Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-18
The Story Of . Pet Bird.

net bird, illustrating In remarkable de-
gree the power of kindness, was written
6y the owner to female friend and that
friend, as we think, very properly, has fur
nished copy for publication. All who
attended the last meeting of the American
Pathological Convention, held in Phila-
delphia, will remember the wonderful col
lection of fruits, and especially will they
remember the remarkable exhibition of
grapes, from the fruit establishment of
Hetty B. Trimble, of West Chester, Penn
sylvania. To that lady we are indebted
for the story of this little sparrow-her
pet Bessie.
It is we'll known by others as well as
ornithologists that female birds will re-
turn year after year to the same home;
but has it ever been proved before that the
same couple of birds remain true to each
other as long as both do live? Or has it
ever been known before that both the in
stinct for migration and the affection for
mate and little ones have been overcome
by an attachment to human friend?
Those familiar with the Song Sparrow
(Fringilla Melodia) will recognize it at
once in Miss Trimble's account. We be-
gin to hear it now (early in March)-the
first of the singing birds of spring. The
note is short one, but exquisitely beauti-
ful-exceeded only by the melody of the
wood robin. Sometimes they are so nu-
merous about country gardens that in the
early mornings there will be perfect
ground-swell of melody-probably one of
the sweetest sounds this side the stars.
Il am no ornithologist; but suppose
my little pet was song sparrow little
bird of very Quaker like plumage-shades
20 nj a "a q
any little bird could well be.
"The winter of 1859 was very cold. A
Young friend who was then living with us
was coming home one evening, and found
his little bird lying on snowdrift, appar
emily frozen to DEATH but, holding it in
his hands few moments, found there was
a little fluttering motion Of the heart. He
ran up stairs to the parlor register, and by
warmth and kindness brought it to. 1t
was some days, however, before she re-
covered entirely. She was then turned
loose in the conservatory, where she
seemed perfectly happy, darling in and
out among my flowers. At first, we heard
only timid, low notes from her; but as
she became accustomed to us, and knew
she had nothing to fear, there was often
one gush of melody after another.
"In the spring the birds began to re-
turn to their sumner homes-birds of her
own kind, as well as others; but she paid
no heed to them for some time. However,
one day we were startled by long, loud
cry from her, so unusual that every one
ran into the conservatory to see what had
happened. A little bird was on the out
side trying to get in. The window was
opened; she flew to meet him; and such
a Joyous meeting it was The meeting of
human lovers after long separation could
not more plainly tell the story of affection.
Soon snow squall came up, and she was
too tender to breast it, and tapped at the
window to be taken in. She remained
very contentedly until the weather was
quite settled. Now came her trouble. He
wanted the nest to be built in cedar tree
some 200 feet from the house; she so0uld
not 90. He perched himself in the
tree and sang his most charming
melodies; while she, on top Of
the smoke house, near the house, answered
him just as sweetly. But she would not
bulge from the position she had taken.
After the second days maneuvering. he
began to give in little by little approach
ing the house Finally, they compromised
the matter by building the nest in goose
berry bush, near the smoke house. This
was not to her mind but still it was bet
ter than the far-of cedar tree
"In time four pretty little brown birds
made their appearance. AS soon as they
were out Of the nest she cOaxed them to
the house, where her feed table and bath
tub were always ready for her. Such
pretty, happy little family they were!
"The next nest was just where she
wanted tin a jasmine bush trained
around one Of the parlor windows. From
this nest came three little birds.
"Her table and bath tubs were again
brought into the conservatory--the flowers
now being out of doors. The side sashes
were always open. and she brought all the
family to feed and battle just as it pleased
her; and the glass doors into the parlor
being open, they would fly through the
house as if it was of out doors.
"Cold weather came once more, and the
mate and young birds disappeared; but
Bessie did not go. She tapped at the win
dow, and was again warmly welcomed to
her quarters amongst the flowers in the
conservatory.
"Here she spent another gay, happy
winter; and it was a constant source Of
pleasure to us to watch her pretty, cum
ming ways, and listen to her sweet songs
"In the next spring QS57) Bessie's
owner moved way, and she fell into my
possession-a very welcome legacy.
4" As before, the birds returned in the
spring; but Bessie was quite Indifferent to
them all. But one day, while we were at
the dinner table, we heard what seemed to
be loud, wild scream of joy. With one
accord, all rushed stairs TO the conserv-
atory; and there, sure enough, was the
mate again. This was repeated every
spring while she lived. Whenever we
heard that peculiar, wild, joyous commo-
ton. we knew that her mate had come;
and, On going to see, always found him
there.
Zone year they raised three broocs of
birds and it was not an uncommon thing,
at that time, to see the parent birds and
the twelve young ones all feeding at the
same table-the youngest yet 30 young
as to be fed by the old one.
"This little pet was with us seven years.
We never doubted her identity; but
clipt feather and defective toe made this
identity unmistakable.
"The same great Joy was manifested to.
ward her mate at each annual return in
the spring; but the last one 1t seemed al
ouov1 atfrorfa1