The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-05-19
A BIRD DRAMA.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
nG2H.n
A BIRD DRAMA.
Toward the end of May last year I
had the rare opportunity OF watching
from beginning to end little affair in
the sparrow family; and l wish to say
in beginning that although may not
have interpreted them correctly the
events took place exactly as l shall tell
them. Nothing is exaggerated, and
nothing could be palmer, to my eyes.
than the motions and emotions of the
little creatures l so closely watched.
That I was able to follow the small
drama to its end was because of the for
tunate position of the family. remote
from other sparrow nests and in full
view of the window occupied.
The first intimation l had of trouble
was the loud and persistent chirping Of
q sparrow, cry of distress. For some
time / could not get sight Of him, but
Just at evening when l was looking
closely at a pear tree from which the
sound came cock-sparrow flew out
alighting on the peak Of lowrOof in my
sight, and resumed at once the very
sound was in search of. He was the
one in trouble, and the reason was plain
he had lost leg.
He stayed on the roof some time, ut
tering at short intervals the pitiful cry
of distress, and at last flying to the pear
tree again established himself in an an
gle formed by two twigs starting hori-
zontally from the same point. Here he
settled himself comfortably after some
futtering and here remained.
The first thing in the morning heard
the sorrowful cry again and fastened to
the window to see how hewas this morn
ing and II possible find out where he
lived. He had left the tree and seated
himself on the ledge over u false win
dow plainly visible from my chair. The
sill, the upper ledge and the edge of the
roof overhead were the scene of the
whole drama that followed. From his at
home manner in that spot | concluded
that he lived near, for have noticed that
sparrows usually have particular place
on which to alight before going into the
nest. They perch a moment, look around,
flirt the tail and then dash into the house.
While / watched him q hen sparrow
alighted near him, scolding harshly, up
on which he flew away and she follow
ed. He alighted upon the pear tree, she
perched near him and talked to him, not
in the scolding tone that had driven him
away from the ledge, but in rcmon-
strating or arguing tone. He answered
her in low conversational chirp, but
when she drew nearer he again took
wing.
This went on at intervals all day. She
did not appear to be angry and tryingtC
drive him away, nor did she seem to be
sympathetic with his trouble. 1t looked
as if she was urging him to do some.
thing, / could not make out what. lie
kept almost entirely to the ledge and the
sill, and now saw where they lived. 1t
was in thick clump of honeysuckle
vines that ran over doorway not more
than three feet from the sill where he
had taken his position. Once or twice
on this day he entered the hOneysuckles.
when there ensued a great chattering
and he soon came out.
1t was pitiful to see the poor little
creature and hear his loud cry all day.
He lay flat on his breast, often his head
dropped and / thought he was dying.
Every little while the hen would come
to visit him, alighting near him, some
times quietly talking, sometimes scold-
ing, on which he would fly away. To
day also l saw that the hen carried food
into the honeysucklcs, and concluded
she had babies to feed, and perhaps her
circumstances with him had been that
he did not help. Evidently she had
good deal on her hands, hungry babies
and q disabled spouse.
He was very awkward on his one leg,
could not stand up a moment and when
he moved used his wings violently. Sew
eral times he fell off the window sill, but
caught himself by means of his wings
and flew back. Much of the time no lay
with his bill open and seemed so weak
thought he could not live another day.
But the next morning a new emotion
came to brace him up, including him to
do what Mrs. Dombey failed-'.make an
effort"
Madam evidently made up her mind
to shake off a useless partner, and early
in the day a rival appeared on the scene.
| The cock who assumed this despicable
rolo was a tumbled up sort of fellow,
who looked rs though he needed wife
| to keep his coat in order, and had my
doubts whether that little hen had made
wise choice. He would alight on the
sill, One-leg being on the ledge above.
Here he would plant himself in dog
ged way, in a crouching attitude, and
call, though not with the least spirit.
His feathers were ruilled, not bristled
ND In anger or in fighting humor; and
in fact | could not resist the conviction
that he was hen-pickcd coward order
ed to 90 out and fight, and dutifully,
but not heartily. obcying.
The knowing bird on the ledge eVl-
IDENTIFY despised him. He answered him,
call for call and louder than his chal-
lepper but did not deign to touch him till
the ragged-looking fellow attempted to
enter the honey-suckles, when instantly
the little hero flew furiously at him and
he retired. Then madam came out and
scolded him, and he returned to his
ledge to rest and get his breath.
| After awhile another candidate for her
favor arrived on tho sill. This was a
different looking bird; for much alike as
are sparrows there are differences OF
manner and looks readily seen on close
examination. The second wooer was rs
bright and full of life as bird could be.
No crouching down in this case, nc
weak forced challenge. He looked sauci
w ut the unfortunate he had come to cut
out, bristled up and delivered his call in
a loud, defiant tone. and was ready Il
battle at once for the home in the honey
suckles. This fellow too was different
foe in the eyes of the poor little cock OF
the lodge. He did not answer his chal
lenge; he crouched low against the
house; his head sank, and / thought hi
was dying.
So perhaps did the rival, for he flow
boldly into the vines. That reused the