Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-10


received the enclosed from Mr.. John Old
ham, of MaTesfield. 1t seems worthy of rec ord
Ing as an example OF perseverance under diff
dear friend, tthe Rev. j. d. Bell, at TOtter-
ridge Park, Herts. He has q large school Of
over one hundred boys, consequently a very
letters very large; he had to send about a mile
Tor MS letters, so he obtained permission to
have letter box fixed In his park paling, at
the nearest point to the house labout $50 yards,
the side OF large shrubbery of many years
growth. The Slip outside the rails was aooue
six feet high. and Of course the box for the leI,
tiers was large square one, ABOUT elgn of sta
inches by twelve. During the hrst week OF ~. us
being put up (this spring., twice eacn gay 5Ge
letters were fetched ana ea straw w was throWn
out of the box, which was attributed 10 mis-
chieyous bows on their way to school. AFTER
two or three DAYS tEo ieffers wd fonnd on the
road, next day several more, and this ruoosh
continued to be put in the box, although twice
day thrown OUT; Inc ltC,ea s oens oq for +ba
bows but none were seen to go near. Next
morning the rubbish had been put in the box
in larger quantities. nest put In one corner
and a blue egg. Now. OF course, Mrs Starting
was found out; she continued daily to add to
the number until five, then commenced sitting.
and for several days large number OF letters
were thrown upon her, as she sat, the box door
opened and the letters taken away, but she
never left her nest as they took the letters
off her back. The passer-by on the road must
have discovered her. for one morning a stone
was found to have fallen and broken the eggs
mo doubt miSchievOuS boy. the stone was
thrown out, and when they went to clear the
box they found she was covering the broken
eggs with flowers dog daisies and prtmrOses.
In a few days she formed nest in another
corner and laid four eggs. These were like
wise broken and covered with flowers. Then
broken with stones dropped 10, and the same
process Of covering up with flowers. Then the
fourth corner. she laid two eggs, and to save
her from the outside enemy we cut her piece
out OF the door. Here she was for a time safe.
She sat, and had two young ones; when nearly
ready to fly. he heard great screaming, as
from the letter-box; he ran to it, and caught
boy 'jabbing' with stick through the outside
slip, the mother extending her wigs to pro-
tect her young-one killed and the other slightly
injured; the old bird was much bruised; she
flew into large cedar tree just over his head
while he took the young one into his hand and
stroked its feathers into shape. After some
minutes 1t flew into the tree to It's mother,
when the noise of great quantity OF starlings
assembled In the tree was astounding, quite
deafenlng. Here was the rejoicing of the one
saved Mr.. Bell says, what a subject for an
ADDRESS on perseverance! know you to take
great interest In these matters. can not help
out FORWARD you description OF such an event.
To me much is new; to sit without fear when
covered with letters: the same when the hand
took them OIL her; to cover the broken eggs
with flowers, and persistently to use the four
corners OF the letter box as soon as her nest
was destroyed In the other and laying respec-
lively five, four, three and two-as she was no
cuse my imperfect description, for must have
been taken off twenty times while writing it:
but the case Is so remarkable that could not
refrain from sending 1t to YOU" 1 hope your
readers, one and all, will do their best to bring
the young to better way than that recorded
above, which is SO common, leading to the re-
proach OF foreigners against the English, as
wont to say: ''lt is fine day; let US go out and
Kill something. Land end Wtster