The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-07-14
A BIRD DRAMA.

the sparrow family; and / wish to say
in beginning that although l 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 1 SO closely watched.
That / 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 l occupied.
The first intimation / had of trouble
was the loud and persistent chirping of
a sparrow, a cry Of distress. For some
time l could not get sight of him, but
just at evening when l was looking
closely at a pear tree from which the
sound came a cock-sparrow flew out
alighting on the peak of a low roof inmy
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 a 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
iuttering and here remained.
The first thing in the morning / heard
the sorrowful cry again and fastened to
the window to see how he was this morn
ing and if possible find out where he
lived. He had left the tree and seated
himself on the ledge over a 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 l have noticed that
sparrows usually have a particular place
on which to alight before going into the
nest. They perch amoment, look around,
flirt the tail and then dashinto the house.
While / watched him a 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 a remon-
strating or arguing tone. He answered
her in a 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 tryingto
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, l could not make out what. He
kept almost entirely to the ledge andthe
sill, and now l saw where they lived. It
was in a thick clump of ~honeysuckle
vines that ran over a 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 fiat 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 / saw that the hen carried food
into the honeysuckles, and l concluded
she had babies to feed, and perhaps her
remonstrances with him had been that
he did not help. Evidently she had a
good deal on her hands, hungry babies
and a 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 he 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
role was a tumbled up sort of a fellow,
who looked as though he needed a wife
to keep his coat in order, and l had my
doubts whether that little hen had made
a wise choice. He would alight on the
sill, One-leg being on the ledge above.
Here he would plant himself in a dog
ged way, in a crouching attitude, and
call, though not with the least spirit.
His feathers were ruffied, not bristled
up in anger or in fighting humor; and
in fact l could not resist the conviction
that he was a ~hen-picked coward ORDER
ed to go out and fight, and dutifully,
but not heartily, obeying.
The knowing bird on the ledge evil
IDENTITY despised him. He answered him,
call for call and louder than his chal-
lenger but did not deignt 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 cameout and
scolded him, and he returned to his
ledge to rest and get his breath.
After awhile another candidate for her
favor arrived on the sill. This was a
different looking bird; for much alike as
are sparrows there are differences of
manner and looks readily seen on close
The second wooer was as
and full of life as a bird could be.
No crouching down in this case, no
weak forced challenge. Helooked sauci-