Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-03

high had some one to give them Woi h!o
or else they paid for them with theif
songs
But our unfortunate one down low
had ne one to give her worms, and no
body would take her songs in payment
for them at first and when they dld at
last, she had to sing great deal III or
der to obtain even one meal, because Ia
the Realm of Singing songs were many
and worms were few. There was,
however. considerable choice IN the mar
ket, and do not know, but | suspect
there was still some prejudice against
the songs of crippled birds. Therefore
this one resumed singing under difficult
ties.
For instance, sometimes when she
was brooding over some new note which
she thought might have some merit in it,
she was obliged to forget everything
else for the moment and hop down after
some perverse worm that was wriggling
out of sight, and that wouldn't wait till
her song had fashioned itself to her
mind, as she sat with her head under
her wing. Then, again, other songs
couldn't be sung at all, there was such
long, hard work in looking for break
fasts. and others again were badly sung,
because she was so dull. For you must
know that it is unusually hard work for
a crippled bird to catch worms, especial
" when they are unusually spry, or
when there is goOdldeal of competition.
And between work and singing she was
always very tired, so that most OF her
songs were the merest snatches. And
one day she stopped suddenly in the
midst of one and said
II wonder if, after all, there is any
good in my singing? Perhaps there is,
and yet perhaps | have been wrong TO
try, and may be | had better hold my
peace hereafter and listen to the other
birds, if they will only be so good as to
allow that my poor chirpings of the past
have earned for me the privilege to
dwell, in silence upon the furthest edge
of the domain of singing | will stop
and listen to what the paSsers by are
saying to each other, and may be l shall
hear some chance word dropped about
my songs which shall help me to make a
decision.
So she settled herself again upon the
twig. a little YEARLY, and kept silence,
holding her head carefully to one side
to listen, and in her heart she kept say
ing all the time, over and over, some
times hopefully, and sometimes dispair-
ingly, but oftenest doubtingly;
Il wonder if there is any worth in my
singing after all. Can it be that because
a good song has not been sung by Grip
pied bird that it shall never be done at
all 2"
Suddenly from the trees high above her
came a burst of warbling. Some of the
very best singers at the top of the tree
were trying their notes simultaneously.
The forest was alive with the sweet II
valry. Its green gloom was filled and
pierced through and through with the
sharp delight of sudden trills and quay
ers, or echoed back the mellOwed per
fectness of cadences long drawn out in
melodious death. The sun glinted down
through the dew wet leaves, and made
the little brook which ran babbling
through its heart, sparkle with glee. The
dainty anemOnes, the pale blue ViOlets,
and the bold scarlet columbines, seemed
to listen, while here and there the shy,
bright,eyes of timid wild creatures peered
inquisitively out of the tangled thickets
of wild rose and laurel.
A pang of mingled envy and resent.
ment-the very first that she had even
felt-passed through the heavy heart of
the dropping bird. They were so blithC
she was so sad. They were so free
she so AFFECT They were revealing il
the exercise of their untrammelled pow.
ers, while with all the toll and trouble
that SHE might throw into her singing
she should never be able to give a single
full round note, like those which rolled
without effort, from their threats.
The next moment, however, nothing
but unmixed sadness was in her heart
''Alas :" said she that to my Othel
misfortunes should ever add that oil
being spiteful and envious."
Silence had again fallen upon the
wood. The world which had stopped
by the wayside to listen and applaud it!
favorites, had now passed by. There
remained only poor little hunch-bacF
who fingered, seated upon the roots OF
the tree, on whose lowest branch thi.
unfortunate bird was perched. Hi
great blue eyes were full of tenderness
and patience; at the same time they
were dimmed with suffering and by tn,
tears which were not often allowed Il
fall. The glorious singing which ha,
| brought the rest of the world out O.
its way, 'cOaXed no smile to his pale face
1t told of eXultatiOn, of laughter, of al
the loved JOY of life-it struck only tri
| umphant chords, and resonant note
alone came forth. 1t made the sad hear
shrink into itself, and only sighed wear
lily while others applauded.
Now, this lonesome bird had no
marked that any one remained in tn
! wood Tho rAoi,, low ca l.,
heart that she felt that unless she cOulC
sing it away It would kill her. 1t was
| low toned, sad little song, all in the mi
nor key, broken by gasps and flutterings
that she sang at first, but happening t
| look downwards once she saw two grea
blue eyes, full of tears, looking up a
her. Here, for once at least, was sym
pathy. One heart had responded to he
| singing. She went on-the song grew
1 to be wonderful one First it told o
a grief almost too great to be borne, o
the care that eats away life in silence
of the great, rebellious sobs of a tor
! tured heart, of the INSTRUMENTATION an,
misery that will not brookcOnstraint, o
a soul in revolt under the pain of shat
tered hopes Then it took cleare
and higher cadence. 1t told of sor
! row Worthily endured and nobly over
lived of the strength, the ripeness
the sweetness that come with it. O
the perfected joy which lies behind it
of the sublimity of the plan-which on
of the keenest pain brings the mobiles
| pleasure.
And as she sang, 10, the pain passe
from her heart, and the lameness fror
her wings. They were outspread read
for flight, and as the constant tide O
melody flowed, without restraint, fror
her full throat, she looked down again
and beheld great throng, which ha
gathered under the tree in which sh
sang.
They were the weariest of all til
worlds wayfarers. The faces that wer
saddest, the forms that were the mos
bowed, the hearts that were heaviest
had all gathered there. The sick, th
sad, the MANNED, the feeble, the bt
trayed and the lonely ones. All, whs
eyes those were, that were strained III
wards in the direction of the song
They were sad enough to sadden heave
itself. But one and all, they gre,