvest that would soon
corrupt the meadows and grain fields,
erowding out the cerials which cannot
maintain their place In such contest
in whatever light, therefore, the birds
are viewed, they are one Of the choicest
blessings with which we are surrounded
# carefully protected from injury and
fright, they will soon learn to trust to
man as their friend-will build their
nests in the trees and sheds about his
dwelling, making it vocal with the thrill
of their morning and evening songs,
and teaching lessons of love, and trust,
and cheerfulness, not often learned from
studied Sermons
There is beautiful theory which
makes birds the Representatives Of
thoughts, and thus by correspondence, y
bridges over the gulf eron the natural
TO the spiritual" degree of men 5
ruiuds. and letting them into the ''ar-
cana Of all things beautiful, true, and
But Il further pursuit. OF this idea might
not be deemed in place here, and we
forbear But, don't hurt the birds!