The Red Cloud chief., 1874-01-29
CIaud and tn Little Birds.

O. rare diplomacy,
Quietly wrought,
In the town on the morrow the ring was bought.
Gland and the Little Birds.
"Claud," said his mamma, one day,
would you like to see a birds nest ?"
"Oh, yes y said Gland, jumping up
and down with delight "where is it?
81 will take you to see it," said his
mamma but l shall blindfold you"
What for, mamma" asked Gland,
a~nxiously.
Because if you should go there Of
ten you would disturb the pretty little
mother-bird, and she would 60 away
and leave the eggs"
"Then ! could have EN- y said Claud,
eagerly.
"But she would feel bad to lose
them /; so l shall not let you see where it
is. If you want to go you must be blind
folded"
Twill it hurt? ?" Claud asked, hest.
tating.
"No, of course not" laughed NAM
ma, taking out a clean white handker-
chief and folding it up cornerwise.
Nov let me tie this 3D."
Gland came up, had the bandage tied
on, took mamma'shand, and they started
out.
"Now I'm a blind man, like poor old
Roger in my book, and you're my dog
to lead me. Amt you a pretty big dog,
mammal
az should think l was" said mamma,
laughing.
When they were on the walk there be-
gan a curious and mysterious perform
ance. First mamma led him a little way
toward the barn then she turned and
walked toward the chicken-house ; then
she went back past the house, down by
the fountain to the front gate /; and then
she led him over all the winding paths
of the yard. After that she turned him
around several times, so he would not
know which way he was going, and at
last she led him across the grass and up
to q little rose-bush, not twenty feet
from the front gate. Holding her dress
around him, SO that he couldn't look
out, she slipped up the bandage and let
him look.
There on the ground, away under the
bush, was a cunning little nest, and in it
were four pretty speckled eggs. Gland
could hardly believe his eyes. Such tiny
bits of eggs, and such a cunning little
nest.
"Oh, mamma - he cried, eagerly,
"oh, do let my take it home and put it
on the piazza !"
"No," said mamma /; "you wouldn't
want to take away the poor little birds
house, would you? By and by four
tiny bits of birds will come out of them,
and then I'll bring you again to sec
them"
Its ever n ever SO far from our
house, amt it?" asked Claud, inno-
Gently.
80 far that / think you'll never find
it," said mamma. Then she blindfolded
him again, and blythe same winding way
led him back to the house.
Every day after that Claud might be
seen wandering away off at the end
of the lawn, looking eagerly at the foot
of every bush, trying to find that nest,
Mamma kept her word, and in a few
days she took him, in the same mysteri-
way, to see four little wide-mouthed
birds. A day or two after this Claud
was playing on the grass near the fence,
and he saw a bird fydown into the grass
at the foot of that very rose-bush. Then
he heard a loud peeping, and he a up
to see what it was. The old bird flew
up as he came near, and there was the
nest full Of brides. He stood looking
at them, never suspecting that it was
the same family that he had seen, when
a big boy, who lived near, noticed him
through the fence.
What you looking at 2" he asked.
Little Birds" answered Claud, not
looking up, with big moufs, and not
any feathers"
"Give me one," said the boy.
1T amt mine" said Claud "b'lone
TO their mamma"
"Well, Just bring one here for me to
look at" said the big boy 81 want to
see what kind it is. Come, I'll give you
some candy if you WILL" he added, coax.
ingly.
Candy was a great temptation to
Claud SO, after a moments hesita-
tion, he carefully took up one of the
d~roll-looking things, and carried it down
to the fence. The boy snatched it and
ran of.
"Here! !" cried Claud, "where,s the
candy ? an you must mt take it away ~
wait there till l bring it." said the
boy with a laugh, as he turned around
the corner.
Claud waited a long time, till his
mother came ont and called him. He
went up to the big tree where she was
sitting, and told her the whole story.
Why, Claud," said she, "that is q
bad boy, and he just promised you the
candy to get you to bring him a bird.
He did Mt mean to give it back and
now the poor little mamma will feel