St. Landry democrat., 1883-07-14
A CUNNING MOTHER-BIRD.

Two little birds sat in tree-top talk.
ing very earnestly about the nest they
were going to build, for they had been
married several days, and, having
taken bridal trip through the
neighboring woods, and having spent a
whole day down by the beautiful little
brook that danced SO gayly along I'M
der the trees, they began to think il
was time for them to begin housekeep-
ing and settle down to sober family
cares as well as pleasures. They were
very pretty little birds-blondes we
might call them-for their bills and
eyelids were blue, and their heads of a
beautiful golden yellow, so that they
looked as if they had blue eyes and
golden hair. Their breasts, too. being
of the same bright color, they looked
like living sunbeams as they flew back
and forth. Well, there is one good
thing about the birdies-when they
make up their minds that a thing ought
to be done, they go to work and do it
without any putting off till tomorrow
So now our little blondes flew from one
tree or bush to another till they found
spot just to their minds, low down in
thick bush, where there were plenty
of briers to prick the fingers of bird
nesting boys. Having decided that this
was just the spot for them, they at once
flew off for materials, and a buster, hap
pier couple than they it would be hard
to find, as they flew back and forth
bringing bits of flax and tow and horse
hair. The little wife did most of the
architectural work, but that was not be-
cause her husband was lazy or shirk-
ing No, indeed! she would have
pecked your eyes out had you suggested
such an idea; but she was more skillful
in such work than he, and he did his
share by bringing materials for her to
use.
When the outside or framework of
the nest was finished, both brides flew
off to a field or pasture where there
were always cows TO be found; it was
not the cows that they wanted, how
ever. They flew straight to the trees
against which their sharp eyes had
often seen the cows rub themselves. and
there on the rough bark they found
plenty of loose hairs that the COWS had
rubbed off. These hairs were Just what
they wanted now, so they carried off as
many as they could take in their bills,
and the little wife Wove them in with
downy hairs from fern stems, and thus
made a soft, warm lining for new
home. You must not suppose, how
ever, that our brides worked right
along without a pause or a rest.
No, indeed! they were too wise
for that; they would stop every now and
then to chase each other through the d
wood, or to pick up the flies and bugs
that were crawling around them, or per-
haps they would fiy down to the little
brook and drink or bathe in its clear.
cold water. Such happy little birds
they were! Well, at last the nest was
and believe they were almost
sorry, for they had had such grand fun
it; soon there were four tiny
eggs nestled together on the soft lining,
and then the little bird-wife chased no
more bugs or caterpillars, but sat on the
nest all day, and her husband caught
bugs or caterpillars for her, and brought
them to her squirming like eels, and
while she ate them he would stand be- 7;
side her and sing aloud the Joy aud love
of his happy little heart.
But one day, as the little wife sat
of the wee brides in the eggs
under her wings, party of boys came
through the fields, beating bushes and
climbing trees in search of bird S nests
and eggs. Oh, how the little creatures |
heart throbbed with fear and anxiety!
not for herself oh, no! she did not once
think of herself, but only how she could
save her home and her babies; for her
mate was away just then. Suddenly a /
bright idea popped into her bright little
head. Slipping softly from the nest,
she crept silently and rapidly through |
The bushes till she was several yards
from the nest, and then, flying up into
! tall tree, she began to chirp and twit-
yer, so as to attract the attention of the I
Joys. They soon saw her, and with |
Nhoops and yells started for the tree,
while she dropped her tail, stretched out
Ter neck and trailed her wings along the
as if she were very lame and /
feeble. That was enough for the boys, !
Who one and all began to climb the tree
sfter her. No sooner were they all in
he tree than the cunning little hypo-
rite dropped to the ground, and re-
seated her maneuvres, taking care,
lowever, always to go away, from the
,ush where the nest was. Down came
he boys like overgrown squirrels from
he tree, where she sat, pretending all
he time to be just ready to tumble from
weakness. So she kept onleading them
arther and farther away, till She
hought there was no danger of their
hiding her treasures, when she spread
Ter wings and flew home by a round
bout way, leaving the boys half J