Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-19
YOUNG GUARDIAN OF
THE SONG BIRDS.


wild canaries and robins resort in
countless numbers. Their nests may
be found in the grasses and bushes
and trees. They make happy com
pany. and their concerts may be heard
from morning until night in sunny
weather
who can tell you where the mother
bobolink builds her delicate nest; he
can point out the trees that the robins
have chosen for their homes: he
knows all about the funny ways of the
meadow lark, that will sing you song
one minute and then sail away to the
tall grasses, as if offended at your in
difference.
Ask Dale Poole if he loves the birds.
and he will ask YOU if you love your
brother He is the big brother of all
the birds in his neighborhood and.
like a big brother. he will fight their
battles.
And this brings us to our story.
Not long ago Dale was searching for
yiolets in a meadow not far from his
hcme. In his wanderings he suddenly
espied man lying flat on the ground
and almost hidden by the grasses.
He thought the mans actions rather
queer; and. to satisfy his curiosity he
approached nearer to him. ;.
GO back" uttered the man, in
low voice. Go away! Go around an.
other way"
Well now Dale is Chicago boy:
and. as he was upon ground quite
public: and as there were no signs to
keep off the grass, he did not alter
the course of his footsteps in just the
way the man in the grass would have
liked.
Go back I tell you." demanded
said person in the grass.
Dale paused. for the man had arisen
to his feet
"Go,"
Dale ran. for the man was after
him.
When Dale arrived at the edge of
the meadow he turned and discovered
that the man had resumed his former
position in the grass.
Hes queer one,a thought the boy.
But what do you call this?''
Dale met with queer device set up
at the edge of the meadow 1t was
nothing more than a plank placed in
an upright position, with two or three
small branches of shrub protruding
from certain holes made by worms.
The arrangement at first glance look
ed inoffensive enough; but on closer
inspection, Dale discovered that the
branches were covered with a sub
stance most sticky in its nature
"Molasses! No. it's pitch. he
guessed
Then it suddenly dawned upon him
what that mys terious substance might
be.
It's bird lime. That fellow is try
ing to trap singing birds, Oh, if
were only man.
There is such thing as righteous
wrath. A good lump of it crowded up
into Dales throat when he undertook
to yell at the tyrant lying in the grass
yonder
'I'll set Nellie on him." he vowed
Nellie is a big ST Bernard and
watchdog that fears neither man nor
beast. She is Of the very best blood
and she knows it. Her past achieve
ments have necessitated the placing
Of sign before her kennel which
reads: Beware of the dog
THAT man ought to be eaten up"
Which was all very true. Nellie
would have enjoyed the task
When Dale reached home he re-
Tented. Instead of releasing big Mel
lie, he ran to the homes of two OF his
peighbors. In short order this guard
ian of birdland organized a posse con
ssting of two men. with himself at
their head He led the way across
tie meadows towards the suspected
bird-trapper. The latter immediately
betrayed his guilt, for he scrambled
to his feet, ran few PAGES. stopped
down and fumbled for an instant be-
meath a box.lile contrivance and made
Off, with Dale's two deputies in hot
pursuit
The hird-trapper escaped. and. on
the return of the pursuers, an inspec-
ton was made of the boN-lille struct-
ure just mentioned. 1t was found to
be a bird trap Of an original pattern.
The owner had evidently secured his