The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-03-15
FOR uoYs AND GIRLS,
\ quaint Hone
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AHe NutNN ANNS American NhNutNh Nv
ing in FrethurS. Germany, opened thcll
eyes In astoniShment one morning as they
looked out OF the window. This Is what
they saw; Far in the distance, high
above the city, appeared a tiny dark
ohJect, and then another; nearer they
came, growing larger and whittier, until
finally, ny the time they reached the
dRrk-red Spire ot the beautiful cathedral,
they could bc seen to hc large birds with
twigs In their beNks and with their rgd
feet streaming out behind They alight-
cd upon n Large chimney, ON the broad
upper side Of which was either the rem
nant OF an old nest or the foundation OF
new one They went TO work In a
curious way TO build up this uncomfort-
able looking nest.
For three or four days the birds made
repeated visits 10 the Black Forest.
where they found the crooked twigs that
they preferred for their little home.
When these distorted sticks were set In
order TO their evident satisfaction. they
then brought hits OF something in their
long bills. that the children concluded
must be the pine needles TO make the
nest the least bit softer than the hard
branches.
Then came periods through the early
spring days when one Of the storks that
the children picked out TO be the mother
stork stayed at home and sat upon the
nest. And beautiful views she had
from her lofty home. Overhead. the
blue sky. which toward evening became
a wonderful canopy OF silver and gold
and brilliant colors as the sun went down
and the mist came up the Rhine valley
To the west was the dim outline OF the
beautiful blue Asatian mountains. ana
L.. A.. 81 L. s..N1, 81
famous Black Forest. covered with the
redolent pine trees. Nearby the dark
red tiles OF the irregular roofs and the
delicately traced spire OF the cathedral
made an excellent setting for this curious
little homo.
Nor was this mother stork lonely. for
the omnipresent English sparrows twit-
tered and flew about with the great 81
agitation and curiosity, Now and then
a dalntily dressed thrush and other I'M
known Sirls with sweet and curious notes
would pause in their flight, startled by !
the strange sight.
Through the period OF keeping the eggs |
warm Papa Stork was most kind in
bringing food to his patient wife. and
even taking his share OF the duty while |
Mrs Stork took an outing In a trip TO /
the Rhine. twelve miles away. Never
bright American eyes.
And now one morning thre was a great
hustle in the neighborhood OF this won
derful nest A Gathering Of chlldren's
tongues and pointing OF fingers TO the
little home in the chimney. and all eyes
were turned up 10 the pretty sight that
the photographer caught a little later
With the camera. Three little heads
that seemed all beaks and great bright
eyes appeared above the twigs OF the
nest and opened their hungry mouths
until their heads seemed quite lost
From this time on both Papa and
Mamma Stork were continually on the
wing after food for these hungry babies.
At almost any tiTe OF day when the
children went TO the window to look at the
nest. one OF the storks would be seen
flying homsward with a wriSgiing frog
or a fish In its mouth. once they
brought a friend home with them to
show him. with great pride. these baby
storks. and IT was at this time their
picture was taken.
The little storks grew so rapidly that
1t was not long before they could get up
on their long, thin. wabbly legs and
looked down on the children below.
When at last they reached that stage
OF growth that their parents thoucht
AHtN OdtHN ~ Try AutlI hllSHt luty Dt-
gan to fly and flop about the neighbor-
ing roofs, until their wings and legs
grew strong enough TO take longer trial
trips. Finally. one day, Papa stork
leading. followed by the family, they
took their farewell flight, and the Ameri-
can children shouted a last goodbye 10
them as they winged their way up the
Rhine valley.
The German people are always happy
when the stOrks build their nests on
their chlmneys, as they think the storks
bring good luck to the people in the
house, and nothing is done 10 disturb
them during the short time that they
stay. Many years ago, when the houses
had roofs Of thatched straw. It was
very common sight to see these nests
on the roofs among the straw; but the
matched roofs are no longer allowed In
The cities. In the city OF Freiburg,
where there are 5000 people, there were
this spring only two Of these families OF
5torks that cared TO return to their old
homes.
KATHARINE F. REIGHARD