Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05
TIL Z BLIND CANARY,
Written for rrs rvuxrsa sr.S

TN THE MIDST OF BUSY. Busr1,ryo
l. Paris lived two quiet, simple French women.
mother and daughter. Their e,issencs yas q
most uneventful one and ~ an outlet 10 their
affections they had . number o; cauaries.
housed in one large cage. and on these little
creatures they lavished the greatest care and
attention.
Their tenderness to Gods helpless little ones
did not end here, however. just outside the
windows ran . pretty balcony and during the
severe winter months the daughter daily spread
bread crumbs there for the fsmished spsrrows
who found = homo under the esvss Of the
houses and who would perish in great numbers
were il not for the kindness Of Just such dear,
loving hearts ss those Of these simple women.
One dsy they noticed . baby sparrow who,
while gathering the tempting crumbs. bad been
oNerpowered by q sudden severe hallstorm,
which beat down his tiny wings until en-
haustec by his repeated Efforts. he lay quite
stu and would have died but that the Kind
eyes of these women fell on HIM and tender
hands were stretched out 60 him and he was
| taken into the warmth OF the roou, where he
soon revived and found himself n tenant Of the
big cage and the center ot group Of aston
ishsd. inqulring. bead-like eyes. whose owners
disapproved OF the little intruder. However,
after few days they all became accustomed 10
each other. and soon the little migrate appro-
TO the seed and water TO be Of more import
Rnce than that OF bis yellow jackcted
companions, and, In fact made himself
most disacreeable. This was decidedly OPP
posed by the old father canary, who tried 10
show this Young usurper. by sundry seedlings,
that this vas not the way To oyerturn estsb-
lished rights. As no good results were effected
by seedlings Q fight resulted and before his
benefaetress could interfere the young sparrow
had quite conquered mis- lecturer aud with his
neal had - NaA nj h0
canarys eyes OF course our French lady -
once took him out of the cage and put him QUE
OF the window. which he doubtless liked full
well, but the mischief done the poor canary
was beyond help and for some time he was III
and required the most tender care. After Q
while tue little victim seemed 20 regain his
strength and, though with only one eye, he
managed 10 hop about quite cheerfully. Ono
day his mistress noticed that he fell against the
side oil the cage. staggered and acted IN q be-
wildered manner and was not able 10 hnd his
way, and after several such attacks she .ook him
out aud upon examination found that the poor
little fellow was indeed quite blind
Poor little bird. IL Was very sad 70 see him
suffering; for a long time he did not sing but
was very unhappy, sitting in q corner all In .
heap, has head held down from pain, and
when he moved il was only 20 creep about care
fully and lind the seed aud water. After Q
ume, however, he grew stronger and learned
10 lind his way quite well. only he never tried
TO fly up to the perches, but always sat on the
bottom of the cage, which a very uncom-
Portable position for . bird. This small hero
contented himself quite well and seemed
reconciled to the eternal darkness, and he
would sing Tor hours, a most pathetic sight
for as he sang he would turn his head from
side TO side If he were coniuting mp the
green trees and blue skies by his sweet melo-
dies.
For two years this brave little bird lived his
unseltsh. accomplishing life, though during
this time he was after ali sometimes suffering
so greatly that his devoted mistress thought
she must have HIM killed to end his misery,
but each time he recovered and took up his
burden again, living in darkness yet trying to
be eontented and happy. About year after
he became blind his little wife bad nest full
OF eggs and when her bits OF children we're
Matched this devoted father learned, after re-
peated efforts, TO fly from perch 10 perch and
| 10 reach the nest, where he would sit patiently
feeding his downy little ones, returning every
few minutes to gather a new supply OF food 10
| MI their hungry little mouths. Not one day
did he neglect them caring for them until they
left their nest Then he went back TO the bot
tom Of the cage and took up his Old life nArrow
aud cramped, yet oiled with o sweet resigns-
ton.
lie had grown so tame that his mistress
could take hIm from the cage and he would sic
Tor hours on her hand, taxing his food from
her lips. IL ia the cage ana has name
called lie would put his head TO one side and
listen attentIyely and when assured that il was
she he wouid become very impatient to 10
taken out.
After two years Of this e,istence-this pa
tent endurance-the little martyr passed away
IN the night. ii. &. u.