Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-08
Singing for u wife.

Early in the spring We had put up a
wren-house Oh our tall evergreen. 1t was
miniature house. only il had no windows,
and had no roof 10 the piazza; and for a
door il had a round hole, just exactly big
enough for wren, and no bigger. else the
bluebirds wonld have taken it for theirs.
Now they could not get in, and only dear
wee brown wren could have ii. Our Gretch-
en- was delighted, and danced up and down
before II most of the time. She was afraid
she could not see the birds take possession.
BY the middle of June the wreDs were in
town, fitting around old messy apple trees
and singing everywhere. "Will they new
er come here?" said impatient Gretchen.
Very early one morning there was new
song among the robins and finches. Gretch-
en- rushed down, in her nightgown. Yes,
there he sat on the tep of The bird-house,
pouring out flood of song. He broke off
suddenly and popped in the round hole
then came out and sat on the piazza and
sang again. "OhI' be was saying, "lhis
is the dearest house. How happy my wife
and will be herer This reminded him
that he had no wife yet; so he flew TO the
tree-top, haply TO call her. Perched among
the sw eet-smelling boughs, up against the
sky, he sang as if he would split his very
throat, "Come, my dearie; o come TO me !"
Across the fields floated the song and
penetrated the thick shade of the orchard.
But she did not hear, did no. come. Again
he inspected his house, and again he sang
with a courageous heart. Jenny came not.
lie flew TO the orchard, and from every
tree-top we could hear his song long and
loud. The second day Ike merry bachelor
prepared for his bride by bringing sticks
and arranging them carefully within the
ten ement. "Oh - said he, al have the
snuggest house, high up above the reach
of the cats. Come, wifey-come, Jennyw
Thus day ry day the little fellow called
and enireated with a stcut heart. Grelch-
en- fidgeted and wondered where the Jen-
nies could keep themselves, when such a
charming companion was 10 be had. The
days grew long and dry and hot. Blue
misls hung over the mountains, but no
rain fell. Swallows swan the air in twos
and threes. The fatherly robin flew back
and forth at his happy work. The black
birds launched their young brood into life
with great ado. Only the wren had no
nate. We fancied a sadness crept into the
notes, and he seemed TO sing wearily, wait
ing and calling all day long for compan-
ion that came not. Those two weeks must
have been as long TO him as two years to
us.
One day we were all gone for walk ex-
cept Gretchen, who sat on the front door
step in sight of the bird-house. We were
away for long time, strolling on the river
banks. Presently we saw Gretchen run
ming toward us. She came up flushed and
happy, her very heart in her mouth. She
caught hold of her father, pulled his head
down and whispered something in his ear.
He laughed, turned, and whispered the
same aloud TO US:
"Wrenny's wife has come"
We hastened home to see and there she
| truly was, as quiet as mouse, listening
while he in rapture expatiated on all the
delightful qualities OF the house, and laid
himself and possessions at her feet. She
graciously accepted him, in proof thereof
taking out every stick he had put in,
| throwing them away as SO much trash.
Her manner said, "What do you bachelors
know of housekeeping So she built her
own nest and raised her brood of six, and
brought them out in good order without
single mishap. And Gretchen saw II all
| Rural NeU Yorker.