Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-22

feather duster and rocking chairs consented.
But who would furnish the music? True,
the piano stood open; but it was useless
without notes, and they were locked up in
the closet.
"We shall have the yellow bird sing fol
us" said the tongs.
"What shall sing?" asked the canary.
A waltz was suggested, and at once the
merry dance began. But the little bird
soon grew tired and sleepy and began to sing
very slowly.
"Who could dance to such music as that?'
grumbled the pen. 'Is that the best you
can do?''
Yes" replied the bird; II am too tired
to sing any more"
'I can't think what makes you tired, u
scolded the tongs; "you have nothing to dc
all day long, and have good food given you. u
The canary soon discovered that it was in
the midst of enemies, and no one had kind
word for the poor little bird, who was only
laughed at and made sport of when it tried
to tell how homesick it was for the sunny
lands where it had once lived. The next
| day the children came as usual to bring
fresh water and seed to the bird, and when
they went away they left the door open.
'Now," thought the canary, 81 can go
with the swallows, and again be free."
But as the little bird was rejoicing in its
hope, someone noticed the cage door open
and closed it. And when the swallow came
for its friend. the canary said: 81 cannot
now go with you; but perhaps later 1 can
come"
"Do not try to come alone" said the
swallow, "Eor the distance is great. You
could not find the way, and would surely
perish. We shall be back again in the sum-
with u.s.
The weeks passed by. and the DAYS began
to grow colder and shorter, and the canary
Ionged more and more for its home in the
sunny South. One day the cage door was
again left unfastened, and by chance at the
same time the window was open. The little
bird hastened to make its escape. How
joyously it tapped its wings. and thought
that at last it was free. Its flight was soon
discovered, and the children to whom it be-
longed tried in every way to allure it back
into the cage. But the canary few
beyond their reach, and needed no
pleadings to return. The bird had been
confined so long in the cage that it had be-
come unaccustomed to flying, and could go
only a short distance at time. After sew
eral hours it grew tired and hungry, and
flew down into a yard, where many spar
rows were picking up crumbs from the
ground. The canary Joined them, and was
greeted with chorus Of: "Where did you
come from?" Where are you going?"
"Who are you?"
"I have escaped from a cage" said the
canary, land want to go south, where the
swallows are. Can YOU tell ME the way?"
The sparrows did not know anything
about the south; but one, who pitied the
little yellow bird, flew to the weather cock
h. Lor Loo II rrbi ioh Il
rection to take, went with the canary as far
as the forest. Here the little bird rested tor
the night, but it was so cold
that it could not sleep. and
in the morning it was both
tired and hungry. 1t saw lying on the
ground a piece of white bread, aud was
about to begin its breakfast, when a loud,
whirring noise was heard, and large, black
crow began to share the meal. The canary
had never before seen such bird, and was
greatly frightened, and few on to branch
nearby Although the crow had rough.
harsh voice, it was kind at heart, and cried:
''Do not fear Inc, little bird. Come, eat
your breakfast, and tell me Low you happen
to be here"
When the canary had told its story, the
crow said: "The South is very far away
from here, and it will be many days before
YOU can arrive there. like this country
better than the one you seek, but shall stay
with you to-day, and help you to find your
way"
All day the little yellow bird stayed close
to its new friend, and at night sadly bade
farewell to the black crow. That night was
even colder than the one before, and the
canary began to fear that it would never
reach the South. But in the merning it
again started on its way. Now the air was
verv chilly and the fields were brown and
bare The little bird was growing discour-
aged. Food was hard to find, and the light
yellow feathers poorly projected the deli
cate little body from the cold. Late in the
afternoon the canary few upon the window
sill of farmhouse and looked in. There
it seemed so com ortable and warm, and
bright fire blazed upon the hearth. Some
bright-eyed children spied the bird and ran
to the window.
1T really believe it wants to come in,"
said one.
The bird flew on bush near by, and sang
one of its sweetest songs. The children
were delighted, and, strewlng crumbs on the
sill, said: "If it would only come in We
would love it and take such good care OF it."
These words cheered the little bird, and,
hopping upon the window sill, was about to
fly into the room, when it caught sight OF
pair OF cats eyes, and, terrified, it few from
the place, nor even glanced back. That
nj .ht great storm arose, and the pine tree,
in which the bird had taken refuge, trembled
violently. The air became bitter cold, and
the bird thought: 81 can hold On no longer,
as my feet are numb with cold, and letting
go of the twig to which it had been clinging,
it fell into the snow, which now covered the
ground.
The next morning the children from the
farm house. dressed in the warmest furs and
shouting in their delight over the fall OF the
first snow, came into the forest, and found
the canary, stiff and cold, under the pine
tree. And this is the story OF the little yell
low bird, who wanted to go south, but did
not know the way. PAYSIE.