The Bossier banner., 1883-02-15
THE DIsOBEDIENT BIRDIKIN.

1t was cozy, snug. little home, in
| which the three young Orioles first
opened their eyes, but it would seem
very queer house to, most of my little
! friends. 1t was not built Of bricks, or
boards, or logs, but of sticks and
straws, beautifully woven together into
the shape OF bag, and hung to the
branch OF large locust-tree.
There was hole in the side shat
served for door and window, and nth
in, the walls, ceiling and floor were
made of the softest down, SO that the
little birds needed no feather beds to
sleep on; and while the mother and
| father were of hunting something for
them to eat, they would huddle together
in the bottom of the nest, and let the
breeze rock them into many sweet nap.
But it was rather small, and appeared
to get smaller each day. And as their
wings began to grow. how they longed
for scope to try them! But mother and
| father knew best when it would be
time; they never forgot them. And
whata splendidly handsome fellow their
father was, in his new spring suit of
| bright orange-color and black velvet
| The mother was pretty. too, with her
dress of more quiet shades, and her
sweet, low voice.
The little ones had no feathers on
them at all, at first, and were very
funny and ugly; but they were growing
in beauty every day, and would soon be
old enough to wear bright gay dresses
! ike their father and mother. And in
stead of sleeping during their parents
absences, as formerly. they often spent
the time in vague wonderings about the
world that lay outside of their little,
home.
This ought to have been very happy
little family, and would have been but
| for the youngest; he was an impatient
little fellow, that was always grumbling
because they were kept at home so
long, and thought he knew better than
any body else. This made it very hard
for his mother to teach him anything,
SO that she sometimes had to get the
father to come and give him good
pecking to make him behave. ,t5l
His waywardness troubled his parents
very much, but they hoped he would
grow wiser asshe grew older 5a
One day, when these little birds were
at home by themselves, this tlisobedient
one took it into his head to climb up to
the door and look out. AT first he. was
| dumb with astonishment, so naarye leus-.
ly beautiful did it all seem; then he be-
gan to twitter with delight, and tell his
brother and sister all the wonderful
things he saw. s-{- 5s4eff4tE-s.sl .,,, ,..s
sPshawp' he said at last, ait don't
look SO far down to the ground; libel
ieve could fly down there, feasily. I
have half mind to try 's :
80 don't, brother, don'tnf tho other
two cried; something viii surely hap
pen to you. Don't. you know mother
told us never to venture even to the
door in her absence, and to be content
to stay quietly in the nest until She
taught us how to fly" 9se
YES" said the little sister; q and
don't you remember she was telling us
only the other day of the cruelieat who.
lives down there and pounces upon
every hapless young bird that chances
in her wayp'
And have you forgotten the boys
the heartless boys, - said the eldest
brother, "who often throw rocks at us
birds? What mercy, would they show
to apoor little fledgIingP'' st2
The mothers voice in the distance
put an end to his ambitious designs for
that time, and, hoping he would give
them up altogether, the others did not
tell their mother about his plans.
But the next day, when they were
again left alone, he clan1bered once
more to the opening. '..Ahl what fool
ish children you are," he said, s. to stay
down there in the dark, when vou
might be up here enjoying the light
and air; why, feel as if should grow
an inch the more for it!'' and he fiut-
tered his wings exultingly. II can t
for the life of me see why we should be
kept shut up ike parcel of babies
just out of the shell. There is not a
thing in sight that could possibly hurt
| me, and there are crowds of birds
down there hunting for bugs and
things. Hong to be among them and
so q'ditt Mother may keep her flying
lessons for you; / am sure don't need
them.n a8 H lge go
Again the brother and sister begged
and pleaded with him, even stretching
up and trying to catch hold of him
with their bills; but jerking away from
them, he spread his wings something
as he had seen his parents do, and let
go his hold of the nest.
The brother and sister heard him
touch the ground with little thnlnp.
After a while they heard his excited
twitter Of enjoyment as he hoped
about among the feathered tribe, as
strange and new to him as if no kin,
Presently there came cry Of alarm,
great tapping of wings, and then,
pitiful. helpless wall of mortal terror,
an agonizing scream, and all was still.
Fearfnlly they climbed up to the
opening, holding carefully as they
peeped out, only TO see hideous