The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-01-16
CONFIDING WRENS.
A Couple of the Birds Raise a Fam
lily in q Letter-Box
Nice summer QUARTERS Discovered by a
Festbered wooer-He and His Bride
Vakc Possession without Delay and
spend n Happy Season

During the spring a pair OF wrens
fiitued into the well-sbaded grounds that
surround gentleman's residence on the
Providence road. writes a Scranton PA
correspondent of the Now York Trib-
mo. and began 10 search for summer.
home. A son OF the owner of the place.
who was sitting on tho veranda at the
time. saw tho cheerful little birds whoa
they arrived. and he studied their move
mcnts all the forenoon. They Gcw
about the cornices OF the house FOR sev-
eral minutes. surveyed every nook and
corner that looked secluded. and then
alighted on 4 shade tree aud compared
notes. For some time the birds had
confab in low and gentle tones. their
actions indicating 70 the young man that
they hadnt found a place that exactly
suitSd them 10 settle down in Tor the
summer. At the close OF the consulta-
tion the wrens sailed out OF the tree and
again went 10 hunting for a nesting.
ulacc. and in 4 short time the male ran
across one that seemed 20 suit him
On one Of the large wooden gate posts
tbere was a letter-box in the shape OF q
little house. II had a peaked roof.
slot on the street side for the mail-car-
rier 10 drop letters into. and little
door on the yard side 10 take them out
OF IL was rain tight. and 1t stood in
tho shadow OF a large maple.
In his search for nice summer quar-
tiers in the country. the Dalo wren found
his way into the box through the slot.
lie STAYED in it less than a minute. and
then he Gew out. Joined his wife on a
lilac bush a few yards away. and told
her about tho cory spot he bad discov-
cred Mrs. Wren appeared 10 be all OF
a 1ntter over the pleasant news her
proud husband had brought her. and
away they both few at once and entered
the slot.
Petty soon they came out and few
across the street 70 an open field. il
was soon evident that Mrs Wren was as
well pleased With the box rs her mate
was. Tor in a short time they both sailed
back again. each carrying . short piece
OF broken twig in the bill. These they
dropped in the bottom of the box and
hack and forth the industrious little
GiLtcrs went until noon. when the young
man looked into the box and found that
the wrcns had carried in good hand
ful OF twiGs and nicely arranged them
as a foundation for their nest. by
nightiall the birds had got the rough
and the next day they nearly finished it.
When the young man told his mother
about what the wrens had done. she said
that the little birds must be permitted
70 keep house in the box. as well as pro-
tcctcd while tbey were raising 4 family
there. SO on Monday morning another
box FOR letters was rigged up on the
other gate post. and tse lady OF tho
l. 40 L., h.f
forenoon and requested his not 10 drop
any more letters into the box whore the
wrens had taken sp their abode.
On the fsDce she placed food that tho
wrens liked. and she talked TO theD and
made them feel that they were welcome.
Inside OF a week the wrens got 70 be SO
contentod and condding that they
dids't seem 10 fear the woman or her
daughters. Some sparrows undertook 10
modest the quiet birds in the box. but
the young man got his gun and pep
porcd away at them until those that
didn't get killed were glad TO go.
About a week after tho finishing touch
had been put on the nest the female
laid IN crg IN it. When she began 20
sit. tho kind hearted housewife opened
the little door and strokod her.
calling her pet names as she ca
rcssed her WLilc she was sitting.
the malc fitted among the shrub
boy close by and sang merrily.
and one day a very intelligent and
higbly-prized female house-cat that be-
louged 20 the family came near catching
him Puss' mistress caught hcr up car
red her TO tho box. showed her the fc-
male wren on the nest. pointing out 70
her the hopping male on the fence and
gave her "a good talking TO-" telling
her that II she harmed the birds or the
nest IL would go hard with ber. Puss
understood what was said for not once
afterward did she eifer 10 approach the
box although before then she had often
walked along the fence and across tho
gate. She had several chances 10 kin
the male. hut she11idnt dare 10 spring
at him after the warning her mistress
had given ber.
a new lctter-carrier poked three let
tiers through the slot one day and nearly
covered up the sitting wren. but sho
didn't mind il. and in few DAYS she
Matched out a nest full OF little ones
About tho same time the old cat gave
birth to four kittens. and az last ac-
counts both the wren family and tho
cat family were getting along finely and
were much admired by their friends. the
human family.