The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-08-02
's,,Tn az HIS SWEETHEART.

,.a,reast's Piucky Fight with .
RoO'n - sparrow Hawk.
,.rre. sprightly robin. with the
Sias red breast of a male. alighted
pl', ~ swaving top Of a tall, ragged
q ~ that stands down back OF the
psui os,ce and began to sing plain.
pos' , y song to duller-colored
sNs's asross the road on the lower limb
pl' a SAYS Seaberry settlement
soir, srown bird with long, keen wings
a,bateful speed flew along close to
~ hriars along the bank behind the
W. asc;ous singer. With a sharp
urs syve he rose up, and then the sweet.
s.t across the road piped a shrill
wv ~ q alarm and warning just in time.
Nv rS.s Iover dived down. turned sharp
IA escaped the little sparrow-hawks
.sions and more cruel bill.
nat mt the hawk was not going to be
Mated ont of sweet meal thus. He,
" turned and pressed close after the
s..;rg robin. 1t looked as II the robin
IA sunp his last song when the hawk
- "A a corner and came in not two
- behind the robin, peeping in eager
uess for prey.
nv robin is a timid bird, and q good
.otured one. He fears the blackbirds,
IA hops away from a bullying SPAR
IN. red squirrels are a menace to his
ma while cats and hawks drive him
wildly away in fear. But there comes
] time when robin, pressed hard for
/ Am or when his home is in great dan
an will fight as few straight-billed
Birds can fight, and drives coward
/ ird before him or kills brave one.
|So Il was with this one.
Pressed close by fierce pursuer,
Nth death and nothing beyond, but
to live for, he suddenly
armed on his enemy and struck at him.
struck full in the breast the surprised
hawk tumbled over backward and fell
10 the ground Again the robin struck
him on the back before the hawk real
lied what had happened; then he
turned and the two faced each other.
The robin had lost his appearance OF
fear and the hawk showed pain and
iear Still he attacked the robin
again.
The hawk was practiced fighter.
His training had all led that way. No
bird, unless surprised and suddenly
wounded, yields without fight.
Long combats with agile red squirrels,
blue jays, kingbirds and lesser ones, had
given him the skill which only prac-
tice can give. The robins life had been
different. 1t had been peaceful
search for insects and a life of song,
nor had nature fitted him with such
Weapons as his opponent had on foot
and head; still the straight bill was a |
good weapon.
Three times the two tackled each
Dther. The robins breast became red
Ter yet with blood. The hawk had |
ost an eye. The robins tongue was
Needing and the hawks breast was
cared deep by the robins first as
aalt. The robin was the weaker and
he test was longer than he could
tand, but he could not escape, for to
urn to flee would be only to bring the
ther onto his back, so he fought on
separately.
The fourth tackle he lost his hold
nd was sinking back. pressed down by
be hawks greater weight and supe-
or strength. 1t looked darker then
y him. So thought the sweetheart on
le maple limb. She saw her lover
ght and hoped along the limb and
aek again, leaning forward eagerly
I'd chirping encouragement to him.
hen, when the robin began to weaken,
esprang from the limb and lowered
'er the two, chirping fearfully.
as the robin was sinking back ex-
'usted to fall an easy prey to the
'wk' she dived down straight as ever
hawk Owed, and struck the victor
tween the wings in the back. 1t was
oeath-blow, and when she and her
y, sat on the maple limb side by
ie blood was on her bill, while the
wk lay dead, with broken back, to
. picked up later by the taxidermist.
\. Y. Sun.