Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-05
The Sparrow's Warning.

A gardener in the southwest of England
writes; About six years ago the small birds
We're very destructive in the gardens--here
especially--in destroying the crops of green
peas. a friend urged me to use poison, and
although was reluctant to listen 10 him, he
sent me a packet with instructions how to
use it. | locked it safe in the cupboard in
my seed-room for that season, willing TO
suffer rather than destroy the little creatures
whose services well knew, and whose
cheerful songs | enjoyed. The following
year they again became troublesome, and
one morning the kitchen-gardener came to
me and complained;
IF you don't do something to keep of
the sparows and tom-tits we shall not have
a pea left, SIR
"Oh, is that it, John !" said; swell, after
breakfast get two Dutch hoes, and | will
come and help you for an hour TO destroy
the native (weeds) near the peas"
| brought some bread and butter spread
the poison on it, and placed it in crumbs on
a large tileing slate between the ranks of peas,
and began to work with John among the ma
tives. About five minutes after my little
girl came into the garden.
Father" she said, there is a little bird
huttering among the peas"
1t was sparrow. picked it up and it
gave a few convulsive clutches with its little
feet, and died.
There's another" said she.
saw it, and said, You go home, dear"
not wishing her 10 see more; and in less
than three minutes picked up six sparrows
and two grcenfnches ; several more were
found little distance from the peas. Now
all was quiet not bird could sec near the
spot. | returned to John, and stayed an
hour with him, but not bird came near the
place.
! took up the poison for fear the pea-fowls
should come that way, and for two or three
weeks we were quite free from any annoy
ance from small birds whatever; but when
John again complained that "the birds had
begun the marrowfat peas" | took out the
slate with the poison on it, just as it was left
from the last time, and placed it between
the ranks OF peas again One rank of dwarf
peas had gone up only about half way the
sticks, and beside this rank placed it for the
better view, as thought. | had hardly taken
my hoe In hand when fine "cock-sparrow "
perched on the top OF the sticks above the
slate, and began TO make loud noise, and
about every two or three seconds sounded a
loud, peculiar, bell-like note. Birds began to
gather thick and fast on the rank Of sticks,
all kinds of small birds, sparrows, inches,
linnets, tom-tits Qwo or three sorts), and
white-throats, till the rank of sticks was lit
orally covered and this captain cock-sparrow
kept on with his loud notes, all the rest being
as quiet as possible, and every one with its
little head turned towards the slate with the
poison. John and looked on in blank
amazement, when all at once the sparrow,
pluming himself out larger than usual, and
making loud note, took wing, all the rest
following. And now began to breathe freely
again, for | found | had been inyolutarily
holding my breath while this interesting
scene was going on.
"Well, John" | said, "that fellow preach
ed TO purpose"
al was thinking, sir" he answered, show
attentive all the rest We're"
For the rest of the season not bird came
near the garden, nor had ! need again Of re-
sorting to my slate and poisoned bread and
butter.--Leisure Hour,