Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-05-06

Mamma, mamma, there will be
nestlings now, and the old birds will
teach them to fly. l have longed to
see it ell 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.
eyes, they have come to you, my
bird-like to like-and you shall see
them fly"
But birdlings do not grow in day,
and the child watched from the great
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 it!-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 nest
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 IL warmed the birdlings, while his
ran over in one continual song from
the top OF the tree. The little girl
looked like guardian spirit from
above.
my birds, my birds" 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 birdling3 in the nest grew
stronger, the one in the old house
grew weaker. and still the days went
80. The farher-robin sobered down
with five wide mouths to feed, the
mother had to stretch her wings lit
tie further every night to keep the
nestlings in. The apple buds had long
since swelled into blossoms, the bios
SONS had flown off on the wind In
scented showers, leaving the small,
green balls that were to be apples in
the far-off fall, and the leaves had
turned to darker hue. The little girl
rested on pillows now, in the wheel
chair; her mother lifted her when she
looked down into the nest.
Mamma, how long will it be before
the robins fly?" she asked.
The mother laid her head by the one
on the pillow, and the child caught
only the whisper that was not meant
for her; "oh, my love, my love!"
At last the wheel-chair stood alone
by the window. The little girl lay
very still within the curtained bed.
81 must not miss it," she whispered
morning and night. "You will watch
mamma, dear, will you not, and wake
-when-the birdlings-fy?"
The answer was always the same; 81
am watching, l am watching! Lit
still for while and rest"
The times for resting grew Longer
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.
"Is it sunset" she asked. Take MI
up. mamma l have not said good
night to the robins in so very long.
Tenderly the mother lifted her, Will
the sweet breath of the meadow cam
up on the breeze, and the leaves wer
uuivering in the golden light. TIL
red-breasted robin was winging hi
way home; the brown mother wa
grooming a slumber song to her nest
The child stretched out her hands, tn
radiance clarifying face and hail
Goodnight, goodnight, my birdlings
Mamma, see how the sun goes down
Twin be so beautiful-to-morrow-
think they will not stay| The hea
. 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 bach again, and tn
faint faint blue to the sky. And !
the early morning One, long-awaite
came, and two went out into the sur
rise, iato the hush of the sweet youn