The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-08-28
THOROUGH woRkMEN.

THOROUGH WORKMEN.
nulldiag wishoss Hammer Or Nsiis-A
Bold Robbery and Successful R~eapt-
are.
There were two Of them At il. the
father and mother, and she seemed 70
Be doing Is much As he did They were
not Turks or Indians. or she would
have done all the carrying and build
ing, while he sat on limb overseeing
the JOB There ! have let il out, and
you know they were not man and
woman. only robins in chcrry-tree.
The tree was ten or fifteen feet from my
window. II was in the spring Of 1873,
when warm weather came early. Twas
sick in bed. but one Of my friends brought
me an opera-glass. and with that
could see all the work going on S
plainly as II il was on the table in my
room Not all. however. for much Of
II was done early in the morning before
I was awake. Do you know how early
he birds get ups have heard robins
begin 70 sing At half-past three in the
morning.
When these birds had laid down =
foundation Of large twigs strength
ened with mud. then they began to
weave in short pieces Of hay and grass
and fine twigs They Tiled up the bot
tom with clay. which / think they had
worked up in their bills TO make Il
more sticky and tough. ] could see
them put the sticks and straws in and
push the end though with their bills
and then draw il out on the other side
aud bring il up to the top or push il IN
another place. Long pieces OF hay or
white strings were hanging down
around the nest When few short
pieces had been woven TO their salts
faction, then they would draw up these
longer pieces and pull them through,
and 50 fasten ii al together very Sc
curely.
The pushing and pulling and weav-
ing would draw the nest out Of shape
These birds were thorough workmen.
and built 70 the plumb line. and lad an
eye for beauty Is well - strength and
comfort TO shape the nest inside the
robin would turn round and round 10
il. pressing the mud compactly IN the
bottom and brushing the sides smooth
and making the nest round To press
the loosely woven straws down and
make the work firm. the bird slapped 4
/ down with her wings Then sometimes
she pressed il down with her head and
| neck. and the funniest way Of all. sht
would beat 1t down behind her with bel
tail again and again.
Why did they put mud In the nest
Not only to make il stronger. Perhaps
you may think to make It warmer.
think for just the opposite reason, Y
make il cooler. When the sun wa
hot and the wind blowing. the egg
would get hot and dry. 50 that the,
might not hatch The mud woul'
ca.ch some Of the rain and Be- dam
and keep the eggs moist Did you eve
see bird get OF the eggs, and stan'
up and fan them with her wings. The.
\. do il sometimes. But that Is after tn
home Is built. and our birds are no
done yet
One morning when woke about 81
o'clock. looked out the window On
saw long strip Of white cloth hangin
down from the nest 1t was about ~
inches wide and three feet long. IN
birds were not In the nest Havin
worked an hour or two. they were gel
Ting their breakfast A few minute
later | saw the strip was gone and u
robins flying about In great distress
and consulting about where 70 find ii
thief. And they found him before lon
and were back again with the clotl
and several impudent town sparrow
in hot pursuit 1 kept m eye on u
nest to see the end Of this fight, and m
! breakfast was cold before l could q
Il. was 50 much interested IN whit
! vas going on In the little world outsit
, my window.
The town sparrow Is the communi
|. among birds He thinks Il he wan
I anything he has right 70 Il. II DO
not matter IL Il has been earned by O
) other BY hard work. He will Az dow
Z near bird that has dug up bug or
} worm. and hop around In the most !
nocent manner til Il has been ksile
q and then ny in with rush and pick
2 up for himself.
2 One Of these sparrows had found 4
s nest and helped himself to that ~
\ strip Of soft cotton. But the robi
! were ready to defend their propcrt
|. and drove the sparrows away, q
!. everything Quictod down for awhil
: Before an hour had Como the sparo'
/ ~sxcbod THAR chanc0 and stole ~