The Baltimore County union., 1872-04-20
The grateful RGb6in.


About twelve years ago, during a very Sc
we're winter, went one morning to spend the
day with two ladies, who were stay og at the
pretty watering place of C. The sno V was ly-
ing Oh the ground outside, but they were sit
ting by bright fire in a snug parlor and had
just finished breakfast. The yOunger lady was
crumblng some bread in a saucer. and told
me she was preparing meal tor a visitor who
came eY cry morning.
/ wondered who it could be that was to eat
such a breakfast, and when Miss J. said,
"Hush hear him, looked towards the door,
expect to see their friend enter. found,
howeve that they We're looking tovards the
window, and on its he'~ Mss j.,
in boppeG beat egan
2kE lp3 or.
but froIa. ner hands.
He did not seem to have the least fear, but
but evezy now and then lifted his little jet
black eye to her face, chirping merily. When
he had finished his meal he gave one loud
chirp, as if to say, "Thauk you," and flew into
q wood near the house.
There are some pretty walks in that wood,
and later in the day my friends invited me to
go with them there. Miss J. took soine crumbs
with her for her ''little friend,' a. he told
me, and scattering them on the grou nd. began
to call, "Dickey Dickey!" I had hi tden my
self that he might not be frighter ed at the
sight of a stranger. AS soon as his friend call
and down came Dickey and began to eat the
the crumbs at her feet. was astonished at
this, and said, CATER all, he only comes for
what he can get. 1t is the crumbs he loves,
and not you.
'Well, we shall see presently which he loves
best" said Miss j. She walked on some dis
tance from the crumbs, and again called,
"Dickey Dickeyl" at the same time holding
out her hand Instantly the faithful little Bird
leaving its crumbs, first perched on a little
branch just over her, looking curiously as ifto
see if she we're alone, and then hoped down
and settled on her hand, seeming quite at home
and happy. Certainly" said I, "he loves you
better than crumbs"
We left the wood and walked a mile or more
into the country; when perceived, ], as thought,
another robin watching us from a tree. 81
think all the robins in the neghborhood know
you," said l to Miss j. She looked where
poi;s~ J, and after moments hesitatiou ex-
clat !, "Why, that's my own darling little
DSSey Dickey!" The little bird began chirp-
ing and fiuttering his wings, as ifquite de-
lighted to be noticed by his friend. We now
observed him more particularly, and found
that wherever she went he followed, flying
from bush to bush, and always keeping near
her, until she reached her home, when he gave
chirp, as if to bid her "good-bye," and flew
away to his home in the woods.
During my stay with my friends, this occur
red not once or twice, but whenever they left
the house for their walks; and they left the
place at the end of the winter, they were were
very sorry, as you may suppose, to part with
their faithful and loving Dickey and I dare
say he missed them, too, though he could now
find food in the woods, and did not so much
need the crumbs-Loving Words.
One OF Mr.. LINcoLN's MERcIFuL AcTs.-Col.
Forney tells the following in the Washington
Sunday Chronicle, among his interesting "An-
ecdotes of Public Men !"
"While 1 was secretary of the Senate there
was scarcely an hour during any day that
was not called upon to help somebody who had
friends or kindred in the army, or had busi-
ness in the departments, or was anxious to get
some poor fellow out of the Old Capitol Prison.
These constantappeals were incessant demands
ugan he time Of a very busy man, but labor
Of log md I am glad to remember that nev-
er unde ctook it reluctantly. One day an ener-
getic lady called on me to take her to the Pres
ident and aid her to get a private soldier par
doned, who had been sentenced to death for
desertion, and 10 be shot the very next
morning. We were much pressed in the SEN
ate, and she had to wait long time before |
could-dccompany her to the White House. 1t
was late in the afternoon we got there, and the
Cabisaet was still in session. | sent in my name
for Mr.. Lincoln, and he came out evidently in
profound thought and full of some great SUBJ
ject. stated the object of our call, and leav-
ing the lady in one of the ante-chambers, re-
turned to the Senate which had not yet ad-
journed The case has made deep impress
sion on me, but forgot in the excitement of
the debate and the work of my o1ice, until
perhaps near 10 o'clock that night, when my
female friend came rushing into my room, ra-
dient with delight, with the pardon in her
hand 81 have been up there ever since she
said. "The Cabinet adjourned, and | SCI wait
ing for the President to come out and tell me
the fate of my poor soldier, whose case placed
in his hand after you left but waited in vain
there was no Mr.. Lincoln. So thought
would 60 up 10 the chamber OF his Cabinet and
knock. did SO; and, as there was no answer,
l opened it and passed in, and there was the
worn President asleep, with his head on the ta-
BILE resting on his arms, and my boys pardon
at his side. quietly walked him, blessed him
for his good deed, and came to tell you the
glorious news You have helped me to save a
human life."
This is the material ifnot for solemn history,
at least for those better lessons which speak to
us from the lives OF the just and pure.
AN UNwIELDY CoRPsE.-On Talcott mountain,
Conn.,, last week, Mr.. Caswel died, aged "a years.
He weighed 425 pounds at the time OF his death.
1t was impossible to get the coffin into he house
without tearing away the partition. Al the
funeral it was found that the coffin could not be
put into the hearse, and an express wagon was
employed. At the graveyard eight bearers were
unable TO carry the coffin to the grave, and other
persons were called 10 help them. The grave
was too small for the coffin, and the sexton and
his assistants kept the bearers waiting an hour
before they could lower 1t.