The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-03
Cheap or Dear.

with Wings-siX black birds wings,
with red spots on them. Somebody in
the country shot the birds for her last
summer. She made the hat herself,
and 1t only cost three dollars altogeth-
er-wasn't it cheap?"
"Not very" answered mamma,
gravely. II should say it cost a good
deal-more than should care to give
for a piece of finery."
Mallory looked surprised. "Wby,
mamma! 1t is much prettier than
Nesta Blackthorn's, which came to
twice as much-the wings cost next TO
nothing, you see."
1Are YOU sure?" asked Mrs. Rose
baum. II fancy they cost a good
deal"
7 "Now, mamma, what do you
mean?"
my meaning"
. 'Here it is: Mr.. and Mrs. Startling
arrived one morning toward the latter
end of April, coming from the South,
where they spent their winters. They
had married the year before and loon
ed forward to passing long and hap
py life together, for divorces are quite
unknown in the Startling family. They
had come back to the place where
their ancestors had lived for sevelal
generations, and intended to set up
housekeeping near the homes of their
parents. After much consideration
they pitched upon a proper location
and set upon building their nest. 1t
was placed in a willow bush on the
edge of small swamp, and carefully
constructed of small sticks, roots, and
dried grass, lined with softer materials.
Here Mrs. Startling laid six pale-colOr-
ed eggs and assumed her seat upon
them to wait patiently for their hatch
ing. Mr.. Startling was constan in sup
plying his wife with fo I'd, and brought
her every delicacy of the season be-
sides watching over her safety and
and cheering her with his song.
"In process of time the eggs were
Matched, and then how happy were
the parents, and how busy; for it was
no light labor to supply their little
gaping mouths with food. From early
dawn to late twilight Mr.. and Mrs.
Startling were on the wing, returning
to the nest every ten minutes with a
worm or other insect"
"They must do great deal of good
in that way" remarked Marjory.
"Almost all birds do, Well, moth.
ing disturbed the happiness of our
friends for time. The young birds
grew and prospered. They were not
yet able to fly, but they shook their
little wings, peeped over the edge of
the nest and talked of what they
would do when they got out in the
world.
"'They are really getting on very
well, said the fatherbird, regarding
bis children with great satisfaction
from the bough where he was sitting.
tThey will soon be able to fly
"'In week or ten days, perhaps,
replied the mother, who was perched
on the edge of the nest arranging her
feathers. 1t is not best to be in too
much of a hurry to get the little things
out
"'Peep-weepr said all the young
starlings at once. Now 'peep-weep'
in the startling language means L am
hungry
"'You greedy little things, said the
father, you can't be hungry already
"'They are growing so fast, you see,
remarked his mate, for startling moth
ers are like other mothers-they al
ways find excuses fof their children.
But sit still, my dear, and rest-I saw
a fine nest of caterpillers not far off
and I will 60 and bring something to
stop those little mouths
''She few offaccordingly, and was
tpcf rot with hill fnll nF
worms when pop went gun close by,
and with pitiful cry the poor mother
startling fell to the earth, wounded to
death. AS she did so, two men appear
ed on the edge Of the swamp. The
younger was springing forward to pick
up the fallen, bird when the other
checked him.
"Wait a minute and we will have
the other,' said be. They always stay
by each olher.'
$50 it proved. With a cry of rage
and grief the fatherbird sprung to the
help of his wife and was brought down
in his turn.
"'He is only wounded said the
young man. Poor little fellow, it was
almost too bad to shoot him for trying
to help his mate
"'Yes; women who wants the wings
won't care about that, replied the 9TH
er man. 'Pick him up and twist his
wings off. That will finish him.
30 mammal exclaimed Marjory,
throwing down her work. "Could
any one be so wicked as Jhat?"
ut is often done by those who shoot
for the sake Of the wings" replied
D@sahonD, f,,,0 no
the little starlings pined and IL nourned
for their parents. They could see
their mother lying on the ground, and
wondered why she did not come to
their call, for, of course, they knew
nothing about death. One, the strong
est of them, got upon the edge of the
nest and made brave attempt to fly,
that he might bring food for the rest,
but his wings were not fully fedged,
and he was weak from want of food.
He fell into the water and was drown
ed. The others perished one by one,
and the pretty home in the willows
was left desolate-all that a young
lady might have u hat trimmed with
birds wings. Now do you think that
hat was cheap or dear?"
II think it was horribly dear" ans
wered Marjory. "I would not have it
for anything But, mamma, are all
feathers got in such cruel ways?"
mot ostrich feathers. They are
not taken-at least from the tame os-
triches-till the bird is ready to shed
them"
Mamma" said Marjory, wiping
her eyes, "do you think the Jadies who
wear them know what they cost?"