Sunday Washington globe., 1902-06-15
THE CANARY's SIEGE.

Danny" the canary, had always
enjoyed the long summers on the
front veranda, where his roomy cage
was hung in early May Having no
mate, he comforted himself with an
interest in all the other feathered folk
who came about his home near
enough to be seen and heard. He be-
gan to initiate their notes. He soon
learned the song of the oriole whose
nest hung in a maple-tree close by,
tho whistle of the old green parrot
across the street, and the twitter Of
the little chickens whose mothers
sometimes led them into the front
yard.
One morning in midsummer there
arrived among the honeysuckles a
pair of house-wrens, bent upon finding
place for a new home. Danny
watched the noisy visitors with in
terest, and attempted an imitation Of
their notes. The wrens, however,
flew into a rage instantly, and, alight-
ing on the cage, silenced the aston
ished canary with stream Of angry
chatter such as he had never heard
before. Moreover, their examination
Of the cage put a new notion into
their heads; they decided that on its
fat top they would build nest, and
live on the roof of a gilded palace, If
not inside one. Away they flew, and
in a iiffy they were back again, and
had carefully arranged a foundation
of twigs on the top of the cage, Danny
looking on in amazed silence. But
the invasion of his premises was not
to be permitted, Of course and as soon
as the insolent little squatters flew
OF for more building material, Danny
| dragged through between the bars all
the sticks they had arranged. Back
| they came presently with more twigs
and at once discovered what had been
done in their absence. Instantly they
| dropped their sticks and in great
passion began an attack on the poor
canary, who curled up, a trembling
/ little ball of yellow fluff, on the floor
Of his cage, Just out of reach of the
long beaks they thrust with lightning
| like swiftness through the bars. At
last, having, as they thought, reduced
the canary to state of fear that
would keep him from further resist
ance, they picked up their twigs, once
more laid the foundation Of their nest
on the top of the cage, and went off
for another load.
The canary, however, was not yet
wholly subdued, and no sooner were
the wrens out Of sight than he again
pulled their foundation sticks through
the bars, and, when he saw his be-
siegers returning prudently retreated
to the only safe spot beyond the reach
of their beaks. The rage of the wrens
when they found their second founda-
tion destroyed knew no bounds. Over
the bars of the cage they ran, scream
ing and scoIding, and trying to seize
with their bills the almost paralyzed
canary, or to drag through the bars
such of their twigs as they could
reach. Finally they again rearranged
their foundation, and Mistress Wren
went alone for more material, while
her mate remained to guard the foun-
dation. The case of the canary was
now hopeless; his strength was near
ly gone, his courage wholly gone; and
so his human friends, seeing the CON
test had reached this stage, came to
his rescue.
The insolent invasion Of the wrens
was not to be borne, of course. Yet 1t
seemed possible to make respectable
and useful veranda-citizens out of
these dashing freebooters, and plans
were laid to that end An old straw
berry box was found, a top fastened
over it, holt was cut in one side for
door, and It was tackled inside the
cornice Of the veranda near the cell
ing. Danny's cage was cleared Of the
wrens building materials, the twigs
being put into the box When the
wrens returned, the pair took in the
new suggestion instantly. A long
and noisy discussion followed; re-
peated Investigations Of the box, in
side and out, were made, intermixed
with much scolding Of Danny and his
Irescuers. At last, however, the wrens
decided to accept the concession Of
fered.
Danny's nerves we're shaken, and
his vanity certainly received a great
setback; but in time he learned to
listen to the wrens boasting without
fear while they ceased to resent his
perfect Imitation OF the softer notes
Of their songs.-Mary ID. Leonard. in
st. Nicholas.