The Republican journal., 1898-06-30
THE MAssACHUsET Ts BIRD LAW.

THE MAssACHUSETT BIRD LAW.
law has haap nassed for the nrotec-
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~ vs. 20 ~
o'''e thc use " Gel laiA pilus loi hliillnely
purposes.
The petition begging that bill of this
character might be framed by the State
senators was drawn TO by United States
senator Georoe r Hoar
,rI,o,,o+i+;a97, ,,.,, ,-,sr,,,<>,,l - ,o,>>
XII - ~ ~ ';l1 ~
oiitt0 "ii't " " ~
thirty -lVe song plrus. II was written IN
such delightful manner that 1t reused
the interest of the Massachusetts IeUiSla-
ture. and the desired bill was prepared
and rossad in a., ostnniSbinulv sbnrt snaoa
of linn. Tho fllio,zi,,,r is +bo hin.
,,,,
- ~ On" t1'e@ 048 tfeneFdl court u the
LOW0t9i. fadH y MASSACHUSETTS,.
{, the 5ohg-olrds OF MASSACHUSETTS, and
and Their p-aEte lows make this our num-
Die petition W e know more about you than
you think we do. We know how good you
are: We have hoped about the roofs and
looked IN at the windows of your houses
YOU nave bulIl Tor poor ana SICK and nun
ETY. people ana Attia lame and deal and
hllnd children. We have built our nests in
Tie trees ana sung many song as we flew
about the gardens and parks you have
made 80 beautiful TOR your children, espec-
tally your poor children, to play in. Every
year We fly a. great way over the country,
keeping all The time where the sun is bright
ana warm, And we know that whenever
you 20 anything he people Az over thls great
land betW cen tine seas and the great lakes
hnd 10 out, ami pretty soon will try to do the
same. W c know. We know
wv { are Americans Just the same as YOU
are. Some OF US, Ike some q YOU, came
across the great sea. But most Of the birds
like us have lived here a long while; and
.II III ig.af1 Al sf.Jtt ~
they came here many, many Years ago.
Oar fathers and mothers have always done
then best To please your fathers and moth
ers
Now, We have sad story to tell you,
Ihoughtless or bad people are trying to
destroy us. They kill us because our feathers
are beautiful Even pretty and sweet girls,
who, we should think, would be our best
friends, kill our brothers and children
that they may wear our plumage on their
hats sometimes people kill us for mere
wantonness. Cruel boys destroy our nests
and steal our eggs and our young ones. Peo-
pie with guns and snares lie in wait to kill
US; as # the place for bird We're not in the
sky. alive, but in shop window or in
glass case. If this goes on much longer all
our song birds will be gone. Already we
are told III some other countries that used to
be fuil OF birds they are now almost gone.
Even the nightingales are being killed in
Italy.
"Now we humbly pray that you will stop
all this and will save from this sad fate.
You hav4 always made law that no one
shall kill harmless song bird or destroy
our nests or our eggs. Will you please
make another one that no one shall wear
our feathers, so that no one will kill us to
get them We want them all ourselves.
Your pretty girls are pretty enough without
them. We are told that it is as easy for you
to do il as for a black bird to whistle.
"If You will, we know how to pay you
hundred times over. We will teach your
children to keep themselves clean and neat.
We will show them how to live together in
peace and love and to agree a. W. 40 in orr
nests. we VIII build pretty houses which
your " ',ara .,no W WI pay apoue
owars on nv nSt 70 ,dno
We win DESTROY the wicked insects and
worms that spoii your cherries and currants
and plums and apples and roses, We will give
you our best songs and make the spring more
haj nrinla Obi r6 and hirI