Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-21

Dough- ana put IL up over the looking glass.
Hum noticed it before it had been there i've min
ues, flew TO it, and began regular survey,
perchiug now here, now there, till ho seemed 20
ild twig that exactly suited him and after
that he roasted there every night. Who does
not see IN this change all the signs of rejection
and reason that are shown by us In thinking
over our circumstances, and trying to better
them 1t seemed to say in 80 many words .
" That towelline is an unsafe place for d bird ;
get frightened and wake from bad dreams to
tnd myself head downward 90 will find a
better roost 10 this twig"
When our little Jenny one day put on a cleau
white muslin gown embellished with red sprgs
Hum few towards her, and with his bill made
instant examination OF these new appearances
and one day, being very afectlonatoly disposed,
perched himself on her shoulder, and slt some
time. On another occasion, While Nh. A.
was reading, Hum established himself on the top
OF bic head just over the middle Of his forehead,
IN the precise place where our young bellies have
lately worn stuffed hummiDg birds, making him
look as If dressed out for a party. HUNS most
lavoTite perch was the back Of the greatIocking
chair, which, being covered by tidy, gave some
hold into which he could catch has little claws,
There be would sit balancing himself cleverly if
Its occupant chose TO swing TO and fro, and
seemed to be reading or listening to the conveT-
satIon.
Hum had his different moods, like human be-
ings. On cold, cloudy, gray days, be appeared
10 be somewhat depressed IN spirits, hummed less
about the room, and sat bumped up with bis
feathers rufflsd, looking as much like bird in q
great coat as possible. But on hot, sunny days,
every fea ther seeked itself down, and his little
body looked natty and trim, his head alert, his
eyes bright, and It was impossible to come near
him, Tor his agility. Tnen let mosquitos and
ltIse flee look about them Hum snapped
them up without mercy, and seemed to be al
over the ceiling IN q moment and resisted all
our Efforts at any personal familiarity with q
saucy alacrty
Hum had his established institutions 10 our
room, the chief Of which was tumbler with d
little sugar and wafer mixed in it, and d spoon
laid across, out Of which he helped himself
whenever he felt in the moOd-siltlng on tho
edge oil the tumbler, and dlpplng bis long bill,
and tapping with his little iorked tongue like a
kitten. When be found his spoon accidentally
Dry, he would stoop over aad dip his bill in the
water IN the tumbler,-whlch caused the pr0ph-
ecy on the part Of some Of his guardians that
he would fall 10 scme day and be drowned. For
which reason 1t was agreed to keep only an inch
10 depth OF the fluid at the bottom Of the tun-
bier. wise precaulion this proved for the
next morning was awaksd, not by the usual
hum over my head, but By sharp little futter,
and found Mr.. Hum beating his wings in the
tumbler, having actually tumbed in during
his energetic efforts to get his morning ccTse
before was awake.
Hmm eaap,ad vorra.tiv ho,t,r .,,I a,fiaGad ir,
his quaI ters but one day, when the door was
lelt open, made dart out, and so into the open
sunshine, Then, to be sure, we thought we
had l1st him. We took the mosquito netting
out Of all the windows and, setting his tumbler
OF sugar and water in a conspicuous place, went
about our usual occupations. We saw him joy
GUS and brisk among the honeysuckles outside
the window, and it was gravely predicted that
he would return no more. But at dlnner-time
In came Hum, familiar as possible, and sat down
TO his spoon as if nothing had happened, instant
ly we closed our windows, and bad him secure
once more.
A another time | was going to ride to the
Atlantic House, about mile from my boarding
place. left all secure, as lsupposed, at home.
While gathering moss on the walls there, was
surprised by little green hummng bird flying
familiarly right toward my face, and humming
above my head. | called out, Here is Hum s
very brother But, on returning home, Jaw
that the door Of the room was open, and Hum
was gone. Now certainly, we gave him up for
lost sat down to painting, and In few min
utes in few Hum, and settled on the edge OF
my tumbler in a social, confidential way which
seemed to say, 90, you've got back then"
After taking his usual drink of sugar and water,
he began to hy about the ceiling as usual, and
we gladly shut him in.
When our five weeks at the seaside were up,
and it was time TO 20 home We had great ques
tionings what was to be done with Hum. To
get him home with US was our desire, but who
ever heard of a humming-bird travelling by rail
road I? Great were the consultngs little bas-
ket of Indian work was filed up with cambria
handkerchief aud bottle of sugar and water
provided, and we started with him for a days
journey. When we arrived at night, the first
care was to see what had become oil Hum, who
had not been looked at since we fed him with
sugar and water in Boston. We found him alive
and well, but so dead asleep that We could not
wake him to roost so we put him to bed on q
toilet cushion, and arranged his tumbler for
morning. Tbs next day found him alive and
hummng, exploring the room and pictures,
psrching now here and now there but, as the
weather was chilly, he sat tor the most part of
the time 10 humped-up state on le tipol pair
OF stag's )rns We moved him 10 a more sun.
ny apartment but, alas the equinOcal storm
came on, and there was no sun to be had for days
Hum was blue, the pleasant seaside days were
over his room was lonely the pleasant three
that had enliyened the apartment at RE no
longer came in and out evidently he was lone
some AMI gave way to depression. One chilly
morning he managed again to fall into his tum-
bier, and wet himself through; and notwith-
stSnding warm bahings and tender musings,
the poor little fellow seemed to get dipthera, or
something quite as bad for humming,birds
We carried him to a neghboring sunny par.
lor, where ivy embowers all the walls, and the
sun lies all day, There he revived little, dan
ced up and down, perched on green spray that
was wreathed across the breast OF Psyche and
looked then like little fitting soul returning
to its rest. Towards evening he drooped aud,
having been nursed and warmed and cared for,
he was put to sleep on green twig LAID on the
piano, In that sleep the little head dropped
nodded--fell and little Hum went where other
brrh, dreamers CO. to the land OF the Hereafter.
Our Young Folks.
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