The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-08-22
THE FIRE-HANG-BIRD.

ASH am sitting in the sun upon the porch to-
day,
I look with wonder at the elm that stands across
the way;
say and mean with wonder" for now it seems
tome
That elm is not as tall as years ago it used to
be!
The old fire hang birds built her nest therein
for many springs
High up amid the spOrtive winds the curious
cradle swings,
But not so high as when little boy did my
best
To scale that elm and carry off the old fire hang,
birds nestl
The Hubbard boys had tried in vain to reach
the homely prize
That dangled from that upper outer twig in
haunting wise,
And once, when Deacon Turner's boy had al
most grasped the limb,
He fell! and had to have a doctor operate on
him.
Philetus Baker broke his leg and Orrin Root his
arm
But what of that? The danger gave the sport
special charm
The BiXbies, and the Cutler boys, the NeWtonS
and the rest
Ran every risk to carry off the old chang
birds nest!
can remember that used to knee my trousers
through
That mother used to wonder how my legs got
black and blue,
And how she used to talk to me and make stern
threats when she
Discovered that my hobby was the nest in yon
der tree;
How, as she patched my trousers or grcasedmy
purple legs,
She told me 'twOuld be wicked to destroy a
hang. birds eggs
And then she'd call on father and on gran'pa to
attest
That they as boys, had never robbed an old
fre-hang bird's-nest!
Yet all those years coveted the trophy fiaunt.
ing there,
While as it were in mockery of my abiect de-
spair,
The old fire hang bird confidently used to come
and go,
AS if she were Indifferent to the bandit horde
below!
And sometimes clinging to her nest we thought
we heard her chde
The calow brood whose cries betrayed the fear
that reigned inside;
FLUSH, little dears all profitess shall be their
wicked quest
knew my business when 1 built the old fire.
hang birds nest!'
For many, very many years that mother bird
has come
To rear her pretty little brood within that cosy
home.
She is the self-same bird of old-I'm certain it
is She
Although the chances are that she has quite for
gotten me.
Just as of old that prudent. crafty bird of com
pound name,
(And in parenthesis I'll say her nest is still the
Same):
Just as of old the passion, too that fires the
youthful breast
To climb unto and comprehend the old fire hang
birds nest!
ancient tree,
And, if the elms as tall and sturdy as it USED
to be,
I'm sure that many year that nest shall in the
breeZes blow,
For boys aren't what they used to be a forty
years ago!
The elm looks shorter than it did when brother
Rufe and
Beheld with envious hearts that trophy flaunt-
ed from on high;
He writes that in the city where he's living way
out West
His little boys have never seen an old e.hang-
birds nest!
Poor little chaps! how lonesomelike their city
life must be
wish they'd come and live awhile in this Old
house with me.
They'd have the honest friends and healthful
sports l used to know.
When brother Rufe and 1 were boys forty
years ago.
So, when they grew from romping lads to busy,
useful men,
Tey could recall with proper pride their coun-
try life again;
And of those recolections of their youth I'm
sure the best
Would be Of how they sought in vain the old
tirehang birds nest!
Eugene Field, in Youths Companion.