The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-21
The Story or a Pet Bird.
From the Indenendent.

degree the power OF kindness, was writ
ten by the owner to female friend;
and that friend, as we think, very prop
erly, has furnished copy for publica-
! ton. All who attended the last meeting
of the American Pathological Conven-
ton, held in Philadelphia, will remem-
Der the wonderful collection of fruits,
and especially will they remember the
remarkable exhibition of grapes, from
the fruit establishment of Hetty B.
| Trimble, of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
To that lady we are indebted for the
story of this little sparrow-her pet
| Bessie.
1t is we'll known by others as well as
ornitholog SITS 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 instinct of migration and
the affection for mate and little ones
have been overborne by attachment to
| human friend?
Those familiar with the Song Sparrow
| (Fringilla Melodia) will recognize it at
once in Miss Trimble's account. We
begin to hear it now (early in March y
the first of the singing birds of spring.
The note is a short one, but eXquisitely
beautiful-eXceeded only by the melody
of the wood robin. Sometimes they are
SO numerous about the country gardens
that in the early morning there will be
a perfect ground-swell of melody-pro-
baby one of the sweetest sounds this
side the stars:
:" am no ornithologist but suppose
my little pet was song sparrow-a lit
tie bird Of very Quaker-like plumage-
shades of brown and gray, but as trim
and neat as any little bird could we'll
! be.
1.-THE winter of 1855 was very cold.
A young friend who was then living
with us was coming home one evening,
and found his little bird lying on a
snowdrift, apparently frozen to death /;
but, holding it in his hands few mo-
ments, found there was little tluttering
motion of the heart. He ran upstairs
to the parlor register, and by warmth
and kindness brought it to. 1t was
some days, however, before she recov-
cred entirely. She was then turned loose
in the conservatory, where she seemed
perfectly happy, darting in and out
among the flowers. At first, we heard
only timid, low notes rom 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 summer homes-birds Of
her own kind, as we'll as others but she
paid no heed to them for some time.
However, one day we were startled by a
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 outside, trying to get in.
The window was opened; she flew to
meet him. and such joyous meeting
as it was the meeting of human lovers
after q long separation could not more
plainly tell the story of affection. Soon
a 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.
lie wanted the nest TO be bnilt in a ce-
dar tree some POO feet from the house
she would not go. lie perched himself
on the tree and sang his most charming
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 maneu-
vering, he began to give in little by lit
tie, approaching the house. Finally
they compromised the matter by build
ing the nest in Il gooseberry bush, near
the smoke-house. This was not 10 her
mind but still it was better than the
far off cedar tree.
In time four pretty little brown
birds made their appearance. AS soon
as they were out of 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 conservatary-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
NNOi0 III vic l't'iioi Icing OpSIl' tlcy
would fly through the house as if it was
out of doors.
Cold weather came once more, and
the mate and young birds disappeared i;
but Bessie did not 90. She tapped at
the window, and was again warmly well
coined to her quarters among the flowers
IN the conservatory.
" Here she spent another gay, happy
winter; and it was a constant source
: of pleasure TO us TO watch der pretty,
cunning ways, and listen to her sweet
songs.
In the next spring 1850 Bessie
/, owner moved away, and she fell into my
possession-a very welcome legacy.
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 Il loud, wild scream
of joy. With one accord, all rushed
upstairs to the conservatory and
there, sure enough, was the mate