The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-04-29

Mamma, mamma, there Will De
nestlings now, and the old birds will
teach them to fly. T 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.
eyes, they have come to you, my
bird-like to ike-and you shall see
them fly"
But birdlings do not grow in a day,
and the child watched from the great
wheel-chair' with patience born of SUI
fering, and life of 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 it 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 birdlings in the nest grew
stronger, the one in the old house
grew weaker, and still the days went
by. The father-robin sobered dowr
with five wide mouths to feed. ths
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 darker hue. The little cir
rested on pillows now, in the wheel
chair; her mother lifted her when sh
f looked down into the nest.
Mamma, how long will it be befor
the robins fy?" she asked.
The mother laid her head by the on
on the pillow, and the child caugh
only the whisper that was not mean
for her: ooh, my love, my lover
At last the wheel-chair stood alon
by the window. The little girl la;
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 wax
me-When-the birdlings-fy?''
The answer was always the same;
am watching, I am watching! Ii
still for while and rest!'
The times for resting grew longe
and the times for waking short.
The sun, sending his last shafts {
light through the leaves one late al
/ ternoon, touched the eyes so ofte
> closed, and they opened at his kiss.
= Is it sunset?" she asked. Take ID
up, mamma. have not said goo6
. 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 wei
: quivering in the golden light. TT
: red breasted robin was winging h
t way home; the brown mother VIZ
: grooming a slumber song to her mes
5 The child stretched out her hands, tt
: radiance clarifying face and hal
s Goodnight, goodnight, my birding
d Mamma, see how the sun goes dow
: Twill be SO beautiful Tomorrow
|; think they will not stay" The hes
It dropped YEARLY on the pillow TIL
e night. you will wake me- so ear
$ mamma, dearv'
i The stars shone and paled, the grs
light stole slowly back again, and Il
d faint, faint blue to the sky. And
Q the early morning One, long-awaitl
y came, and two went out into the su
i rise, into the hush Of the sweet your