Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-04
The Captive Humming- Bird

Children like sugar-pums, at least al
that | was ever acquainted with.
But do you suppose that anything els,
likes sugar aud sweet things As well is YOU
do? " Yes, youwill say. houey-bees art
fond of sweets Tney feast upon hon Win
summer, and lay up much more than they
need for the winter.
Very true And perhaps you know, too
that the pretty little hunmng birds that
come fitting around our gardens in the hot
days OF July and August, live upon the
honey that the suck from the flowers. as
we'll as upon the insects that they find in
those cups of nectar
cannot stop here to describe these little
winged gems and their hab.t-. for l
want 10 tel. story of one that made a
visit to a caaiy shop, and We vii. see what
happened to him
/ was sitting alone iu tuc office of a
friend, one warm afternoon last summer.
writing TIE office wa- la the rear OF q
large confectionery establishment iu the
city, and the windows were WIDE omen
Opposite the windows was q large sash Of
glass, covering nearly half that side OF the
room The AIR was tul, of delicious scents
from the candy that was being made all
around me-below IN the basement an an
the second floor of the ,rcat byiIain, nm
the third, ana even on the fourth floor
candy, candy on all sides What a place
for the children How they would sniff
the pleasant oior- lemon. rose. vanilla.
anise, and many more and run about ike
colts in fragrant field of clover, Candy
enough I'm the nile, of cum lamon ma
chocolate rons in the ras... of .,.,.-s4
cloves. and eas-ia-h,3. n -.
trays Of tempting. taft-dr5p- and caramel.
and the great stacks Of ,,itk candy IN fin
all thor ,.,...,- g., ,b.........i -. "a
then IL would rs hardly MISSED +. Vs.
busy placs -bere ms 6a4,~., t5. b..,l.,.-
you NAV bee sure
While sitting Id the~. very pleasant
quarters. ana quito -tfH sv,.ri tbe poi.s
of pen Oh paper. all a, on.. r..ari , AM
tering and beating a.lju-, the great sash.
Looking zap, saw. not a biz beetle bus. as
[ had expected. but a beaurjfu. hnmmin,
bird, throwing itself vain.y against the
glass, trying to .e; out.
Poor thing 1t had been attracted b.,
the favorings OF the candles. and thou,hf
suppose. that ID would find beds of the
,wcetc-t flowers from which 10 sin ir- doll
.atc supper Softly shutting the doors
,n4 window, finally caught the ittle
hing without hurtin. it. But il was "a
frightened aud exhausted that when mt
uto the bottum of a box. it remained ner-
ectIy still, aud .et me examine Its Glitter
NJ coat, So marvellous Ia dye and texture,
t ei-ure l. was OF The ruBllttro4,eg
pec'eS the sInd that comes lar up here 10
he north tor short time c4ca year. as if
o give us some iitt.e idea of the wonderful
edutles that constantly II &. the forests of
be South.
After looking ar my captive for several
llnuies, and admlriu- its beautiful hues.
5 bright eyes ami long slender bin. and
7mem1ern4 that NOT even sparrow falls
, the ground without the notice Of the
Ieavenly Father, took it in my hand.
2ened the window, and the happy bird
lrted away over the trec-tops with the
'eed OF light
l believe our little friend will never 9
'me near confectionery store again. He
ltl think 1t my DO for larger folks. but
It such tots as himself the open fields and
lrdcns. with Their red and golden real a.,
overs, are much the best. And | am "
nte OF his mind. Sugar plums and a
'odleS are very nice occasionally, but for
y part like the fresh air. the Green fields q
I'd bright flowers, far better even than u
ting candy.
Jesus said something about the birds.
ere 1t Is; e. Behold the fowls Of the air
+ they SOW not, neither DO they reap, nor
lther INTO barns; yet your Heavenly
ither ieedeth them. Think Of that
u the multitudes Of delicate humming Il