The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-07-23
with The parting Injunction, "Be sure
and keep the eggs warm.r

quiet until his wife was lost in the dis
tance, and then he was off the nest in
twinkling. stretching his wings and
pluming his feathers In the brightest
sunshine.
"Too pleasant to stay here" he twit-
tered. How can manage itp"
A couple of friends flew past.
That settled the question.
"I1l have just little fly" he said.
"I'm sure the eggs can't get cold in this
warm air. Mrs. Redbreast is altogether
too irrational"
A moment later he was on his way to
visit his friends, the Orioles, who were
building nest across the park. 1t Is
true he meant to stay just little while,
but he found them SO entertaining that
home matters were forgotten, and the
hours sped on as he and his companions
darted through the breezy air or stop
ped to give impromptu concerts in the
NAPLES.
In the course Of the afternoon he spied
bis wife perched on tree near him,
chatting with sociable sparrow, and
bidding his friends a hasty adieu he
took short cut for his deserted nest
He had just established himself when
his wife flew up.
"Therer she exclaimed, "I knew
Mrs. Sparrow must be mistaken. She
was certain that she saw you go by this
morning; but told her 1t could not
be possible. Those SPAR ows are
gossipy set, anyway"
1t is an easy thing to be mistaken"
returned Redbreast, with guilty feel
ing at his heart.
"Are you sickp" anxiously inquired
his wife, when he refused the nice din
ner she had brought him.
Redbreast's assurances that he was
perfectly well only half satisfied her,
but she would not have wondered at
the lack of appetite had she known of
the numerous lunches he had taken
since morning.
So the days wore on. Mrs. Red
breast made no advances to resume her
rightful position, and her husband
would have been most miserable indeed
had he not managed things in his own
way. Every morning as soon as his
wife was out of sight he, too, would
leave the nest, arguing that the sun
would keep the eggs warm. and tax
ing care to be at his post when she re-
| turned.
One unlucky day, however, the charm
ing young Widow Oriole was so engag-
ing that wife and nest we're for a time
forgotten, and Mrs. Redbreast reached
home earlier than usual, to find her hus-
band gone an the five blue eggs with
out protector.
$50 this is the way you care for my
precious eggs" she cried. when the
truant made his appearance
"Indeed, he protested. "I only went
off for little fly, to stretch my wings!
The eggs haven't taken the least
hurt.
"Pray. how do knowi l haven't a
doubt that they are spoiled entirely,
for I'm sure it isn't the first time. Mrs.
Robin anc Mrs. Wren haye told me of
your flying of as soon as was out of
sight, but I've always stood up for You
and never would believe a word of it."
"I wis h the neighbors would mind
their own affairsi" Redbreast Mapped
out. 81 rather think know how eggs
should be treated as well as Mrs. Robin
or Mrs. Wren"
"Well," said his wife, in a sorrowful
tone, II hope they haven't taken any
harm. But don't know. never left
them. Perhaps I'd better attend to
them after this"
IL think it would be the best way
responded Redbreast. rejoicing that he
had escaped SO easily.
After that the little wife sat on the
nest patiently and uncomplainingly day
after day. But the weeks passed and nc
little brides made their appearance.
Mrs. Redbreast grew impatient.
"They never were 80 long in hatch
ing-I am sure they never werel" she
said one day.
swell, well, don't worry!" was tn,
husbands response, though he had hi
private opinion on the subject.
Mrs. Redbreast waited week longel
but no sign of life came to cheer the
little anxious heart.
at il all your faultl she b urst fortl
"you.left the nest and the eggs wer,
chilled. There no use in keeping then
here another minutcl"
So saying, she snatched them u]
angrily, and threw them one by one on
Of the nest. She looked down. Their
they lay-the five blue eggs. which ha,
once been her pride, hope-broken ant
worthless on the ground below. The
she looked into the empty nest. Red
breast looked. too, from his perch oppo
site, and. looking. saw tear fall wher
the eggs had lain. That was too much
Even Redbreast had tender httl
heart hidden away beneath his ga
coat; SO, with the empty nest betweel
them, he mado full confession. an
begged 20 be forgiven.
"You are perfectly right" he con
eluded, Sin saying 1t was all my fault!
mo" replied his wife, tearfully, "i
had not been so complaining thi
, never would have happened"
"Well." said Redbreast. in a mourn
full tone. ait can't be helped now; bu
I'm sure 1 would sit on the nest fo
weeks lift would do any good"
"That would not DO best, DEAR" sal
Mrs. Redbreast. tenderly. a. am goin
to do my own part after this. We nevt
l n l. 4 r. n u.