The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-25
The StOrk and its Message.

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Early in the summer months OF 1876
while INDUCING in All aerial voyage, ;
young stork dropped into the garden
belonging To a house situated in the
immediate vicinity of Hamburg, at
the back of VIII ;ch stood some old trees
where for a succession of years other
storks had built their nests. The
house was then occupied by a widow
lady named Hartmann and her two
children-karlna, in her eleventh
year, and Fritz, two years young
er.
While playing in the garden the
children observed and ran towards the
little thing, which they found seated
in the midst of flower bed. Lifting
it carefully for fear of injuring it, they
ran to their mother and made an earn
est request that she would allow them
to rear it.
"Storls can be tanned, you know,
mamma dear" Katrina said.
"And you will find it so useful in the
garden" Fritz pleaded warmly.
Mrs. Hartmann, smiling, took the
quaint little stranger on her lap and
gently strokedit it.
And YOU will be kind to it, and at
tend to its wants if give you permis-
sion 10 keep it,"
eyes. yes" they cried.
"Then it is youis." And the delight
ed children carried their new pet of
in triumph.
Being naturally fond Of birds and
animals the little Harmanns had been
carefully taught to show kindness to
any helpless creature which chance
or accident might happen to throw in
their way, and it is hardly necessary
to say that they faithfully kept their
promise to be kind to their little cap
tive, and throug hout the golden sum-
mer months he was their chosen play
fellow, entering into their sports and
pastimes with an intelligent interest
which doubly endeared him to
them.
"Fritz and I never mean to part
with Slorky," Karlina said to her
mother one lovely August day while
caressing the bird then lying by her
side with his long straight beak rest
ing on her shoulder. 20, nv dear,
you will soon have to part with him."
Mrs. Hartmann said in regretful tones,
for she too loved the gentle bird that
had shown itself so affectionate and
grateful for the care taken Of it. "He
would only die if you were to detaln
him. He will soon jDin his tribe, and
fly away beyond the seas to warmer
climes where he Can spend the winter
months"
"But we could keep him warm and
comfortable in our school room," Kar-
lima said wistfully.
But what about his food, my dear?
Your natural history book tells you.
does it not, that storks by their annual
migrations avoid the severe seasons in
which the reptiles that form their food
remain hid and torpid, wonderful
provision ofan all-wise Creator" Both
children grew pale at the thoughts Of
losing their favorite, and the ready
tears sprang to their eyes.
IL know what shall do when the
time comes for Storky to leave us"
Karlina said, nodding her wise little
eleven year old head. II shall write
on piece Of paper: BE kind to
Storky during the winter, and send
him back to us in the spring. and sign
it with our names and address, and tie
it round one of his legs" and she
laughed and clapped her hands with
childish glee, her mother and Fritz
sharing in ber rmerriment, and wonder
ing with her as to what would be the
result of the experiment.
One bitter cold dayin October Fritz
and Karlina can running to their
mother with. faces of CONSERVATION,
the former shouting, ooh! mamma,
Storky's gone: he is not in
the garden, and the nest is deserted"
Here he fairly broke down, his sister
Joining audibly in his grief. "Well,
well, my dear Children" Mrs. Har-
mann said, 81 told you storks must
fly away like other birds Of pas
sage, but only to come back to Us with
the gladstone spring, sweeping over
desert and deep, through the wastes
of trackless air."
"But has storky quite left us, man.
MAJ" persisted Fritz.
IL fear So"
"Aud gone without my message"
karlina cried. :.
But the attached and loving bird
had not left his loving companions, as
they sadly thought.
Towards the close of fine bright
day, about week after, he dropped
down into the garden and greeted his
delighted friends with lively demon
strations of affection.
Fully persuaded that this was his
farewell visit, Karlina ran into the
house and speedily returned with her
carefully written message and fastened
it by piece of colored ribbon to one
of his legs.
AS the setting sun lit up the autumn
nal scene with bright transient gleam,
Il flock of storks passed slowly above
them.
These the young bird evidently rec
ogniZed as his party, fCl,
"With a loving farewell glance he
took wing,
And after q few Overwhelming cir
rose higher and higher, the little piece
of paper bearing the loving message
perfectly distinguisllable in his up
ward flight.
"Good-by, Storky," cried the chill
dren kissing their hands to the bird
and sobbing out Come back with
spring; come back with spring"
All throughout the severe winter
which followed, the little Harmanns
would talk often of their loving play
mate of the bygone summer. But
when they saw the garden hidden for
days beneath a thick covering of snow,
and heard the plaiutive cries of birds