The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-01
A SPARROW FABLE.
Luck and Pluck Are Better Than
FavOring Circumstances.

AucIA ana RIuck Are Better Tn0n
FavOring Circumstances.
A very plain but intelligent little
mother sparrow. after plunge into the
ash barrel on the edge Of the sidewalk,
flew up to the window sill Of a bed
room in nearby house with a bit of
food in her mouth. There she placed
the food on the sill, and, turning her
head for look into the bed ROOM, OBJ
served that a man was sitting near
the window, comfortably smoking his
after-breakfast pipe. Thereat, being
somewhat startled, she said, in way
that the Man understood fairly well:
= Hello! I didn't know you were here,
or I should not have GOMEZ
Every likely not" replied the Man,
"but don't allow my presence to dis
turb you. I am glad to make you well
come"
Thanks" said the sparrow. "I'd say
I thank you instead Of making the
brief acknowledgment, if I could be-.
lieve you were cordial instead Of polite
only"
why" said the Man, slightly
abashed, II was entirely sincere I am
sure you are really welcome; but as
you seem to like frank speech I shall
have to tell you I should be much more
enthusiastic in my greeting to an orr
ole or a cardinal or to any other good
American song bird. Still I find many
things about your face to admire
am not prejudiced; on the contrary,
when 1 see any of you in trouble, as 1
have sometimes done, have a hearty
sympathy for you. For instance, l
have observed that you yourself have
had particular hard luck this spring
and [ assure you I was very sorry to
see it,
The Sparrow during this somewhat
elaborate speech had been Industrious
ly beating her bit of food against the
window sill to break it to pieces, but
when she was mentioned personally
she stopped to look inquiringly at the
man.
did you, thought she asked. "How
do you know it was I instead of a
neighbour"
II saw you come from that nest over
the way there, between the house wall
and the roof drain, and so, Of course,
you are the Sparrow that has had so
much trouble over there That is the
third nest you've completed, Ell? That
particularly tidy househmaid destroyed
the two you built before this one was
placed where she couldn't reach it even
with her broom when leaning from the
window"
The Sparrow Winked at the mention
OF the housemaids broom; she would
have smiled, probably, if her mouth
had been flexible.
Il did outwit that girl, didn't II" she
said. And 1 must say thank you for
noticing the matter with sympathy for
me. guess you must have had some
struggles yourself. Anyway, 1 see you
mean We'll but, : say, you've got some
things to learn YET
Yes?" said the Man inquiringly.
Indeed, yes. You really think we
Sparrows are in hard luck, as you ex-
press 1T, do you not?''
Il do, indeed. You are all outlaws
for one thing, and your fight for ex-
istence is hard"
Good. We are much worse off than
that Hook Of well-fed Pigeons circling
around the house their owner has built
for them on the roof over there"
Very much worse"
SO L supposed you thought. Would
you mind counting the Pigeons to
Oblige me?"
"Quite right. There are Just seven
teen OF those well-protected Pigeons.
Now, oblige me once more by counting
the number of Sparrows in the ward !"