Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-08
AN ORIOLE ROMANCE.
How q Fair Haven Bird Brought Up
a Family by Hand.
From the New York sam.

Family by Hand.
From the New York San.
Among the newcomers to Fair Haven, N
J., this opring were pair Of Baltimore orr
oles, who built their nest and decided to
spend their honeymoon in a tall tree near
the home of Pitman Worthley. For time
all was needless joy and singing, but as the
weeks passed by the foreshadowings Of
domestic responsibilities subdued the merry
bride into more sober, but none the less
agreeable, matron. The household of two
became family of seven, five of whom
had to be watched and fed, sheltered from
foe and storm and brought UP in the way
they should go.
But it takes more than five youngsters to
ruff1e the course Of true love in birdland
The brave father and mother were the
earliest of all early seekers after the worm,
and their cupboard was never bare. The
children escaped the whooping cough. just
now SO prevalent, in many parts. of Jersey,
their baby COLES yielded readily to the
simple remedies that nature has for such
case made and provided. they chirped all
day, slept soundlE, at night. and, it is said,
crowded as they necessarily were, not one
of them was ever known to fall out of bed.
1t goes without saying that Mr.. Oriole was
proud and happy father and that his
friends were informed of the many rare
and engaging traits OF the little brood, not
once or twice, or even three times. but SO
frequently al persistently that when he
appeared at his CLUB in a neishboring
meadow-for he still found time to visit the
club-his friends would sigh and fly YEARLY
to cherry tree to escape the oft-told tale.
1t must be admitted that the fond parent
was becoming tiresOIne companion.
Returning one DAY from an annoying ex-
perience of this kind; puzzled as well as
panied at the conduct of his friends. Mr..
Or1ole had 1t in mind to confide his trouble
to his faithful wife and ask her what she
thought was the reason for the unseemly
conduct of the boys. For he mused
women will talk to one another and the
man who isn't ashamed to learn Of his wife
Is likely to be the wiser for it,"
But his good resolution was destined never
to be carried out. For MIN a greater sorrow
was about to swallow up the less. Mrs Orr
ole, as he had surmised, had been paying
calls. the babies having been put to bed for
their afternoon nap. Stopping only to pluck
a dainty morsel for the evening meal, she
winged her way homeward. primed with
the freshest gossip of the smartest set and
happy to be nearing the nest. Persons who
nave observed the ways of young mothers
will tell you that after absence of this
kind they invariably hurry home Just a
little anxious lest something may have gone
wrong and often rather accusing themselves
OF neglecting the children. So 1t was with
Mrs. Oriole. a.
Now, 1t CHANGED that when the nest was
built long, stout horSehair was left hang
ing from 1t. AT first the bride and BRIDE
groom were too much engaged with the
pure happiness Of living to care for horse
hairs or anything else merely material and
later. when the babies arrived, they admit
ted that 1t wasn't tidy. but promised they
would fix 1t after the youngsters learned to
fly. And thereby hangs a tragic tale.
Madame. speeding faster and faster as
the shadows fell, reached the home tree
with glad cali and was almost In the nest
when the neglected horsehair caught in one
OF her wings, wound itself around her neck
and brought her up with jerk. Her nus
band. returning half an hour later. found
himself a widower.
With five little ones to feed and educate
and no one to lend helping hand there is
no time for the Indulgence Of private grief
Inc bereaved young husband bore his at
ncucn like man, fourd another supper
Tor the children, tucked them snugly in
their coy couch and watched them sadly
as they closed their eyes and scared away
to dreamland. Morning came, and with it
the double duty of being father and mother
presented itself again.
AS the drowsy lids Of the youngsters
opened their hungry mouths began to
fast, and presently back he came with
enough and to spare. So it went for about
three weeks Meal time came around with
remorseless regularity, but the wolf never
got near enough to the door to make him
self heard, let alone felt. The little fellows
grew and prospered, and, as the way of the
world Is forgot their mamma before night
OF the second day and came to believe that
they had always been brought up by hand.
one by one their wings began to futter
and their father gave them leave to try
their strength He cautioned the bold ones.
encouraged the timid told them Of the
snares and pitfalls they must avoid, showed
them where the best food was to be had.
and. as one after another they were seized
win the longing to set up In life for them
selves. gave them'fis tenderest blessing and
babe them goodbye. And now the nest is
all his own. 9 :--