Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-08-28
A Robin Story.

/ me say, IN beginning, TINS Will DC sedO0-
ment of actual fact, nothing added by way
of establishment
! 'Once on a time l saw our cat run
across the grass toward 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 It's eyes were partly
closed 1t was frightened and hurt ; the
blood was trickling over its red and golden
feathers | carried it tenderly into the
house, washed off the blood and laid it on
a 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 awhile, and then
/ fed it. That was difficult to do, for it
was not used to such a mother, | succeed
ed best with pieces of worm | called it
worm hash, and it began to like it. 1t re-
fused at first the whole article, but after
awhile it would take in a full worm at
once, longer than It's body, and like Oliver
/ Twist. ask for more but this was after
I he had boarded with Us some days
Robin gradually improved and could
move round, and became acquainted, though
E
/ put green cedar bough in the corner of
I the room and fixed it in a soft place for
nest. and he slept there nights, and made
t himself at home anywhere in the room he
chose daytimes hopping and flying better
every day. until one would never know he
had been wounded. One day he few out
/ of the window and back again, and finally
! flew away for good at least thought So
/ Toward night of the same day we heard
la little tapping at the closed window and
there we saw on the outside, Robin saying
I in bird language " Let me in aud
gladly did 50. He went to his little nest
in the cedar 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 ike a good boy, every
night One night he put in no appear
ancc we waited and watched but be came
back no more this was in the fall we
we concluded some cat had at last made a
meal of him.
The winter passed away and in time
Robin was forgotten Spring came, what
do YOU think 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 ms story.
but be flew from one TO another, remember
Ing each, and seemed very glad to see us.
and be at home again, aud then he few
away. We got another cedar boush, and
prepared it as it used 70 be but he did not
return.
| have am idea. from what happened
afterwards. that Robin had fallen IN love,
and we were forgotten Young men 10
sometimes, aud why not birds A week
or two after this we heard again the little
tapping at the window when We opened
it, IN he flew, followed by his mate-for he
had been and done 1t, as you vii see be-
fore the story IS finished She quickly
flew out and lowered around, while Robin
flew in and out, and seemed to be persuad-
ing her to stay and make our acquaintance.
She appeared to be much troubled and
anxious, and Robin, a. was his duty, fol-
lowed her, and they built their home else
where. He made sacrifices, undoubtedly,
for he knew what be was caving-for he
had boarded with Us but like a good
bird, he cone luded TO sink or fl with her,
ADI utbtEA VI NDA@Lf anu AL uJFtE NOAIltQ
his companion by making Us any visits on
the sly, but late IN the season ne knocked
again at our window, and with his little
family. There was Robin and Mrs Rob
in aud the small Robins He came in but
his family could not be persuaded, they
twittered on the window. He had told
them all his story-at least l suppose so,
and now about leaving for his winter Jour
ney, he came to make his parting visit
/ He seemed 10th to 90, was 1t a premonition
I that he was never to see US again Birds
| suppose, have their presentments as we
have. One of his family, thinking, |
suppose, he had staid long enough, boldly
/ flew into the room where we were. sang a
sharp note which sounded like " be quick
and out they both flew, and that was the
4 last we ever saw of Robin.
/ Soon after this, or before the next
spring, we moved away from this house
and others occupied it. | dare say that
when the spring returned, and with 1t the
robins, our Robin came again to the win
dow and knocked and found no welcome
/ because the inmates knew nothing Of its
antecedents OF course / do not know
whether the bird returned again or not,
but if he was alive l have no doubt Of it,
| dare say he pondered in his disappoint-
ment, when finding no response. on the
fckleness of man, or the unreliability of
human friendships. Perhaps Mrs. Robin,
who always seemed to 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 per-
haps feathered, " L told you so.'-Jobn
Wether5ee, i7s tie Commonwealth