The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-08-29
A LITTLE STORY FOR GENTLE.
MEN.

They stood, but that was their way G
sitting, for they were quite at thei
ease. The blackbird looked grateful
up to the large relation who spoke t.
him so kindly; the crow, who wear
Sunday clothes all the week, AM
couldn't be more dignifed, even witt
spectacles, spoke as follows:
"You blackbirds are doubtless awar
that we look upon you with tender ad
miration; in fact, some have gone s,
far as to consider the blackbird Hea
ven's first best gift to the crow"
"First best gift; how pretty !" sai(
the blackbird and he straightway made
it into little song.
That's right, said the crow; Z" I an
pleased with you; we don't sing our
selves se-becaw-becaw" here h
set his head on one side and stopped tC
ponder.
Because you can't ?" suggested the
blackbird, respectfully.
"Not at all, said the crow "it's be
Gavin fact, it's question of spheres
Our sphere, you observe, is the world
| for instance, we see to the weather, anG
preside over paintings, and holG
conventions, and continually prepare
new theorems concerning that still un
fathomed mystery; but why oppress
with these ponderous themes little,
! simple songster ?"
"But you would, perhaps, explain,
said the blackbird, with Difference.
"I refer to the question, the question
of this and preceding ages, why men,
when they have prepared us field OF
| corn, end by stretching unmeanine
| lines across it, and even erect strange
beings, with spreading arms, in the
midst. These things do not help us
on the contrary, they are unpleasantly
bewildering. Why, then I never shall
rest until find out why"
"That comes of your logical mind, y
said the blackbird.
81 am pleased with you," said the
crow, and getting down from the fence,
he stepped about on the ground in a
highly superior manner.
"How distinguished" thought the
blackbird "And we. sir ?"
you? oh-haw. We do all these
things, and you sing to us while we are
doing them. You've no idea how in
spring it is to us, when we are engaged
in these important matters, to know
that you are sympathizing at distance,
suiting your nice little tunes to all our
changes, and setting, so to speak, our
lives to music. Haw -
go how sweetp' said the blackbird,
beginning at once to whistle it. "But
suppose, y he suggested, "just suppose,
you know, that some of us didn't like
singing, or wished to try those other
ways of living?"
"That wouldn't do at ALL" said the
crow, coming back. "You must be
fond of singing. A crow without a
blsckbird to ameliorate him ? It might
subvert the unities. Haw !"
"Still, if we should" said the black
bird, with timid persistence.
"Then," said the crow, severely,
"you would lose your influence ;" and
again he got down from the fence, and
stepped about
"Dear, DEAR said the little one,
trembling. "T'll never do it. Please,
sir, what is influence ?"
Influence, my child, is that beauti-
ful-haw that Observation-Disclosures In
short, it means that, if you only take
pains to find out what we like to do, you
can almost always soothe us in doing it.
But, whatever you may think of our
doings, always remember that our
high-toned nature cannot brook cen
sure, and that the only way to preserve
your influence is to meet us with
song"
"I'1I try to remember" the blackbird
said, and they parted.
"The next day, Jack and Jenny
Blackbird were happy, feeding their
first brood.
'There's a shoulder for yoG," said
Jenny. "Sweet, sweet, spread out
your wings. think they'll fly by to-
81 consider this really remarkable
mouth" said Jacky, dropping a worm
in it. 81 don't see why, with our So
cial advantages, we couldn't train them
to be almost equal to crows. I'm sure
our cousin will visit us. And he says
if we want to keep on good terms we
must always meet him with song, and
be constantly careful not to lose our
influence"
What's that ?" said Jenny. "Do see
how he balances! He'll certainly fly
by tomorrow.
81 don't know exactly; but we keep
it by letting them have their own way,
and especially by singing and if we
lose it, they'll be sure to despise us"
"You don't say so p said Jenny.
&c That we couldn't endure. All, Hea-
ven above, what's this ?''
For something suddenly swooped
down into the nest, and carried off the
fedgling in its talons.
go COUSIN" cried Jacky, "you've
made a mistake, you've got our eldest |
child !"
eyes, I'm quite fond of them" said
the large cousin, affably. What a |
nice little pair you are But why don't |
you sing AS / told you, we always ex-
pect to be met with song"
"But you've got our child" screamed |
Jenny " o you are hurting him.
81 won't hurt him more than I must,
said the crow, considerably. "But,
pardon me if 1 notice haw an absence
If that serene cheerfulness which ought |
% be distinguishing blackbird trait.
What, still no music? Then I begin to
"Let us try our influence" gasped
Tacky perhaps it may soften" And
hey began to sing a wavering song.
"How improving that is p said the
row, with claw suspended. Really
here was one instant when L felt so ex-
llted that I was on the point of putting
he morsel back in the nest. If it
hadn't been quite SO juicy. However,
nay be I won't come back for more"
"Still let us sing," saidsthe parents
{ if we lose our influence he will eat
hem ALL" And while he was picking
he little bones, they sang until their
'oices failed with anguish.
Soon their large cousin left, but next
lay he returned.
81 regret, he remarked, that you
all to bring me more fully under your
influence. A little mole would have
one it. But I feel assured that the
light of so much patience and humility
Ill have an indirectly exalting effect
n my nature" And he clawed out an
ther birding.
go cousin, don't !'' cried the parents,
o longer singing. "Don't take our
hildren don't make us so unhappy !'
"There is something quite amiss
ere, said the crow, with displeasure.
Blackbirds waiting and expostulating,