The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-06
LEGENDS OF THE WREN.
It's Trick on an Eagle Wins 1t PoprIarIt,
Ap,Ouu fha Triah.

It's Trick on an Eagle Wins 1t Popularity
Among tho Irish.
In ireland the wren is calledthe king
of birds. One old legend among the
Irish, that dates as far back as the days
of the Druids, is thus stated:
Once upon time the eagle, always
proud of his strength and valor, called
all the birds together for trial OF
flight, with this understanding, that he
who scared the highest would forever
command the distinctive title of skiing
of BIRDS
The eagle. by common consent, had
been invested with the honor from time
immemorial and he had no idea of Civ.
ing it up; but the better to impress his
superiority on all inferior birds he called
together the whole feathered tribe for
this grand flying tournament
At the appointed time the birds came.
There were thrushes, linnets, magpies,
crows, blackbirds, bluebirds, hawks,
doves. robins, sparrows, nightingales,
larks, g me birds from the forest, sea-
birds from the coast and last Of all, but
as noisy as any of them, came the
turkeys, geese, ducks and hens from
the barnyards.
The eagle surveyed them all with his
piercing eyes. At some of them he cast
a contemptuous glance, but when he
saw the skylark he looked alittle un.
easy. This was the only BRIDE tally
feared, for the skylark can fly very high
But his fears did not last long, for Just
then he saw something to make him
laugh. 1t was the little wren hopping
along saucily with his jaunty little tai
perked up with the utmost assurance
One would think he surely expected II
win the prize.
The eagle began to poke fun at him
and all the other birds joined in, SO tina
the poor little wren was glad to escape
out of sight.
When the signal was given for the
birds to start he was nowhere to b.
seen, and if any one thought of him a
all it was probably to conclude that hi
had realized the folly of his trying tt
compete with those so much stronger
han himself, and had wisely gone home
to his nest in the hedge.
At a given signal away flew the birds
Up, up, up The wild goose did very
well, so did the hawk. and the skylarl
kept close under the eagles big wings
but one by one they had to give up, al
but the proud old eagle. He kept OF
soaring until he reached point from
which he could not raise himself another
inch.
Then he looked down proudly at al
the representatives of the feathereC
tribe below him, and they looked IL,
admiringly at him, when suddenly VI
above him flew a little dark speck L
was a bird, and the Mortified eagl,
looked up to see the despised little wrer
lowering above him.
All the other birds saw him too, anG
they set up great shout. Then dowr
few the crcstfallen eagle.
AS the birds touched the ground they
looked for the wren, and they saw hin
hop off the eagles back. He had beer
nesting among the feathers, and the
big eagle did not feel his weight.
So it was that when the eagle and tn c
other birds had used up all their strength
he was able to reach point higher thar
all of them.
According to the letter of the law the
wren was adjudged liking of birds, - but
as one may suppose, the eagle was very
angry. He set to work and cursed the
wren and laid spell ON him SO that he
should new r again be able to fly over
any thing, and to this day an Irish wrer
can not fly over q hedge; he must fine
an opening in it somewhere before he
can pass from one field or garden to en-
other.
The Druids treated the wren with
great distinction, but when Christianity
was introduced into the country the first
Christian missionaries. not above super.
stition themselves, considered their adj
the poor little king has sometimes had
hard time of it.
Another incident to bring the wren
into ill-repute with the Irish is the story
that once when the Danes had invaded
Ireland party of them while asleer
were about to be surrounded by the ma
tives when several wrens awoke them
by pecking on their drums. The same
story is told of wrens awaking detach.
ment of Protestants during one of the
religious wars of ireland.
Either affair would be enough to make
the Irish hate the poor little wren, and
they set apart st. Stephens Day--that
is the day following Christmas-or
which to persecute him.
On that day the Nile men and boys &C
wren hunting. They take sticks OF
clubs and run like mad from hedge tc
hedge until they succeed in killing one,
Then they form procession and carry
about the poor little body, hung by one
leg in the center of two hoops crossing
each other at right angles, the whole ar
rangement decorated with bits-of col
ored ribbon. They march from door to
door, and in front of each the funny one
of the party, called the ''drolleen,'
sings:
The wren, the wren,
The king of all birds,
st. Stephens Day
He was caught in the frs;
And although he is little,
& His family's great,
So arise good lady,
And give us a treat.