Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04

Mamma, mamma, there will be
nestlings now, and the old birds will
teach them to fly. l have longed to
see it all my life, but could not go to
them, you know, and so they have
come to me-"
The mother noted the faint tinge on
the cheek, the bright look in the eye
and blessed the robins in her heart.
YES. they have come to you. my
bird-like to like-and you shall see
them fly"
But birdlings do not grow in a day
wheel-chair with patience born Of suf-
fering, and life of pain-watched un-
til five round eggs lay in the nest
tinted with heavens own blue.
At last-oh. the joy of 1.-THE blue
shells broke. and five strange, soft
things, with great eyes and yellow
bills, nestled under the mother-wings
nestled and cuddled until the wings
would hardly cover them, and the mes;
seemed all too small The brown
mothers heart was bursting with Joy
so, for that matter, was the faith
er's-but she kept her love to herself
and it warmed the birdlings, while his
ran over in one continual song from
the top of the tree. The little cir
looked like guardian spirit from,
above.
"My birds, my birdsw she whisper.
ed. over her clasped hands; my very
very own!
The color that had come with the
robins slowly faded from cheek and
eye-as the birdlings in the nest grew
stronger, the one in the old house
grew weaker, and still the days went
-. The father-robin sobered dowr
with five wide mouths to feed. the
| mother had to stretch her wings a lit
tie further every night to keep the
nestlings in. The apple buds had Ions
since swelled into blossoms, the bios
SONS had flown off on the wind il
scented showers, leaving the small
green balls that were to be apples il
the far-off fall. and the leaves has
turned to a darker hue. The little cir
rested on pillows now, in the wheel
chair; her mother lifted her when sh,
looked down into the nest.
Mamma, how long will it be befor,
the robins fly" she asked.
The mother laid her head by the on,
on the pillow, and the child caught
| only the whisper that was not mean
for her: "Oh, my love, my lover
At last the wheel-chair stood alone
by the window. The little girl la,
very still within the curtained bed.
Il must not miss it," she whispered
morning and night. you will watch
mamma, dear, will You not, and wax,
when-the birdlings-hy?"
The answer was always the same; :"
am watching, l am watching! Lii
/. still for while and rest"
[ The times for resting grew longel
and the times for waking short.
The sun, sending his last shafts o
| light through the leaves one late af
| ternoon. touched the eyes so Otter
closed. and they opened at his kiss.
lis it sunset" she asked. Take N,
up, mamma. l have not said good
night to the robins in so very long.
Tenderly the mother lifted her, whil
the sweet breath of the meadow cam,
up on the breeze, and the leaves were
quivering in the golden light. TIL,
breasted robin was winging hi
way home; the brown mother wa
grooming n slumber song to her nest
The child stretched out her hands, tn
radiance clarifying face and hair
Goodnight. goodnight. my birdlings
Mamma. see how the sun goes down
Twill be so tiful-to-morrow-
think they will not stay" The heat
dropped YEARLY on the pillow tina
night. 'You will wake me-so earl
mamma, dear"
The stars shone and paled, the gra
light stole slowly back again. and tn
faint, faint blue to the sky. And Il
the early morning One. long-awaite
came, and two went out into the sun
rise, into the hush of the sweet youn