The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-09-10

HE BULLFINCH 1AUGHT.--BOyS and
girls are not the only little folk who at
tend singing classes, as you shall know
when you hear about the piping bull
finch.
In shape and size this bullfinch is
somewhat like the sparrows in our city
parks, but he has very different head.
The sparrow, you know, has trim, quick
little pate of his own. Not SO the bull
finch. He is clumsy afiair---in fact, he
has a sort of bull head and neck so,
he is well named. Besides, his body is
nearly as black as coal, and his throat is
as red as if the coal were on fire. He is
not naturally a singer, nor is he half so
clever as our American mocking-bird. In
fact, he seems rather stupid, but he is
willing to learn; and so it happens that if
you persevere long enough you can teach
him to sing tune.
The country people of Germany have
found this out. There the peasants take
great delight in training bullfnches.
Their pupils, not being very bright, as /
their cages, when suddenly they hear a
tune played upon violin. They prick
up their ears---or would do SO if they
could--and begin to listen, quite uncon-
scious that that very same violin has been
playing that very same tune for about a
week without their noticing it. But it
is something to catch their attention.
Day after day, for months, the patient
teacher goes over and over the same tune
to the listening birds until human listen
ers begin to wonder which will get crazy
first, the bullfinch or the player. But
by and by the birds begin to pick up the
air, piping the simple parts, and taking
up note after note until, at last, they
know the whole thiEg by heart.
Sometimes rustic father spends half
his time all winter teaching one little
patient bird, and the children look on
with the greatest interest. Or boy will
undertake the task, and when he Mt last
succeeds, his little sisters look upon him
as the most wonderful fellow in the
world and they cry in real earnest when
the wonderful boy carries his pupil to
town to be sold for sold these bullfinches
are sure to be as soon as they are taught,
or else exhibited by their owners as
street singers. Sometimes bird teachers
are known far and wide for their skill
and success; and mt Freiburg, in Baden,
and small villages on the outskirts of the
Black Forest, bullfnch training is
practiced as regular business. In such
eases a small hurdy-gurdy or "bird
organ" is used, as being less difficult and
tiresome than the violin; and, instead of
training one bird, they teach the same
tune to class of ten or dozen.
Generally, the birds are sent to London
or Paris, where, if they have learned
their lessons thoroughly, they are bought
by rich folk, put into beautiful cages
and treated as pets, whilst other bull
fnches, having trihed away their school
days. and only half learned their tune,
live a vagrant life around the markets,
belonging to nobody, and picking up
their dinner as best they can.---,S.
Nicholas.
HARRY's CHICKENs.--Sammy Brent
lived way down South" and was just
as full of mischief as boy of thirteen
could be. One evening he came home
after a ramble through the woods and by
the river, and asked his brother Harry
who was eight years younger than him.
SELF
Harry, wouldn't you like to have
some funny chickens?"
"Pm just sure would" answered
Harry.
"Well you take these three eggs and
put them in box Of sand and set it in
the sun and after while you'll have
three of the funniest chickens you ever
saw"
Harry followed his brothers directions
and morning, noon and night he might
be seen watching for his brood to poke
their bills up out Of the sand. At last,
one hot day, just before noon, the sand
began to move, and the queerest kind OF
a chicken came out. 1t had long, horny
bill, long fiat body, without feathers or
wings, four feet, and tail nearly as long
as its body. AS soon as Harry's excited
eyes could see cleary he exclaimed
ooh! oh ! it's alligator! it's alligator
come out of an egg"
If Harry had been q little older he
would have known that the alligators
bury their eggs in the sand and wait for
the sun to hatch them, and as soon rs
they appear, the mother conducts them
to the water.-Hearth and Home.
A LITTLE DEED BUT A COOP ONE
Little Ellie found thirsty flower by the
side Of the her path. She thought ii
needed water, and so went with big
pitcher and poured a little stream gently
upon it. 1t was very little thing to do,
and yet it was very good thing. If the
flower had not had some water it might
have dropped and died, but when the
water fell upon it, it revived and grew,
and all the summer long it sentOut sweet
perfume and showed bright blossoms that
pleased everybody who looked at it.
A great many good deeds are just as
simple as this. 1t is the kind words and
bright smiles that make people happy
often. They are worth more, sometimes,
than great speeches or rich gifts, and any
little boy or can girl give them.
Giamaan Wnndarmonnnriror