Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-14
The soldier and Faithful Bird.

cluded spot OF a rich mans garden. The
bird sat in her softlined nest, over. shadow.
ed by green leaves, whilo sweet blossoms
shed their odors around, and all the air
seemed to vibrate to the low dreary mur-
murs Of clear falling fountains There, too,
we're often heard the happy voices of young
men and maidens aud the glad echoes OF
childish laughter
While the gentle bird sat upon four little
spotted blue eggs, she was very happy, you
may be sure waiting in sweet patience for
the time to come whom she should feel be-
meath her the faint thrill Of little beating
hearts, when the thin blue spotted shells Of
her dear eggs should grow more thin, and
at last breaking give liberty to her darling
baby.birds. Beloved child, the birds bright
eyes grew as tender in her thoughtful hope
as did your motherswhen She bent over you
/ sleeping in your cradle.
Now, this birds home in this beautiful
garden was in the midst of city, a city
celebrated for its palaces aud temples OF
white marble that gittered fair in the sun
light or CLEANED whittier in the moonlight.
Each day by this garden wall where the
birds nest was a Roman soldier passed on
his way to his appointed duty, which was
to stand as guard by one Of the city gates.
Very stately aud stern did he look clad
in his grim armor, but for all that his heart
was as kind and gentle as could be, and he
1 felt tender love for ell innocent and beau.
tiful things.
think when he saw this mother bird on
her nest there, that bis heart went out to-
ward her in a strange fondness. think
too that be brought his little boy thus far
on his way, ard that, lifting him up in hi.
arms, be showed him the pretty sight amid
the green vine leaves, which SO pleased the
good child that each day the little journey
was repeated.
The soldier, while he held the chid's
hand in his great warm clasp would some.
times sink his voice almost to a whisper,
and tell Of the one true God Of whom he
had ouy lately earned-lle whose Son had
dwet in the land Of Palestine, who went
about doing good, and who had said Of lit.
tie sparrows like this that not one could
fall TO the ground without the knowledge
of that great Father in heaven. The rea.
son that the soldier said this in a whisper
was that Christians we're then most cruelty
persecuted by the emperor Of his own coun.
try, and were but few 10 number 10 this city
where heather gods were still worshipped
And daily when the brave man ended hi.
talk with the boy they parted here, kissing
each other on cheeks and lips,
Again and again the boy had heard the
mother sparrow's mate sing to her, and seer
him bring her food but one morning, wher
the air seemed oppressively hot and sitting
be heard an unwonted chattering and fut
tering about this little nest.
"Oh, father" be cried, what does the
bird say ?"
The soldier paused abruptly, looked
above toward the brazen sky, then at frown.
ing aud fiery Vesuyius towering not far off
and away where the wide ocean lay mur.
muring now in a voice like deep threaten.
ing thunders and his lips grew pale and be
sighed heavily. The boy not noticing this
asked again,
Father, what does the bird say2 Lis.
ten the mother bird answers. What does
he say2"
"My boy" answered the soldier, "he is
urging her to fly away with him he tell.
her of the coming Of fearful storm, of the
approach of a great calamity if be stays
for he is frightened, poor little fellow but
she is brave as though she were a Roman
Aud hear her; she tells him, "A voice told
me to sit here and care for my four eggs
te wait here for my darlings here is my
place, this is my duty And she sits still
but hear him. Oh, the barbarian, the cal.
tiff he must have been reared in the cap
tivity Of cage, for surely freedom would
have given him a stouter heart Don't
speak Of duty, he cries lit will all be one
in hundred years. Come away, come
away, come away follow me, follow, fol-
low, followp He is gone, and she sit,
alone she did not listen TO his false reas
oning, for what did he tell her? 1t viii
be all one in hundred years. 1t is moi
true, for my duty done shall not perish il
a hundred, nor in thousand years. Duty
is duty eternally; if we do it, we are i'm
mortal.
"But the storm is coming and mus
away to my post, for am Roman and I
soldier"
Farewell, my boy; hasten to you
mother. Remember that the Father il
heaven who notes the sparrow's fall caretl
for you also, and has numbered the yer,
hairs Of your head. Bear my blessing t
your mother. Another kiss, and ye
another. Farewell" So they parted il
: that far away yesterday.
All me what days followed ashes an,
cinders, FIRE and lava, pouring into tn
doomed city. The boy and his mothe
perished together with nameless multitude
In thoir last hours he told her over and owe
of all his father had said about duty ant
about the Father above in that last partin
by the birds nest; and he died as becam
} the son Of such pareRts, and his mother
claspng him in her arms, could exclaini
30 God, | am not left without comfort
err
After 4 rayless night of almost eighteei
hundred years the light of day again reste,
on the once beautiful city. Men wake,
{ the streets 10 the silence Of great awe
With mingled emotions of admiration an,
reverence they gazed oil the ruined walls an
broken columns Of the once fair temples.
When they found the noble Roman sodie
still at his post by the gate Of the city
proudly standing-his own monument
T. they stood with uncovered heads before him
and did sorrowful homage to his nobleness
) but when they found in the little garde
nook the still faithful bird brooding on he
four uubroken eggs, they buried their face
in their hands and weFt like little children
; at will all be one in hundred years,
: her mate had said, but see, sweet bird al
most eighteen hundred have passed and tb
: faithfulness is made known, tender lesso
to the children Of men, Nameless but mos
noble soldier thou didst preach grand
true sermon on duty centuries after tn
. time, Oh, children, while we remembe
the true soldier, let us not forget the faith
full bird Childrens Hour.
Q Mems feelings arc always purest an