Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-23

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One warm spring day, long ago,
two little sparrovs flew into busy
London square and lighted on tree,
which stood in lis fresh green dress
among the tall houses, and gave,
with oil its little dancing leaves, .
glad welcome to the small brown
strangers. They were looking for .
good place to build nest and set up
housekeeping.
One would think they might have
liked better the country. with It's
great stretch Of blue sky and It's miles
of green grass.
But they we're contented little birds
and lid not think of leaving the
great noisy city,
There they sat among the leaves,
chattering and glancing here and
there and everywhere.
In the middle of the square stood
a grand statue of the Duke of Well
ington. Quietly be sat on his horse
and calmly he looked down on the
rows of houses, on the waving trees.
and the people streaming by.
Day and night, winter and sum
mer, 10 sunlight and storms, there
he sat, always the same, and very
magnificent in his plumed hat and
fine military dress.
He seemed to say Here I am
above every one, and nothing can
affect me-
The sparrows cooked their little
quick, bright eyes at him, and won
nered why he remained SO still.
SHE can't be a live man on live
horse, or he would move a little, ;"
said Mr.. Sparrow. II mean to go
over and have a good look at him. Z
sob, don't, my DEAR! said Mrs.
Sparrow, tiuttering with fear: the
might shoot you, you know"
'sPooh" said Mr.. Sparrow, and
few right across the street, and on
to the pedestal of the statue.
He shook his wings, and chartered,
and made little dives at the great
man who lowered above him; but
his lordship looked straight ahead.
and.never even peeped out of the
corner of one eye at the bold little
fellow.
Then what should this impertinent
little sparrow do but fly directly on tc
1.-THE fine cooked hat with its long
plumes.
! At this Mrs. Sparrow, safe in hel
leafy bower, almost tainted away
with fright. But, finding that hel
little mate hoped, undisturbed, al
over his lortlship's head, she took
courage and skinned across thf
street, too; and soon they both were
peeping and chattering harder thar
ever.
They grew holder every minute
and at last discovered small open
/ ing under one of the droopins
plumes; andiin they darted full O
curiosity.
Il The poor grand duke and his hors'
were quite hollow and empty; ant
the little birds at once decided tina
here was the finest place immagina
J, bic for their home, warm and dry
and far from providing cats.
So there they lived, and reare'
} their young ones; and nothing eve
harmed them.
II By and by more birds came ther
r and built their nests, and a famil
| of starlings settled there very com
: fortably; and the old dukes bod
t was full of little darting, nois
: EcIeatures.
! But still he kept a dignified silenc
E and sat on his horse as grandly a
0 ever. 'sNothing ever moves me,
5 he seemed to say in the old fashion
D and no one dreamed, down in th
g busy square, of the busy life goin
: on in the fine statue at which the
b glanced with pride.
a. Atlast, one day, some men cam
s to take the grand duke and his hors
d away.
d He was placed in another part {
f the city, where they thought b
e would look finer.
What was their surprise when
large number of frightened birds fle
out from under the dukes plume
hat.
The birds flew away into the tre'
tops, scolding noisily and fiutterin
with anger and surprise.
For they really had come to thin
that the great man, in all his splel
: dor. belonged to them. and had bee
put there merely foI a bird hous
They have not recovered yet fro
their establishment and anger.
8 TO this day, you may hear the
quarrelling and scolding about it
over London - Christian Register.
VI .GoOD-BY MOTHER"