The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-02-21

"Why, dear me! he's nothing but .
baby bird, and can't fly" said to my
self; and then l sat down on messy
mound near by, and waited; for knew
the mother-bird was not far off, and I
wanted to see what was going on.
1t was not long before heard gen.
tie whirr in the leaves overhead, and,
looking up, saw two birds circling
around the twig, but at some distance
above it. Then one of them, the moth
er, of course, drew nearer and nearer
in smaller and smaller circles, at the
same time calling to. her baby in en-
couraging little chirps.
Birdie on his perch seemed very
much excited, turning his head from
one side to the other in the cunningest
way. But when his mother came close
to him, only to dart off and call on him
to follow, he looked so disappointed
that really felt as if / must comfort him.
The mother came back very soon and
resumed her lesson in flying, and very
hard work she found it too, for the lit
tie fellow was timid and refused to
follow her, in spite of all her coaxing
and scolding. After working long
while, she flew off, leaving her baby
trembling on his perch. pitied the
poor little fellow, he seemed so forlorn
and helpless.
The little bird, left to himself, got
tired at last of staying where he was,
and made one or two efforts to fly. He
tapped his wings, rounded up his back
until he looked like ball of down,
and leaned forward, as much as to say,
"Tll do it now" But when he saw
the awful distance between himself and
the ground, his courage failed him, and
he clung to his perch more tightly than
ever.
After a while the mother-bird came
back, bringing large bug which she
used as bribe for her timid birding,
holding it under his very bill, and then
darting off in the hope that he would
follow. The youngster chirped for the
bug but he would not fly for it; and,
after many efforts, the old bird, unable
to resist his pleading, perched on a
twig just beneath him, anu held up the
bug, which you may be sure he was not
slow to seize and eat
The little fellow now seemed to make
up his mind to fly, even if he died in
the attempt. He tapped his wings,
rounded his back, and leaned forward
as before, while the mother-bird flew
about, fluttering and chirping to such
an extent that the father came down
from the top of high tree to see how
they were getting along.
The little bird was just about to fly,
onI I on rnaIyr tn nlarN VI honAc
in applause, when, 10! there he was
clinging to his perch again, trembling
with fear, and ehirping, 81 can't do it.
dare not. Oh, dearm
The two old birds flew away much
disappointed; but the mother soon re-
turned with another bug. and the lesson
was repeated. Indeed it was repeated
so many times, that l began to lose
patience with the little coward, and
to be full of pity for the poor tired
mother.
His birdship had just eaten bug,
and the parent-birds were chirping and
flying around, when, with the hope of
helping them in their labors, stepped
forward, and tapped him on the bill
with tlower-stem. The blow was so
sudden and unexpected, that, before he
had time to think, he lifted his wings
and flew to neighboring twig, where he
clung, frightened and delighted at what
he had done.
l left him then, with his father and
mother making just such time over
him as your fathers and mothers made
over you when you took your first
steps.-MabeL EfaOeil. in NurSery.