Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-04-21
Che family Circle.
Dicks Day Out.
81 MISS JULIA /. BALLARD.

DlCh ia! Out.
Bl MISS JULIA L. BALLAltD.
"Clink - "Clink :" went the little thin
bic, rs Dicks silver bucket struck the lava
bottom Of its shallow well.
Genie looked up quickly. 20 dear, I've
missed it again - She exclaimed; land
that's the third time he's dropped the thin
bic since sat down to watch him.
Hes cunning fellow" rerlicd Genie
mother, land keeps a sharp eye out that
he may not be seen. If You are looking
directly at him, and keeping Il still As !,
mouse. he knows it right well. But be
busy about something else. and 90 on
chatting As usual. keeping a sly watch
and You II see him yet
I'm sorry he's only a visitor said
Genie; Il shall fell dre,ifully if he goes
back before | see him drink
Dick, Genie visitor. was a bright little
golltinch who belonged to Il gentleman
from Cuba. who boarded ut the hotel
where Genie and her mother We're stop
ping 4 few days. His mistress had gone
ont to spend the day. and. having noticed
Genie watching Dick with curious eyes
through her open door, had asked her il
she would like him to spend day with
her Genie was delighted. especially rs She
had been told that he was 50 trained IL to
take very good care of himself taking h~
seed from Il little chest by opening the lid
with his bill. and drawing his own water
when he wanted to drink.
Dick WAS not in a cage and vet he was
not free. He WAS fastened 10y l silkrn
cord to a horizontal perch about eight
inches above Il large. square. shallow box.
\ straight beam came up at one end OF
this box and the perch ran out from il At
right angles His cord allowed him To fly
down to the box, and at the further cornrI
WIS his cel-cllc>t. At the extreme end
of the perch a cord was attached. to which
4 tiny silver thimbe was fastened tnl
Dick bucket. and Il little lava tank full
of clear water was directly under it.
Genie took up Il volume about English
birds which her brother had brought in
from the laAy's room to show her an
article about the goldiinch. soon She WIS
so interested rs to forget Dick for a NOM
tnt.
"Onlv think. mother. there are one
hundred different kinds of tinchc>. They
are found All over Europe. They used t
be called the thistle finch because found in
great numbers where th>tle> grew abund-
antlv. They love the seeds Of thistle,
dearly. | don't see how they mlnaTe &c
get them, though, without scratching ont
ewes. | cant pick u thistle without hunt
ING me drtafully."
why should You ever wish to pick
them?'
20. to press. They make splendid
silver wheels with purple rims. You sec
| cut off the blossom close to the stem. an,
peel off the thick green prickly cup thai
holds it. and tlaten tie flower into a great
5 #. round Wheel"
Il think I've seen some of your pressed
th>tlcs H. ~oldliurh does not need to
prick himself He waits for the rip seeds
and Won know that beautiful go>stmel
globe full Of seeds has no prickle>.'
"That'> So" said Genie IF | had {;
goldtinclI I'd have L great thistle bed for
him. and'--
Here Grnir's mother touched her arm
gently. and looked towards Dick III.
short. thick bill was thrust under the Ii,
of his sred-chest which, he opened quick
as thought. and snapped up Il seed drop
Then he raised it again and took another
count, and talk aloud as if nothing wa.
going on
And sure enough She did count. three
four, five, six. up to seventeen, before til,
little fellow was satisfied Then he beral
to hop slowly along on his perch, half III
inch at Il time. turning his black eyes il
the direction of Genie and her mother
SO Genie wlS Very coQlettish. did not
notice him At all, bat went on with her
book
lone hundred kinds . How wish
had II finch one with ruby notified
spo;s -
Clnk
"There declare he's had drink ant
missed him." exclaimed Genie.
That is 50; bn; if h raised his chest
iii seventeen times for seed Won may be
pretty sure once drawing with such tiny
bucket will not satisfy him. Go on talkin|
but keep an eye on him
"They make their nests of fine moss. "
said Genie. woven in with tlIstlc-down
lichens and hair They have five egr,
marked with deep purple at the larger end
land usually raise two brood> a wear.
They sing charmingly, and that is on.
reason they are sought by br,l-lovcrs.
1t seems sad to Kill such little mn
sicians for food said her mother.
Il would us soon break up my music.
box for kindlin@~,' said Genie. But dc
they kill goldtinches for such q tinv morse
as they would make?"
Yes. Stolberg in his travels in Europe
says he has seen great numbers of them ir
markets in Rome. and they are there con.
>idcrcd Il great d"licacv.
Dick made a slight noise Just then. an
Genie saw he was at the END Of his perch.
He caught the string of the bucket with
hi, bill. and She almost held her breath =,
he lifted up the half filled thimble abon,
an inch, and milking 4 loop stepped on i,
with his foot. then raised it higher. making
and holding new loop, and so on I'M
til the bucket was within reach, when he
dellherat"l y siplel until satisfied, and
clink went the thimble in the we'll Genie
was delighted, and danced about Dick.
singing
"GoIiilock>' Gollijocs>i will you lie
mine
III '.ress you in silk and satin so iine:
II serve you on silver and bathe YOU in
Goldhiock>' Gol1iocks, will YOU be
mine:'
Harry heard her anl watched the sad.
ness with which she came back. after re-
turning Dick when his visit was over
And that WIS why At the next Christmas
time it did not take him rs long as usnal
TO think what Genie would like: and now