Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12

waistcoats and black Jackets are making
trial flights to the nearest boughs.
The oriole livery duils the red breasts
of the robins by comparison, but the
orange will be shamed next month by
the vivid scarlet Of the tanager, light
ing up as with living fire the dark green
OF the oaks, and flaming like gorgeous
tropical flowers amid the feathery
foliage of my larches.
From earliest dawn until the world is
left to darkness and the whIppoorwll.
the air throbs and thrills with bird song
The robins lead the mathis, and at sun
set the hermit-thrushes sing over and
over In ''tine careless rapture" their love
stories In the still boskiness OF the woods
beyond the orchard and garden. None
of the winged darlings are more dear
and more tenderly guarded than what
the children call "our Bible birds"-thc
song-sparrows. They run fearlessly be-
fore us In our walks; they feed at our
feet OF crumbs scattered for them every
morning; we cannot look abroad without
seeing from five to twenty fitting among
the trees, skimming the turf, or hunting
insects in paths and fower-borders The
undertone OF sweet twitterings which
Just stir the air for the attentive ear
IN the hottest and drowsiest noontide,
blending tremendously with the breath
OF roses and honeysuckles. comes from
their threats and hearts. We hold fond
ly to the belief that they are the iireai
descendants of the brown busy elves VINO
wondered together over the building OK
cur woodland lodge thirty summers agone:
Our relations TO them are feudal. ana
patriarchal
This year, for the first time, there Is
foret oding in the looks we cast upon
nd Tn apfOyrnpnt
orchestra dread that grows with con-
sciousness of nearing peril. fowl
ing-piece leans against the chimney IN
the hall, and hourly watch Is kept upon
the frontier.
For across the little lake the upspring-
ing of a group OF summer homes nearer
the railway, and the laying out OF
streets and sidewalks would seem TO
have been the signal for the appearance
Of the feathered Ishmaelite-the English
city sparrow In an evil hour the pio-
neers OF the American branch of his
tribe were imported by well-meanng
citizens quarter-century ago. Tne
finest shade trees OF our parks were
plagued by worms, and the aforesaid
philosophical benefactors @ mad been
told that the spaIrows would save the
elms and naples. Multiplying at rate
that is only exceeded by Australian rab-
bits and malevolent bacteria, the Ish-
maelItes proceeded forthwith to possess
the land. Wherever the lawless hordes
60 they expel our native songsters
"Gamy" catbirds and testy bluejays are
not exceptions TO the rule. With an
inconceivable capacity for quarrelling'
the Ishmaelite respects neither beauty
nor musical talent, and treads terrific
rial rights under his feet. He Is noisy,
no is dirty, he Is greedy, he viii eat
twice his weight each summer day OF
small fruits, and If he be wrongfully
suspected of making common cause with
the worms, he has yet been so negligent
in the practice Of his alleged profess
sion of destroying them that their
ravages have not vislbly abated.
He nests and roosts beneath the caves
of church, courthouse, mansion, and cot
tage with cheerful lmpartiality, and Is
alike Indifferent TO heat and cold. snow
birds may come and swallows go; the
feathered Ishmaellte stays on forever,
and. like another foe Of our race, has all
seasons for his own. lived walls become
a nuisance to the neighborhood by reason
of his swarm.ngs and shrieaings, ana
howsoever spacious city park and plea
sure drive may be, he contrives TO over
flow and desecrate them. His one note
ear with the effect Of a rusty wire. His
fourfold mission in his unhappy adopted
country is to cry aloud and spare not,
TO gorge his UNBEATABLE carcass with stolen
food, to fight his betters, and TO squad
BILE with his mates.
There are wholesome signs OF gene
raj alarm at his inroads. Chicago mas
offered a bounty for his wretched little
head; New York Furnishes IS = misde-
meanor the practice OF feeding INN III the
streets, and smaller towns, by breaking
up nests and peppering the invader Win
brdshot, are striving 10 intimidate the
impudent stranger His flight Is 10"
and jerky. He prefers the earth TO the
air, and only uses his wings as means
of getting there"--i e., Of transporting
himself to some place where he can GO
more mischief than he can accomplish
where he Is at present.
Livery stables, paved and much travel
led streets. and bustling railway stations
are greatly to his taste. To this fact
we owe our immunity from invasion up
10 date. Our pretty lakelet narrows
picturesquely between the bottom or our
orchard and the opposite shore; we have
settled II in our own minds that by TINS
strait the feathered Ishmaelite will In
wade our Paradise.
| thought yesterday that the hour OF
doom had come. Sharp twitterings drew
me from the library to the veranda 10
hecome the witness OF a brief battle be-
tween two sparrows upon the graVei
WALK IL was ended by the retreat OF
the smaller OF the pair to the friendly
shalter of a cedar tree. The victor new
10 the upper rail of trellis near BY.
cooked his saucy head on one side, and
evcd me audaciousiy. His feathers were
ruffied and dusty, his breast swelled
stormily: he looked the Ishmaelite from
crown 10 toe. regarded him with
murder in eye and spirit. and he ala MS
best to stare me out of countenance. SUI
denly as II he had read my thoughts
his tousled plumage settled INTO place;
no raised his head skyward, and poured
forth from his qulyering throat such
Iinud melody az would have made a
canary's finest effort tame and tune
less ,A.
It was his certificate OF character! me
scene that had startled me was bit or
marital discipline. His mate had left Der
warm eggs for longer time than ne
In his better judgment, considered pru-
dent and becoming. and he had stirred
her ND 10 n sense Of maternal duty.
The fowling piece still stands grin1ly
I'm the corner nearest the wlndow
through which we keep watch upon the
watery pass, assured, mean While, that
weapon and watch VIII avall US httle,
should the feathered Ishmaelite take II
into his vicious little head TO cross the
boundary-line. When that day comes we
shall meet the enemy with steady hand
and purpose, aware though our faint!ns
hearts will be that 1t Is but question
OF time when We and the creatures OF
our love shall become his.