Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-08-27
S<ttt0 StOtp.
A BIRD STORY.

y. " =. Ao-Hdt 90 LVPtncotts Magazine
Visible from my study window. and
less than stones throw away. is = cot
tage. al -embowered and vine-coy-
cred. which its owners call The Nest. -
All over tho house. wherever a bird-bcI
can Dc placed there you are sure 10 find
one. These litlle homes nestle Under the
caves among she supporting brackets /;
they hide under the hooks Of the gables /;
they arc PeTchod above the windows /,
saey are indeed 10 DC found wherever you
would De likely to look for them, and IL
: good many places where YOU would
never think Of looking. Besides these
biTd-oOxes on the house, there are bird
boxes in the trees. bitd- boxes sirily
placed on high poles-5ird-s ssxes in All
forms, from she plain four-sidet salt box
70 the elaborate Swiss chalet and tho pre-
sentous oe-spired aud be-columGed meet
ing house. Then thelU slo bird-cagos-
pretty brsss cages, with taria.an petit
Goals 30 keep The seeds from ayirg out,
anu ued with such dainty bows OF ribbon
that one mss no need 10 De- told there is a
woman in the house there arc cspAcious
cages in which brown mooking-Lirds ST:
al day long echoing back The other birds
songs they hear; there ire dainty glass
cages from Venice. iE which Java spar
rows carry on their cesseiess lOvo-mak-
iug, billing and oo0iug fer hours aud
hours. as If sll life to them was nj in
terminable honey moon. There is also
= great whito parrot, who, porched in a
brass ring, mu.ters and mul!ers 10 him
self for hours and hams snatchos OF tuues,
ard calls imaginary dogs and visionary
cats; snd when he sees certain manly
form coming uP the gsrden-walk is wont
10 cry out in a miserable mockery Of ten
derness, "Oh, my darling I'm so glad TO
see you 2" and :hen smack bis bin as near
like a kiss as be can, and chuckle and
laugh and turn somerssults. and other
wise dispors himself as parrots do when
they are pleased.
And while All this is going on there
comes running out of the house a pretty
little figure In fresh muslin dress and
with oUts,re,ched arms; and strangely
enough, she says just what Polly has said,
snd there Is kiss THAI is 10 imitation,
and a responsive kiss that fairly puts
Polly to shame; but the bird chuckles
and laughs nevertheless.
When al this takes place-snd il is no
moro Of an event than the daily home
coming Of our good ueighbor and dear
friend Arthur Sterling. Esq. this
home coming takes place. al The birds at
The Nest break forth into = merrier song
yet go enthusiastic in their pipings that
you'd think, 10 hesr them, that they'd
split their 'hrosis; and still gladder and
sweeter and merrier ;han their song Z.
the voice OF our dear neighbours wife
Mistress Msy Sterling, who pours forth
in q cesseless chstteriug song. 8 whole
days accumulation Of loye-yes indeed
q whole hfetime's accumulation; anC
while the ripping flow goes on their two
fond hearts sing louder with Joy than any
birds would ever dare 70 think Of singing
How they love the birds And why
not? Since but for little bird they
would not have been together in thi.
sweet little nest, outbiIling and outcooinG
the Java sparrows, dwelling in the lsnC
Of loves yourg dream, in the sunshine o
each others affection. aud ready 70 &C.
clare upon oath that there Is 70 night IL
,beir1iyes that is2'; rad. : win the sheer
OF lie honeymoon.
And now III ,el yoa .Ao story OF q
little bid IS Mistress May Sterling toic
it 10 me oHo evening While her Arthur
and i smoked Our cigars IL he moonlight
Oh The Nests piazza. No: on .he whole
Mistress Sterling shall ;e.l The story her.
soli she tells il much better than I can.
Why. yes." she says. 'Pn tell It
why not2 love to tell 1t. for, taken alto
gether. it is the best story ever heard
! of.-Kiss me. dear"