The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-11-09
THE ,IuNEFUL CAT2IRD.
A Tcrsat lie Singer aud n Good Mimic. VIII
Thi,llka He OntcinsacH the Violin.

n fcl'TNN lit niger .tuU " bVbu H''Hi's l" NV
Thinks Tie Cutcinsaes the Violin.
The most constant Of our fcathcred
summer boardcrs Is the catbird. He
comes to us early In April and begins
singing as soon as he has chosen his
summer apartment. This year he and
his quiet little wife selected their home
in the midst of the English ivy that
covers nm old acacia a few feet from
my chamber window-n pleasant
choice for all parties concerned.
After few days. spent principally
in the branches Of a ncighboring cherry
trcc-for our friends have but scanty
notions regarding the difference bo-
tween mine and thine, and at cherry
time cast even these few dim ideas to
the wind-anothcr egg is laid beside
It's brother and SO it goes on until there
are four small BLUSH eggs safely hid
den under the Ivy leaves awaiting the
warm pressure Of the mothers breast,
Then Nine. Catbird's sport Is over
It seems TO me tho catbird has never
beon sufficiently praised. This is
probably partly his own fault. and due
to particularly harsh note which he
utters when startled az angry graf
ing .'miau," much like the mewing OF
= cat with q case Of chronic catarrh-
and from THIS discordant cry the sweet
singer has earned hi, name. But this
is only his var cry 90 note Of warming,
uttered TO bid hi: mate be wary of
some enemy providing near. The dan
ger past Iii; real song begins, ana 4
splendid on. it i. Tor he belongs to the
family OF ::r,:s'ira and has their gift
OF ininc,r. There Is little Italian
in onr home. won crfnl little body,
who, Dcin, forever oEsy. is constantly
in demand and u.;-',H times a day the
CRY is raised for h.:: "Chcrubi"a
Chcr,binam Orr friend in the ivy has
heard ON CALI il ni32scd him net 4
little. Perhaps th"rc YVES something
about the soft n,. ,!.tal Infection
of the Italian n.inn t.at reminded tina
of the bins si<o5 and tropical vcgcta-
ton Of tho sorl'.cer! land in which he
spends half the year; SO he set himself
, to master TX intrcac:cs, and. 10. one
morning Tie Hhi.tia nane clear ard
pure "Chclub;na 49, Cleluhina." with
the true Latin infection on the penul-
innate. SO it is with everything. lie
is carer to learn ncw son@s and strug-
giles iranfully to mastr the ripinGs Of
~; his fcathcrcl n@ighbOrS. TO DO
him Justice. he succeeds remarkably
we'll: in fact there is but one call shat
escapes him altogether the whistle OF
the quail. He can not say "liol,
White
The other day he discovered q new
field for his l"l:crs when frcm within
the house rose tn: high, euro notes OF
the violin. He stopped singing at o,icd.
| cooked his head, and listened eagerly.
Clearly TIL, WIS IL new experience
to him. an.l it was evident that he
could not understand boz" any bird
could sing 50 long without atOppinr TO
take broath he E'inSelf prefers 70
whistle few bars stop and look about
q bit while he trims lis feathers, and
then begin again Bat this audacionS
| and long-windcl creature kept on with
trlls scale;, and arpeggios following
each Other in quick succession with
never ii breathing spa"c hetwe@n At
last the gentleman III gray qnltc lost
patience. Was he ;s professional singer,
to be rivalYl thus: So he dashed ruth
lessly into tho performance, turning
the solo intc y most remarkable duet,
and ulthou IN he doEbtlcss violated
every known AMI MAJ" unlslown rules
of harmony the result Was decidedly
pleasing. Then suddenly :hc unknown
songstel wi hin the door, closed with
flourish. "IIa. ha," said our gray
friend, Il Thought | should tire you out
eventually. Sad Wit, q last triun-
plant note he flew away torecount his
exciting experience to his matc.-kate
Fields Washington.