Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-18
A Robin Story.

will write it out so that other children may
have the benefit as well MS mine. Let Inc say,
in beginning, this will be a statement of actual
fact nothing added b by way Of establishment
"Once on a time" saw our cat run across
the grass towards the fence with robin in her
mouth. | ran TO its rescue; she dropped the
bird; it was large and beautiful though young.
1t was alive, but its wings topped and its eyes
were partly closed Ii was frightened and hurt;
the blood was trckling over its red and golden
feathers. | carried il tenderly into the house.
washed off the blood, and laid it on soft place
prepared for it on the shelf. 1t was evidently
in pain from the cats claws and teeth and
rough handling. 1t began to feel better after Il
while, aud then | fed it. That was difficult to
do, for ii was not used to such mother.
succeeded best with pieces of worm; | called il
worm-hash, and it began to like it. 1t refused
at first the whole article, but after a while it
would take in full worm at once longer than
its body, aud, like Oliver Twist, ask for more /;
but this was after he had boarded with us for
some days.
Robin gradually improved and could move
round, and became acquainted, though he made
no attempt to use his wings. | put a green
cedar-6ough in the corner of the ROOM and fixed
in it soft place like a nest, and he slept there
nights, and made himself at home anywhere in
the room he chose daytimeS; hopping and flying
better and better every day, until one would
tew out of the window and back again, and
finally flew away for good; at least | thought
so. Toward night ofthe same day we heard Il
little tapping at the closed window and there
we saw, on the outside, Robin, saying in bird
language, "Lct me imp and gladly did So He
went to his little nest in the cedarbough and
rested for the night In the morning we gave
him his breakfast of worm-hash and then he
flew away. This was his custom after that (;
staying round for his breakfast then out all day
and regularly back, like a good boy, every
night. One night he put in no appearance; we
waited and watched, but he came back no more /;
this was in the fall we concluded some cat had
at last made q meal Ofhm.
The winter passed away, and in time Robin
was forgotten. Spring came, and what do you
think3 We heard again the little knocking on
the window pane, and looking, we saw Robin /;
he had returned after his long absence. He
could not tell his story, but he few from one to
another, remembering each, and seemed very
glad to see us, and be at home again; then he
flew away. We got another cedar bough, and
prepared his bed as it used to be, but he did not
return.
| have an idea, from what happened after
wards, that Robin had fallen in love, and we
were forgotten. Young men do sometimes, and
why not brdsP A week or two after this we
heard again the little tapping at the window
when opened, in he flew, followed by his mate
for be had been and done IT. as you will see be-
and lowered around, while Robin flew in and
out, and seemed to be persuading her to stay
and make our acquaintance. She appeared to
be much troubled and anxious, and Robin,
as was his duty, followed her, and
they built their nest elsewhere. He made
sacrifices, undoubtedly, for he knew what
he was leaving - for he had board
ed with us; but, like good bird, he con-
cluded to sink or fly with her, for better or
worse; and he never worried his companion by
making us any visits on the sly; but late in the
season he knocked again at our window, and
this time with his little family. There was
Robin and Mrs Robin and the little Robins.
He came in, but his family could not be per-
suaded; they twittered on the window sill, and
flew off as we came toward the window lie
had told them all his story at least suppose so,
and now about leaving for his winter journey,
he came to make us his parting visit. He seemed
10th to 90; was it a premOnition that he was
never to see us again? Birds, l suppose, have
their preSentiments as we have One of his
family, thinking, suppose, he had staid long
enough, boldly flew into the room where we
were, sang. sharp note which sounded like
DE quick" and out they both flew; and that
was the last we ever saw of Robin.
Soon after this, or before the next spring, we
moved away from this house and others occu-
pied it. dare say that when the spring re-
turned, and with il the robins that our Robin
came again TO the window and knocked. and
found no welcome because the inmates knew
nothing Of his antecedents. OF course | do
not know whether the bird returned again or
not, but il he was alive have no doubt of il.
dare say he pondered in his disappointment
when finding no response, on the hcklcness of
man, or the unrela5ity of human friendships
Perhaps Mrs. Robin, who always seemed 10
have her doubts, and to whom he naturally
would tell his grief, may have said TO him, with
that wise assurance, or after-knOwledge, com
mOn TO the Mrs Robins human, and perhaps
leathered, 81 told you SO John Wetherbee,
In the Commemorative