Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-28
Che family Circle.
A Remarkable Story of a Bird.
BY G. b. G,

1t is well known by others as we'll as
ornithologists that female birds will re-
turn year after year to the same home
but has it ever been proved before that the
same couple of birds remain true to each
other as long as both do liveP Those ia.
miliar with the song sparrow (Ortngtlta
Nelodid), will recognize it at once in this
story. We begin to hear it early in March
the first of the singing birds of spring
The note is a short one, but ex1uisitely
beautiful, exceeded only by the melody of
the wood robin. Sometimes they are so
numerous about country gardens, that in
the early mornings there will be a perfect
ground-swell of melody-probably one of
the sweetest sounds this side the stars.
The winter was very cold. A young
friend who was then living with US was
coming home one evening, and found one
of these little song sparrows lying on a
snowdrift apparently frozen to death; but,
holding it in his hands few minutes,
there was a little fluttering motion of the
heart. and it finally recovered. The bird
was then turned loose in the conservatory,
where she seemed perfectly happy. dart
ing in and out among my flowers. At first
we heard only very timid, low notes from
her. but AS she became accustomed to US,
and knew she had nothing to fear, there
was often one gu>h of melody after another
In the spring the birds began to return
to their summer homes-birds of her own
kind, rs well rs others; but she paid no
heed to them for some time. However,
one day we were startled by long, loud
cry from her, so unusual that every one
ran into the conservatory to see what had
happened. A little bird was on the outside.
trying TO get in. The window was opened;
she flew to meet him; and such joyous
meeting rs it was. The meeting of human
lovers after long separation could not
more plainly tell the story of affection.
Soon the snow squall came up; and she
was too tender to breast it, and tapped on
the window TO be taken in. She remained
very contentedly until the weather was
quite SCI tied. Now came her trouble. He
wanted the nest 10 be built in a cedar tree
some two hundred feet from the house
she wouid not 90. He perched himself in
the tree and sang his most charming mel
odies; while she, on top of the smoke
house near the dwelling, answered him
Just as sweetly. But she would not bulge
from the position she had taken. After
the second days maneuvering, he began to
give in, little by little approaching the
house. Finally they compromised the
matter by building the nest in gooseberry
bush near the smoke-house. This was not
to her mind, but still it was better than the
ftr-off cedar tree.
In time, four pretty little brown birds
made their appearance. As soon as they
were out of the nest. she coaxed them to
the house, where her feed-table and bath
tub were always ready for her. Such u
pretty, happy little family they were!
The next nest was just where she want
ed ii, in Il jasmine bush trained around
one of the parlor windows. From this
nest came three little birds.
Her table and bath-tubs were again
brought into the conservatory, the flowers
now being out of doors. The side sashes
were always open, and she brought all the
family to feed and battle just rs it pleased
her; and the glass doors into the parlor
being also open. they would fly through
and through the house us if it were out Of
doors.
Cold weather came once more, and the
mate and young birds disappeared; but
Bessie did not go. She tapped at the win
dow, and was warmly welcomed to her
quarters amongst the flowers in the con-
servatory. Here she spent another gay
happy winter; and it was constant source
of pleasure to us to watch her pretty Gun
ming ways and listen to her sweet songs
/ In the next spring Bessie's owner NOV
ed away, and she fell into my possession,
a very welcome legacy. AS before, the
birds returned in the spring; but Bessie
was quite Indifferent to them all. But one
day while they were at the dinner table
we heard what seemed TO be loud, wild
scream of Joy. With one accord all rush
ed up stairs to the conservatory; and there,
sure enough. was the mate again. This
was repeated every spring while she lived
Whenever we heard that peculiar, wild,
Joyous commotion, we knew that her mate
had come; and. on going to see, always
found him there.
One year they rails d three broods OF
birds; and it WAS not an uncommon thing
at that time to see the two parent birds
and the twelve young ones all feeding ut
the same table, the youngest get so young
as to be fed By The old ones.
This little pet WAS with us seven years
We never doubted her identity; but a clipt
feather and defective toe made this iden.
tity unmistakable.
The same great joy was manifested to-
ward her mate ut each annual return in
the spring; but the last one it seemed al
, most beyond expression. it even attracted
the attention of the neighbors. remem-
Der one day an uncle of ours called US to
look at them. They would sing to each
other. bow their heads, flap their wings,
. fly down on the ground, roll over and
over; in short, they acted as if they were
! fairly crazed with happiness. Two or
, three days after this heard fiuttering
and going in TO see what was the matter
found my little pet lying in her feed
, basin in n spasm. | took her up, strokeC
and pelted her; and as the fit passed off
| she nestled down into my hand, and turn.
[ ed her head up 10 look at me. The bright
, eyes we're swollen and bloodshot. Soor
she had another and another. Then hel
little feet flew out and soon she lay deaf
in my hand. How it all comes back to m,
: AS write 1t seemed as if dear littl,
pet child had been suddenly snatched from
us; and rs to the poor little mate, anything
more broken. hearted never saw. There
was no more clashing about through the
house and out among the trees; no NOR,
gay songs; but instead. no moped abou
.. with now and then little low wall tina
seemed more like weep" weep" thai
' anything else. In the fall he went away
;, rs usual and we never saw him again t
know him. Congregational.
N
, Jenny, what makes you such bat
childp' Well, mamma, God sent vol