Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-18
The Heron.

-pHHcy DdVe w 81 ''''"''o''
The Heron.
Every one said that 1t would rain
all day, but Alice did not worry about
It, She rolled up the shades, drew
her little round table close to the win
dow and began the study of this pic
ture. Uncle Fred had promised her q
copy of Birds and their Ways If she
would find out about those birds and
write composition on them.
Just then she glanced up and sa"
Bruce, little deaf and dumb boy, az
the window next door. lie was look
ing at her very wistfully, as though
he wondered what she was doing.
There was only narrow yard De-
tween thehouses; the rain was coming
down very gently and very stright' so
that Alice could easily raise the WIN
dow-sash and nod and hold up the
picture. She did not feel quite llke
doing this, however; she had planned
to have such a pleasant morning all
to herself But she thought, "Poor
little fellow. he has no mother, no
sister, and he is deaf and dumb"
Up went the window-sa5h, and,
smiling and bowing, Alice held up the
picture. The boy smiled and bowed
back to her. Then they began to talk
with their fingers as the deaf anu
dumb do, you know, Alice could
spell in that way almost as quickly as
Bruce: indeed, she hal learned to do
so by trying to talk with him. She
told about her uncle's promise, and
how she was trying to find out what
birds these were.
Bruce smiled and seemed much
pleased. lie began, i'll his way,to talk
faster than before, even. 81 can help
YOU" he said. 81 think those are
herons."
When Alice shook her head he said,
"Yes, yes" and ran away, to return
in a moment with three books--a
large red one, a little yellow one, and
an old musty one. He opened them
and showed her the pictures. "See!'
he said; they are like your picture
learned about them last summer"
After this he seemed as though he
could not make his fingers go fast
enough. Every now and then Alice
had to say, "a little slower, please
where do they live?" she asked.
They make visits to the northern
parts of the world in summer" ne
said. "They are in many other coun-
tries all the year."
care they pretty?'
"Their plumage is pretty, but not
! often gay. Cannot you guess their
color?"
"White, brown, black?" said Alice.
"Yes all of these colors, and some-
! times slate color. Many of their cous-
, ms have beautiful feathers; kings used
. to wear them as plumes."
"Their cousins?' cried Alice.
"Yes, that is the way these books
> speak of them," said Bruce. "They
say that the stork and the bittern and
other birds of that sort are in appear
ance much like the heron. See what
long bills these birds have, and what
sharp claws. and, look! the middle
claw is toothed just like my little
saw"
Alice thought, "What good use
Bruce makes of his eyes. didn't
: even look at the birds claws. dare
F.; say the heron can defend ITSELF she
l said.
) Bruce laughed. "He's coward,'
! he cried. "Why, the heron is af- aid
a of sparrowhawk, even. Still, if hc
q finds that he must either fight or de,
, he will fight
a "IIe is solemn looking Bird said
> Alice.
"Oh, but those two are about impor-
q tant business now" said Bruce. "Seel
t there they stand quite still, waiting for
a a chance to strike at fish. If it is a
: large fish, they will carry it to shore
. and beat it against stone till it sdead.
O Sometimes, though, the fish masters
" the heron. Sometimes, in his haste to
{" swallow an eel alive, the heron gets
/: choked."
r What glutton" cried Alice with
o a look of disgust
" "They are lazy birds" continued
/. Bruce "They will not take the trouble
G. to build nest il they can iiLd an old
one left empty by rook or an owl.
They are sociable, though, and when
If they build nests they like to have near
n, neighbors. The red book tells about a
d gentleman in England who found eigh
1t ty nests in one tree. How many years
lo do you supposed heron might llve?'
r Alice made half dozen guesses
d she was very much surprised to heal
= that one heron was known to have
l. lived sixty years.
IT Bruce said he could tell her more
'e about them, and some things, too, o,about
er storks and bitterns. But just then tb'
Is dinner bell rang so that Alice had only
ID time to say, THANK you; some othel
10 Morning. Star.
os --
I'd Aunt Bridgeps Long Head.
re It's wise dog that knows enougr
Is to run in off the walk and down til,