The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-05-11

sparrOws usually have particular plauo
on which to alight before going into the
nest. They perch moment, look around,
f1irt the tail and then dash into 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 q remon-
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 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, I could not make out what. lie
kept almost entirely to the ledge and tle
sill, and now l saw where thGy lived. It
was in thick clump of h0neysuckIe
vines that ran over a doorway n0t 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 great chattering
anu he soon came OttT.
It 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 diving.
! 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 awar. To-
! day also | saw that the hen carried food
| into the honeysuckleS, and | concluded
! she had babies to feed, and posnaps her
remonstrances with him had been that
he did not help. Evidently she had
good deal on her hands, hungry babies
and a disabled spouse.
He was very awkward on his one leg,
could not stand up 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 yfailed-''make an
effort"
Madam evidently made up her mind
to shake off q useless partner, and early
in the day rival appeared on the scene.
The cock who assumed this despicable
role was tumbled up sort of a fellow.
who looked as though he needed a 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 a dog
ged way, in a crouching attitude, and
call, though not with the least spirit:
His feathers were rufied, not bristled
up in anger or in fighting humor; and
in fact could not resist the conviction
that he was hen-picked coward order
ed to go out and fight, and dutifully,
but not heartily, obeying.
The knowing bird on the ledge evil
IDENTIFY despised him. He answered him,
call for call and louder than his chal-
lenger 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