Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-01-04
Feeding the Birds at Christmas In
Norway.

Feeding the B1ruS AZ ChrIstMas lii
Norway.
In this country, where every one can
possess gun and every boy turns sports
man, we have almost in many parts ex-
terminated the feathered creation. NO
protecting hand is outstretched to
save them; the game laws, increas-
ing in stringency, avail little to
diminish the slaughter and while the
insects swarm, devouring the land, we
have no feathered favorites to rout their
ARMED, and render our homes more
cheerful by song and graceful move
ment.
In England the robin is, in manner,
sacred; in Germany, the stork. Love
for birds is feeling to be cultivated II
for no other reason, no higher reason,
than for the very selfish reason that 1t
will pay.
During the middle ages there was a
renowned minnesinger, or minstrel, In
Germany, to whom birds were friends
and companions. He made them heirs
of all his fortune, which he left to
monastery with directions to expend the
income in grain to be thrown out to the
birds. AS years ran on, they seemed to
know their granary, and at the appoint
Ell days, the old monastery, with every
point of the Gothic chapel, and the trees
around, was vocal with the thankful
notes of the little choristers.
In similar spirit the peasantry in
Norway, at Christmas, would have all
creation join in the general JOY, and
most of all, the birds. On every house
and barn they pat up bundles of un,
thrashed grain, that the little winged
creatures may, like man himself, find
cause for hankfulness, and show his
exultation and his joy.
The idea is as poetic and as beautiful
as that of the old minnesinger and thus
the illustration teaches lesson not with
out its moral.
As the day opens, the younge special
ly gather to spread the table for their
feathered friends, and hyrpe, thur, roy
skovrype, all and any flock around,
conscious, apparently, that no deadly
missile will mar their enjoyment on the
day of days.
An Explanation Of the Contest Of Mr..
Greeley's Will.
A New York dispatch says: The
pending lawsuit over the two wills lief,
by Mr.. Greeley is pretty we'll ertained
to be contest to obtain control of the
Tribune. The story is that as soon as
Mr.. Greeley died, Mr.. Sinclair set about
bringing the Tribune under his control
and wrote to Schuyler Colfax, Offering
the position of editor,in chief to him al
$4,000 year. Mr.. Colfax declined
but said that perhaps $4,000 would be
an inducement. 1t then became neces
sary to buy up the ten share Of stock
controlled by the Misses Greeley, il
order to secure proper majority. Sen
ators Chandler and Conkling agreed tt
put up the money, and with 800 600 il
hand, Mr. Sinclair called on the youns
ladies, but they refused, having prom
ised allegiance to Whitelaw Reid, who
some time be ore had detected the odo
of rodent in the office. Sinclair
thought of the former will of Mr.. Gree
ley, and determined to outtlank Reit
by contesting the other document OF
the ground of the insanity of the tesla
tor at the time it was drawn. This pro
ceeding ties up ten shares, and gives tn,
Sinclair party the control OF the Office
at least for the present. Mr.. Reid con
tinues in the editorial choir, as usual
waiting the turn of events. Mr.. Sin
clair's chief ally is DR.. Aver, of Lowell
who has been a Grant man throughout
1t is also said that one of the conditions
of Colfax and his Senatorial friends
made with Sinclair, is that clear
sweep of the present editorial staff shall
be made, and also of the Washington
Bureau