The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-08
The StOrk and Its Message.


back of which stood some old trees,
where, for succession of years, other
storks had built their nests. The house
was then occupied by widow lady
named Hartmann and her two chill
drt n-Karlina, in her eleventh year,
and Fntz, two years younger.
While playing in the garden the chtl-
dren observed and ran towards the
little thing, which they found in the
midst of flower bed. Lifting it care
fully for fear of iujuring it, they ran to
their mother and made an earnest re-
quest that she would allow them to
rear it.
as orks can be tanned, you know,
mamma, DEAR" X ,rlina said.
"And YOU will find it so useful in the
garden" Fiz pleaded warmly.
Ms. Hartmann, sminng, took the
quaint little stranger on her lap and
gently stroked it.
"Aud Will you be kind to it, and at
tend to its wants, if l give you permits
sion to keep il?'
Yes, yes" they cried.
"Then it is yours"
And then the delighted children car
ried their new pet off 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 ii is hardly necessary to say that
they faithfully kept their promise to be
kind to their little captive, and through
out the golden summer months he was
their chosen playfelIow, entering into
their sports and pastimes with an IN
telligent interest which doubly en-
deared him to them.
Fritz aud never mean to part with
Storky," Karlina said 10 her mother,
one lovely August day, while caressing
the bird then lying by her side with his
long, straight beak resting on her shout
der. aSS .:fess
90, my 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
aft, c,ionate and grateful for the care
taken of it. He would only die if you
were to delain him. He will soon join
his tribe, and fly away hey ond the seas
20 warmer climes, where he can spend
the winter months"
"But we could keep him warm and
comfortable in our scnoOl-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
migration avoid the severe seasons in
which the reptiles, that form their food,
remain hid and torpid-wonderiul pro-
vision of an All.wise Creator"
Both children grew pae at the
thought OF losing their favorite, and the
ready tears sprang to their eyes.
81 know what l shall do when the
time comes for Slolky to leave u.s."
Karlina said, noddiug her wise eleven
year-old head. ~ shall write on a
piece of paper: { BE kid to Storly dur
ing the winter, and send him back 10
US in the spring.; and sign it with our
names and address, and tie it around
one of his legs" and she laul hed al d
clapped her hands with child sh glee
her mother and Fritz sharing in her
merriment, and wondering with her as
to what would be the result of The eX-
pertinent.
Oue bitter cold day in October, Fritz
and Karlina came running to their
mother with faces of CONSERVATION, the
former shouting. " o! mamma, mamma
Sturkt's gone; he is not in the gar.
den, and The nest is deserted" Here
he fairly broke down, his sister joiniL Q
audihly in the grief.
"Well, well, my dear Children" Mrs
Hannah said, ~ told you storks must
hy away like other birds of passage, bu
only to come back 10 us in the gladstone
Il Jaa,,
through the vase and trackless air. ~
But has StDrky quite left us
mamma?' persisted Fritz.
{" # ar So"
"And gone without my message,
Karina said.
But the attached and loving bird haC
not left his companions, as they sadl,
thought.
Toward the close of fine, bright day
about week after, he dropped dow
into the garden and greeted his de
lighted friends with lively demonstra
tions of affection.
Fully persuaded that this was hi
farewell visit, Karlina ran into tn
house and spec dlly returned with he
carefully written message and fastene
it by piece of colored ribbon to one o
his legs.
AS the setting sun lit up the au
tumnal scene with bright transfer
CLEAN, a flock of storks passed slowl
above them.
These the young bird evidentl
recognized as his party, for,
With loving farewell glance he took wing,
And after few overwhelming circles
around his fearful friends, rose highe
and higher, the little piece of pape
bearing the loving message perfectl
distinguishable in his upward flight.
Goodbye, Storky," cried the chi
dren, kissing their hands to the Dir
and sobbing out, 'Come back wit
spring; come back with spring"
All throughout the severe winte
which followed, the little Harmanr
would talk often about their lovin
playmate of the by.gone summer. Br
when they saw the garden hidden fC
days beneath thick covering of snow
and heard the plaintive ciies of tn
birds that were being fed by their lit
hands thav raioinad tn think that IN a.