The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-11-22

urgent, and looked the tree over very
carefully with my opera-elass before !
caught sight of the culprit, and was
amazed to see the robin. The tone was
SO entirely unlike any lever heard from
him that should not have suspected
him even then, but / saw him in the
very act. No sooner did he notice that
he was observed than he gave loud
moeking He he he AZ and flew across
the lawn to his own tree.
One morning he was not to be seon
at his usual work, but furious calling
came from the other side Of the lawn.
It was anxious and urgent, and il was
lncessant. resolved to see what was
the trouble. Stealing quietly along, q
came in sight Of the bird, loudly calling,
tluttering his wings, and In evident
trouble, though / could not imagine the
cause, until looking closely / saw
perched on q branch Of cedar tree a
fat stupid-looking bird, fully as biz as
the robin, and covered with feathers,
but with speckled breast, and no tail
worth mentioning.
There he sat, like lump Of dough,
head down in his shoulders and bill
sticking almost straight up, and neither
the tenderest eoaxing nor the loudest
scolding moved him in the least, In
fact. | thought he was dead, till the
opera-glass showed that he winked.
But stupid and ugly as he looked, he
was the darling Of the heart in that
little red breast, and the parent fluttered
wildly about while found d stick, and
Jared the branch slightly as gentle
hint that he should obey his papa. That
started the youngster, and away he flew,
as well as anybody, to the other side Of
the walk.
Wondering why the mother did not
take part in this training, ! peeped into
the nest, where found her sitting, and
! concluded she must be raising second
family. il was indeed time for that
grown-up baby to learn to care for him
self before there was another family to
feed. While | was looking at the nest
and its frightened vet brave little
owner, the young robin came back and
alighted on the ground, and so proud
and happy yet so anxious a parent is
rarely seen. 1t was soon evident that
this was Master Robins first lesson in
the worm business; he was now 70 be
taught the base of supplies, and / kept
very quiet while the scene went on. The
father would hop ahead a few feet and
call persuasiyely, Come on = The
awkward youngling answered loudly:
!" Wait wait n Then he would hop
few steps, and papa would DIG up
worm to show him how, and tenderly
offer it as a slight lunch after his exer-
ton. So they went on, that clumsy and
greedy youngster induced by his desire
for worms, while the patient teacher
encouraged and worked for him. AS
for making an effort for himself, the
notion never entered his head.
Not long after saw one of the same
brood seated on a twig aud asking to lie
fed. ] was quite near, and the robin
papa hesitated to come. Master Robin
called more aud more sharply, drawing
up his wings without opening them, eX-
actly like shrug Of the shoulders, and
jerking his body in such a way that it
looked like stamping his foot 1t was
a funny exhibition Of youthful imperi-
and resembled what III child
we call "spunkiness.
One of the most interesting entertain
ments Of the later days was to hear the
1Odii9 DllAt IhuolC lcshOn. IN itle early
the father would place himself
in the thickest part Of the tree, not as
usual on the top, in plain sight, and
with his pupil near him would beoin.
I CHEEKY ! CHEEKY be cheeryim in a
loud, clear voice; and then would follow
q feeble, wavering, uncertain attempt
to copy the song. Again papa would
chant the first strain, and baby would
pipe out his funny notes. This was
kept up, till in surprisingly short time.
after much daily practice both with the
copy and without, | coulds hardly tell
father from son.
When the maple leaves turned. in the
fall, and the little home in the tree was
left empty and desolate, / had it brought
down TO examine. 1t was curious and
well-made nest, being a per
feet cup of clay, little thicker around
the top, well moulded, and covered in
side and out with dry grass. This snug
cottage of clay has been the scene Of
some of the sweetest experiences of all
lives, great as well as small. For the
happiness it has held viii preserve it:
and thus moralizing / placed it on
bracket in memory of delightful study
Of the Bird of the Morning. OItge
IHorHe Miller, IN atlantic 4Moathlu.
--Ee h
A Deserted Village.