Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11
THE MILLER's CRUEL SON.

birds TO build their nests in nv fathers mill?
/ shall soon drive them away" and taking a
stone he aimed it a swallow flying above his
head, and struck the bird with such force
that the poor little creature fell lifeless into
the mill pond. When the father bird re-
turned from his search after food for his
hungry children, he found the seven little
swallows crying for the mother, and he knew
not how to comfort them. Then he began to
look for his faithful mate; but although he
sought in field and forest and called in his
sweetest tones, he could gain no reply. Then
q neighbor said to him: Friend swallow,
your mate is dead. saw the miller's son
strike her with a stone, and she fell into the
mill pond"
These words brought great sorrow tn the
swallow, and he wondered what would be-
come of his motherless children. Near the
brook stood an old willow tree, which bent
over the water, and whose low-drooping
branches dipped into the waves. In this
tree lived fairy, who was as good as she
was beautiful. Her shining eyes were as
blue as the heavens above, aud in her long
golden hair was entwined garland OF for
get-me-nots. Early every morning, and in
the evening, the fairy sang the sweetest
songs; but no one heard her save the birds,
and BY them only was she seen, with the ex-
eeption OF water nvmph, who had his home
under the mill pond. The nymph was old
and gray. He had green eyes with red lids,
and he always sat IN bis stone grotto, where
he seized ali the crabs which by chance
wandered into his den, and he frightened
away all the fish which veDtured into the
cool grotto. For the nvmph was very
thoughtful person and did not wish to have
his meditstions disturbed by any intruders.
The swallows were especially disagreeable
for &hair A-.1
back and forth and their constant
chatter made so much confusion thai
the old nymph coulI scarcely think.
Therefore the swallow in his trouble did not
turn to the nymph in his grotto but few
directly to the home of the fairy in the old
willow and told his trouble. When the
good fairy had heard all she was verv angry
Indeed with the miller's son, and declared
that he should suffer for bis cruelty to the
mother swallow. She then said: I'm this
tree is nest, which has been deserted by
its owners. Bring your children here and I
shall help you care for them."
Very carefully the father bird carried the
seven little swallows to the nest in the old
willow, where they were warm and we'll
fed. But the old bird grieved SO deeply for
his lost mate that be soon dropped and died,
and the fairy buried him on the shore OF
the mill pond.
SAud now the kind fairy did not neglect
the orphan birds, and as the little creatures
grew older and stronger they learned to
love their good friend, and were always ready
to obey her slightest call. They promised
never to forsake her, but always to have
their home in the old willow tree. The
nEmph, who very much disllked the ch at
tering of the swallows, and who had little
fsiih in their promises, said to the fairy:
Why do you trouble yourself about those
noisy birds? They are ungrateful creatures,
and as soon as they are able to take care OF
themselves, they will seek other homes, and
will no longer remember you. And i, for
one, shall be glad when they are gone, for
their loud, boisterous ways trouble me-"
The larry only smiled at this illnatured
remark of the nymph, for she did not believe
that the little birds, for whom she had SC
tenderly cared, and whom she loved 90
dearly, would ever leave her for other
friends. But the nymph's prophecy proved
true, for when the long summer DAYS came,
and the air was soft and warm and the
fields abloom with flowers, then the young
swallows learned to use their wings, snd