Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-13

g.
is blessed with as satisfactory tenants
as myself There is perfect harmony
between us, even il tho neighbors who
occupy my summer cottages do quarrel
occasionally preliminary TO their final
settlement for the season.
/ furnish their cottages every sum-
mer free of any charge for rent, except
the good will of my tenants, which
they bestow freely, besides furnishing
mo with free concerts during the sum-
mer and the favor Of their most charm
ing society.
The largest and most pretentious OF
these summer dwellings is two story
structure with capacity for four fam
lilies, every apartment of which was oc-
cupied during the season by families OF
purple martins. This house is erected
on four by four inch pole sixteen feet
above the ground in the center Of my
little garden. For some reason the
martins do not take kindly TO houses
erected on barns or dwellings, but pre-
fer detached residence.
My other two cottages are precisely
the same size, but differently built.
One has been occupied by n family OF
wrens and the other by family OF
blue birds, the principal point of differ
ence being in the size Of the entrance,
that of the wren cottage being so small
that blue birds and other would-be tres
passcrs are effectually excluded. For
bluebirds and wrens a single apart
ment Is preferable. A small wooden
box Ave by eight inches, with gable
roof, Is ample. This should be at
tacbed TO the kitchen and main build
ing in separate places.
The blue bird is the first to arrive.
He is the joyous harbinger Of spring.
Sometimes on a warm day in the latter
part of March or the FIRST days of April
his familiar voice Is heard, and you
look In vain for the bird, who is con-
cealed by friendly shed, only waiting
for the violet and the green earth to
beclson him forth to show his familiar
form. Mr.. John Burroughs beautifully
pictures him as the bird with tho "slsy
tint upon his back and the earth tint
upon his breast" By the. first of May
he and his demure little bride are ready
for housekeeping In earnest. He some
times takes strong notion to the two
story mansion which Is occupied about
the same time by the martins, but and
ing II occupied by superior numbers he
gives them boisterous scolding, re.
Dukes them contcmptuously, and anal
ly settles himself in his one-story cot
tage. Here, in his ample room, blessed
with the love of his little wife and
prospective family, every feeling OF
envy gives place TO one of serene con
tent, which finds expression In mel
low MARBLE from the time of the mat
ing season to the fight of the young
birds from the nest There Is no voice
or sound in nature that more perfectly
expresses contentment than that OF the
blue bird
Summer days for me,
When every leaf Is on its tree;
When Robins not beggar,
And Jennie wren's o bride,
And the lark hangs singing, singing,
In the corn fields wide"
Thus sings Christina Resetti, tn,
sweetest singer among the woman poet
of England since Elizabeth Barre
Browning.
About the first of June-some timel
cnrlicr-Jenny Wren becomes bride
and her husband seems 70 be the hap
picst creature in all the world. III
sings joyously all the day long, hi
note greatly resembling that Of tho
canary. but not SO prolonged, and will
few variations. The house wren Is ,
diminutivc bird, much smaller than oul