The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-05-05
THE BLACKBIRDS' NEST.

III ~ UdChs JILL ~ pun ~ UdCk.
"Whye'' Jim whispered, with a
startled glance along the wood path.
us the master. in sight, Ned?"
1--WE are in sight Of the Master,
jim"
Jim drew long breath of relief, and
put his finger into the open mouth of
one Of the untledged blackbirds. "You
frightened me for moment" he said,
"but l see you were only ia king Sun
pav-school stuff. Of course, as Squ;re's
forbid us to touch the nests here. we
must mind he doesn't see. that's ALL"
PUT it back, Jim, lad," pleaded the
elder boy, without resenting his COM
panion's sheer. ''lt'S as much home,
sou know, as your own cottage; and
those four little blackbirds can no more
live and grow if you destroy it. than
your baby sisters could live anu grow if
they had no home ard no mother"
81 amt harming' the mother" NUT
tered Jim.
Suppose Your mother came home
one night. after her work, feeling hap
py, and thinking of the rest she would
have in her own snug little house,
where you would all be locking out for
her, and Just when she came close up
to your cottage-just at the old lilac
tree by the gate, GU know-she looked
up and saw there were no little ones to
meet her. no bright little room to rest
in. no sign, even. OF where the dear old
home had been: if you could see her
then. jim. would you say that anybody
who'd taken it all away hadn' harmed
herN
Il don't knoN nothin' bout that"
stammered Jim. modify. at amt
got 10 do with nest. The Old bird can
make another"
II suppose your mother could find
another cottage, but would it be the
same without you and the babies?'
ats very different" grumbled Jim,
but little less deiiantly now.
FATHER says the mother birds often
die Of grief when they find their nests
gone You'll put it back, Jim?'
Not very likely, when I've had all
this fuss to get it,
Just put it back for ten minutes"
pleaded Ned.
"And take it again after?"
Eyes, and take it again after--if you
like"
"What good would that do?'' inquired
Jim, with q laugh. .t.
Just put it back for ten minutes,
while l tell you a story"
You II promise not to talk Sunday
School stuff when l take 'em back
again. or tell the master, or serve me
any sneaky trick like that?%' .....
Il promise. Stay, I'll help you put
the nest back in exactly the old spot"
I'm do it myself" returned Jim,
ungraciously. ~ fetched it myself
first. and LII fetch it again when your
tales over. There. I've put il" --<
Look, Jim! iookr' cried Ned, Joy
fully. "That blackbird flying straight
to the tree is sure to he the mother.
Aren't you glad the nests there now?'
Ten minutes amt very long" OBJ
served Jim, as he threw himself at full
length ON the turf. looking longingly
up at the branch on which the nest was
built, while the white blossoms of the
hawthorne fell upon his upturned face.
I'm safe to have 'em in ten minutes
TO do what like with. Now. then,
for the tale. Is there giant in it?''
mot this time,'' said Ned. gently.
Its only about myself and the chill
dren and mother. That won't be like
Jack the Giant-Ki'ler, and Robinson
Crusoe. will it? B Il the story isn't
long, Jim. was AVERY little chap,
and the twins were dcfs of things, and
baby only month or s,< old. Father
worked for the master here, and loved
him as all the men do now; but didn't
love him, because he wouldn't have us
boys take the eggs or nests. But one
days when was going through this
very woods, and nobody was by to see
me, took thrush's nest with five
tiny throstles in it. l hid it in the
basket l was bringing to mother, and
went off SO cheerfully, remembering
we had an old wicker cage at home.
and Shinking how I'd put the birds in
it. and watch how they'd manage to
fledge; and how I'd burn the nest--it
was dry and crisp. and would burn
beauti6Nlly--thatI mightn't be found
out. s3fother was sitting by the fire
nusssAes 6ekg sfpoor mother was sick
thai time, and baby hadn't ever been
well). and l went behind her to the
cage, and put my BIRDS in without her
see ng, for Il knew well enough how
she'd tell mel was wrong to disobey
the master, and cruel to the little crea-
lures I'd stolen. l didn't care to be
told that. for I wasn't sorry, and l
didn't want to give mother the chance
OF spelling my fun by any of her quiet
speeches about the other Master-up
there hey ond the blue-who cares for
every little bird in every tree. I had
p'enty of opportunities for slipping
away to the dim corner where the CAGE
was, for was let stay up waiting for
father; but at last mother sent me to
bed. l slept in little bed in corner
of the kitchen. so it wasn't the same as
going upstairs, and watched the
hand of the clock go round, for l
cou dn't sleep for thinking how queer
my orphan birds looked, and how
jealous some of the lads. at school
would be. saw mother get to look
whiter and winter, and .tireder and
tirsde5;s Auk taller dfdnx come home.
Then baby began to moan. and mother
got up and walked about with her, and
I watched how troubled she looked.