The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31
Ghilaren's Column.
Mrs. Sparrow's Little Lecture.
BY LILLE E. BAR.

l wish babies were all born old enough
to take care of themselves, or would sleep
until they were ten years DID, grumbled
Susie, looking dolefully out of the window
at the feathery snow flakes that came
tumbling pell-mell all the way from
heaven, and lighting everywhere or any
where they felt like
Snow is just like babies, it comes with
out being sent for, and it always gets
Where you don't want it and l hate
snow, and babies, and rain, and mud, and
Oh, dear me wish the sun would shine
my little sparrows will be all frozen to
death up in the caves And now Susie
laid her cheek against the window pane
and gave herself crick in the neck try
ing to see the little brown sparrows nest
ling in the caves Just above her.
But she could not, so this was made
new source of complaint. 'God might
have made peoples necks so that they
would turn round, | think, without get
ting full of pains, and He might make it
stop snowin, too, if He cared for me, or
anybody, or the birds, or anything. 1
wonder if that cross old baby is sleep
because if she isn't she may kick and
scream till she hasn't any throat left
Now am going to have real good
worry"
So Susie sat down in a chair near the
window, and tried to find something else
to worry about; but before she could set
tie on any particular thing, she found
herself listening to the sparrows who oc-
cupled that particular part of the caves
of the old farm-hous Among this flock
was one little body, rounder, plumper,
buster, and more emphatic that all the
others. She was the first to faunt her
little brown wings in winters face, and
to build her nest, even if he did buster
and carry off her pieces of rag and string
she went after them-and her babies
were always the first out of the nest, and
the first to learn that earned bread was
sweeter than that Of dependence.
Her husband was fine looking fellow,
with glossy feathers, and an appearance
of bird that held public office. The
other sparrows treated him with respect,
but madam pecked and ordered him
about proving hourly to her lord that
women were Just as good as men. Now
Susie loved this little brown lady, be-
cause she always brought her babies to
that particular window, and she knew,
though she could not see them, that she
was perched with her last brood Just
above it.
There were four in that brood, three
daughters and one son, all of whom
Mamma Sparrow had brought up to be
obedient and selfsupporting.
q" If it does not stop showing and blow
ing, I shall 90 out anyhow" chirped Mas
ter Sparrow
If you do you'll get blown away"
answered the youngest sister Susie knew
it was the youngest because her voice
had little petted sound
I am not afraid of the wind, nor of
anything, " replied the brother.
I'm dreadfully hungry" grumbled
one little bird
$50 am I, F." and I I" "and l."
"Oh, if was only little Susie and could
stop in that nice, warm room, and have
lots of crumbs and things to eat, piped
little birdie.
"For shame of yourself, you naughty
child" chirped Mamma Sparrow; "just
think if you were she, and had no wings,
what would become of you?''
"Why, that old striped cat would eat
her upl" exclaimed Master Sparrow.
Yes, indeed She has nearly eaten
her up three times, said one of her sis
ters.
{" If hadn't chirped awful, awful loud,
she would not have been here now" said
Master Sparrow, pluming himself proud
ly.
"I don't care, wish was Susie any
how"
ooh, you are always wanting some
thing: be quiet now, said Master Spar
row, very GROSSLY.
Children, I'll whip you if you don t
stop quarrelling; to hear you talk one
would think you had no bringing up at all.
Just suppose you had belonged to the
flock I was brought, up with then you
would have been too busy looking for
something to eat to have time for quar-
relling, and pecking one another's eyes
out.
Tell us about that flock, mamma,
they all chirped.
Well, I belonged to very large flock,
of our people, and we had the poorest
part of Che village assigned to us. I tell
you nobody ever put out crumbs or corn
for us. We had to work for our own
living and help each other all we could.