The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-21
A ROMANCE.

1t was just after a great disappointment
that came upon the plum-tree romance.
A pair OF goldfnches, whose pretty pastoral
l hoped to watch, had been robbed and
driven away from their home in a maple
tree. irleving for their sorrow as we'll as
for my loss. l turned my steps toward the
farm house, intending to devote part of the
DAY to the baby crows, who we're e%nliveninR
the pasture with their drOll cries and
droller actions. But the crow family had
the pasture to themselves that morning, for
in passing through the orchard, looking. as
always, for indications of feathered life, I
suddenly saw a nest in the top of n plum
tree, and my spirits rose instantly when l
noticed that the busy little architect, at
that moment working upon it, was a gold
finch.
What m unfortunate place she had
chosen. was my first thought. A young
tree, q mere sapling, not more than eight
feet high, close beside the regular farm
road, where men, and worse two nest-rob-
bling boys, passed forty times n day.
Would the trim little matron, now so happy
in her plans, have any chance of bringing
up a brood there in plain sight, where, if
the rowing eyes of those youngsters hap
pened to fall upon her nest, peace would
take it's departure even if calamity did not
overtake her?
Looking all about, to make sure that no
ono was in sight, / seated myself to make
the acquaintance of my new neighbor. My
whole study of the life in and around the
plum tree, carried on for the next two
weeks, wns of a %spasmodic order, for 1 had
always to take care that no spies were
nhrr Hnf - j Il npnl .1r-y, MI. k~r---l LLn
orchard. One glimpse of me in tho neigh
borhood would have disclosed their secret
to the sharp boys who knew my ways.
The little dame was bewitehing in her
manner, and her handsome Young spouse
the most devoted consort l ever saw
in feathers, or out of them l may say. Al
though she alone built the nest, he was the
constant attendant, and they always made
their appearance together. He dropped
into q taller troe-an apple near by-while
she with her beak full of materials alightcd
on the lowest branch of the plum, and
hoped gnyly from twig to twig, as though
they were steps, up to the sky parlor where
she had established her homestead. Then
she went buslly to work to adjust the new
matter, while he waited patiently during
the ten or fifteen minutes she thus ocou-
pied. Sometimes he seemed to wonder what
she could be about all this time, for he
came and allghted beside her, staying only
an instant, and then tying with the evident
eApSGttVlOu blub Big WOulQ follow.
Usually. however, he remained quietly
on guard till she left the nest with
her joyful call, when he joined her, and
away they went together, crying, 'te-o-tum,
to te!' till out of sight and hearing. There
was IA joyousness of manner in this pair
that gave a festive air to even 30 prosaic q
performance as going for food. The source
of supplies, rs rsoon discovered, was Il bit
of neglected ground between q buckwheat
patch and a barn, whore grass and weeds of
several sorts fourished. Here each bird
pulled down by its weight a stalk of mead
ow or other grass, md spent some time
feastlng upon its seeds.
But madam was a tiEid little soul; she ie-
minded me constantly of some bigger folk
have known. She wanted her gay cavalier
always within call, and he responded to her
demands nobly. becoming more domestic
than one would imagine DOS -ible for such'a
restless, light-hearted sprits. After,the young
house-mistress settled hers:lf to her sitting,
she often lifted her head above the edge OF
her nest, and uttered a strangely thrilling
md appealing cry, which think is only
heard in the nesting-time. He always rc-
piled instantly. i'll tenderest tones, and
came at once, sometimes from the other
side of the orchard, singing as he flew, and
perehed in the apple-tree.. If she wanted
his escort to lunoh, she Joined him there,
and after exchanging n few low remarks,
they departed together. Occasionally,
however, she seemed to be merely nervous,
perhaps about some other bird who she
fancied might be troublesome, though, in
general, neither of the pair paid the slight
est attention to birds who came al out even
upon their own little tree.
Often when the goldfiuch came in an
swer to this call of love, he flew around, at
some height above the tree, in Il CIRCLE of
thirty Or forty feet diameter, apparently to
search out any enemy who might be annoy
ing her. If he saw a bird, he drove him off,
though in a perfunctory manner, as il
it were done merely in Difference to
his lady's wishes, and not from any
sions, too, he came quite near me,
stood fearless and calm, and studied me
most sharply, doubtless to see if my inten-
tions were innocent. OF course l looked AS
nmiabls and harmless as possible, and in n
moment he decided that | was not danger
GUS, made some quiet remark to his fussy
little partner, and flew away
Sometimes this conduct did not reassure
the uneasy bird, and she called again. Then
he brought some tidbit in his beak, went
to the edge OF the nest, and fed her. Then
she was pacitied; but do not mistake he,, it
was not hunger that prompted her actions;
when she was hungry. she openly left her
nest and went fof food. 1t was, AZ l am
convinced, the longing desire to know that
he was near her, that he was still nnxious
to serve her, that he had not forgotten her
III her long absence from his side. This
may sound II little fanciful to one who has
not studied birds closely. but abe was 80
'human" in ali her actions that / feel justi-
fed in Judging of her motives exactly as |
should judge had she measured five feet in
stead OF five inches, and worn silk instead
of feathers.
The g%oldfinch need not have worried
about her mate, for he spent most of his
time within u few feet of her, and moro alb
~solntely loyal one could not he. His most
common perch was n neighboring tree.
though in a heavy beating rain he frequent
ly crouched on the lowest branch of. the
plum itself. Now and then he rested on u
pile of boards beside tho farm road already
spoken of, aud again he took his post on a
very tall ash, with only n few limbs at the
top, where his body looked like u dot
against the blue, and he could oversee the
whole country around. Wherever he might
be, he sat all puffed ont, silent and motion
less. evidently Just waiting. Sometimes no
took occasion to plume himself very care
fully, oftener ho did nothing, but held him
self in readiness to answer any call from
the plum tree, and TO accompany the sitter
out to dinner.
This bird was an enchanting singer, Dur