The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-06-01

My boy, what have YOU doneY
MIS-. Clara D0tu Bates, in Our Ltttl6 Ones.
aftH s
MIR. THOMPSON AND THE SWAL-
ez LOWS is7a ta s
Mr.. Thompson was sitting in the barn
belonging to the farm where he had
been spending the summer. He looked
very diseonsolate, and from time to time
heaved such deep sighs as to greatly
disturb the family of swallows who had
their nest against the beam just above
his head.
Poor Mr.. Thompson had had a hard
time all summer. First of all. he bad
met Miss Angelina; who had captured
his heart; aud everybody knows that the
most miserable object on earth is an old
bachelor. in love.
'.Oh, had L wings of a bird, would
fly" murmured Mr. Thompson to him
self,
:sCourse you would interrupted a
saucy voice .4lii
edge of the mud nest just above his head
sat a bright41oOking barn-swallow,
eyeing him curiously.
80 Where would you fly to?,hinquired
the swallow.
Away from this world of care, ="
murmured Mr. Thompson. nHaE TH
The swallow laughed heartily. fs
Well, L guess noe; but you can try,
if You want to, L f4a aa
Mr.. Thompson felt himself begin to
shrink, and saw his clothes slowly dis
appear and become changed into
feathers. But he was getting SO used
TO these metamorphoses that he didn' t
mind it. and really gazed upon himself
with satisfaction as finally he felt that he
was aperfect swallow. sfC
"Come up here,'' said the swallow.
Mr.. Thompson stretched his wings,
and fiuttered up to the nest beside his
friend.
How do you like itP'' inquired the
swallow. e esre r sad a
s'It is glorious" F" replied Mr.. Thomp-
son. Oh, that / could always be a
birdr' aE 3E
q Humphr' replied the bird. How
would you like TO have to build your house
every spring, going and coming a hun
dred times day with your mouth fun
of mud?' Is.,
but the glorious feeling of freedomr'
said Mr.. Thompson E1fl
'Oh yes" answered the swallow, sar-
castieally. "Come with me; I'll show
you." EH
The two flew out of the barn, and
after wheeling around for few minutes,
flew upto a large vane on top of the
carriage-house. Mr.. Thompson had
often seen the swallows perched on this
yane, twittering and fighting among
themselves. This morning he had
feeling of citation at being there himself,
and shook his wings proudly. Bangt
whiz! the shot flew around him, and two
l.EI e.VF Il.
ground. just then he heard two boyish
Voices exclaim;
Its awful hard to hit a swaller on
the wing. but you can shoot 'em .sittin'
like pie.h cI uz1E& ~
r. Thompson and his friend were
uniniured and as they flew away in
alarm, the bird said, in an ironical tone:
2 Such a FEELING of freedomr'
Mr.. Thompson said nothing, but few
back to the barn. After resting for d
nR0ment. the swallow said: = Let's 90
up to the Sound and visit my cousins,
the bank-swailows.
A1f Thompson followed the bird, and
skinned over the fields. swapping up a
fiy or two by the way, until they reached
the high sand-cliffs which border Long
Island Sound. Here, high up on the
cliffs, were number of small round
holes; flying about them, and darting
out and in were a number of small gray
birds; sitting on a fence rail not far of
We're nearly a hundred more solemnly
summing themselves.
= III Introduce you to one of them,
and he win show you around, said
Mr.. Thompson1s friend Eo
After The introduction had been ef-
fected, the bank-swallow said, I'm an i'm
curing. tone: "You are interested In
4 Z. Yes said Mr.. Thoapson; '9thefrs
is so glorious and free life. )"
The swallow smiled pityingly; then,
as II t0 change the subject. invited Mr..
Thompson TO visit his house. It was
high up under the overhanging edge of
the cliR
The swallow led the way, and Mr..
Thompson followed through a corridor
about a foot long, and slanting slightly
upward in order that the rain would
not drive into the nest At the end Of
the corridor was circular apartment,
lined with feathers and sea-weed, and
here sat Mrs. Bank-swallow upon four
speckled eggs. Mr. Thompson did not
wish to disturb her, so he retTeated soon
after having been introduced. His
companion led the way back to the rail
seated. waiting. After a slight pause,
Mr. Thompson inquired: May ask
what You find to eat up hereP'a
Certainly. replied the bank-swal-
low, good-naturedly.s During the
summer we eat grubs, flies, mosquitoes,
and The ike; in the fall, when the bay
berries are ripe. we eat them. You
know eacl1 berry is covered with
coating Of vegetable wax. and we get
very fat then people shoot us, for they
say the berries give rs a delicious fla
vor, added he bitterly.
Mr.. Thompson sighed. and was lost
for a moment IN reverie. when he was
suddenly aroused by his companions
suddenly screaming ;ssA hawkl's
Mr. Thompson 8 Pilowed the barn
swallow, too frightene. NV where,
for as he turned back he sawsthe hawk
pounce upon an unfortunate bird, and
bear it of in bis claws.
When they Preached the house again,
the swallow said: We'll. do you think
that the life of bird isHnallOyed pleas
ure?" Mr.. Thompson paused for q
moment and the swallow continued;