Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-31
The Story OF a BIRD.

AHe StViy VI q blla-
Near the seaside home of city gentle
man stands Il moldcring post, on the top
of which poor old lamp used To sit No
one cared for the lamp, and SO at last it
ruStcd away and got destroyed. The
gentleman had never likeG its looks. nor
indeed, the looks of the old post until las
summer when it came to be the plac"
where little song sparrow used to perch
and sing. At first the gentleman scarce
~ noticed the bird itself. but only en-
joycd the gay music, till after awhile he
found 1t was the same pretty creature
that did all the singing and ttat il sat on
the old post aud poured out its notes as
II there We're no other good place to sing
in the world. That made the post seem
of some account and not such an ugly
neighbor after all. TO be gaddened sew
erai times day by such music made the
gentleman feel that he owed something IN
return. He, therefore, scattered seeds
near the post, aud thus had the satisfac-
| ton, as II We're, of paying the musicians
| board. Even that was not enough. So
| he made toy house and fastened il on
| top of the post. where the old lamp used
70 SIT The song sparrow seemed 10
know the house was meant for him, for
on the very next day he moved into in
with his family, and gave grand con
cert on the roof for house warming
When the summer came to an end. the
gentleman and the sparrow, each with
his family had to 60 to their winter
homes, The former at least was SORRY to
do So lest his tiny neigh bor should choose
| next year TO summer elsewhere
| Throughout the winter he never forgot
them and when his little daughters
canary would sing he used to wonder
whether the little song sparrow was ear
0hng anywhere. and whether they would
find him again by the seaside.
Mny returned, and then June. Schools
closed II was time for city folks. if
| lhey could, to- 60 out of town. The cot
tage near the ocean opened its Window
ana the gentleman once more placed his
arm chair IN the shade Of the porch. He
often looked at the old post, and thought
tiIt -" ugly thing it was, even with 4
bird house on top. without the song spar
! row 10 beautifg IT, If the sparrow never
came hnck. what should be do with tho
case of bird seed in his trunk There
was not long. however. To wait, one
morning as the gentleman sat reading his
newspaper. shower OF music began to
IAN round him. and Master Sparrow WAS
on ms h"Hsetop, saying: How do you do
once more =
Days came and went. as they had done
the year before. | must tell You whDf
happened one afternoon when the SONG
sparrow was away from home one of
his thrd cousins. an English sparrow.
VINO IS not M all popular, came to see
him, aud, finding The family away. he
made himself SO much at home as Go cut
al the seeds he conld find and then fo
pofrh lR3:a, the roof Of the house, That
W&S about the same as getting into the
song sparrow's bed. The gentleman saw
II Nh ana kneW that the visitor meant
not only - stay. bat 90 drive out the real
owner lie wondered what could be-
done; but while he was wondering some
tiunE %not past the porch: there WINS aB
aWiut bump. and the English sparrow
WHlrI"d over and over in the air, and
hthied a long way of with only half hi,
,"H ltit. The song sparrow, on coming
nome, had seen what must be done. ANA
D." did i 80 we'll that it never had 10 be
HVhe again. Then he jumped upon the
h0u"ctpp himself and made everything
ring with song
AT last came the day when the gen
ti"inan was obliged once more To close hi.
cottae" and return 10 town The song
sparrow watched the moving MS if no
knew another season had ended. Good
bye. said the children, and went TO the
station: but while waiting for the train
th"[ heard the sparrow sing. they
couldn't tell where. All, there he was
across the road Oh a pine tree, shaking
himself and singing like mad. II didn't
SOUND as II he were sorry, the song was
so gay But he had come TO see the
family on and in his hest fashion was
wishing them happiness. Looking bacl,
from the train, the gentleman and his
family saw the little bird still on the tree
"arhlng with all his might. DO yon
wonder that they felt sorry at the part
ing: That was last summer This year
let us trust that it 'vill find the ittlp
songster for the third time living in the
10y house on top Of the old post Wash
ington Star,