New-York tribune., 1905-12-19
HER BIRD BOARDERS.
a Womaas,s SpmroaU Friends and
Their DaiIg Meals.

loves birds Everything was showed up and
frozen up and IL seemed TO me there could be
nothing for them to eat. had box OF earth. in
which plant had once grown. The dead bush still
held its place in the mould. This 1 set upon my
east window sill, and upon the top Of the earth
sprinkled a supply of bread crumbs. / had once
owned a little goldfnch which bought in order
10 breed mule cauaries. There was nothing in
the wosId which my gold1nch liked much
piece of mutton fat talow. would tie piece
fast to of the cage bars. and there my gold
finch would stand and peck and peck. turning his
head this way and that, as if to say, 'Epicurus
never had feast equal to this
Remembering my goldflnchs taste and rejecting
also that fats of all kinds good heat producers.
and that it periShngly cold, tied piece Of
mutton fat to the limb of the dead plant Then
nearly I could made trail of crumbs from
the extension roof upon which the birds wont
to congregate to get their bath. up to the box
Of earth, where also spread good meal of bread
crumbs.
tension roof greedIly enough. it was several days
before any OF the birds ventured near my box, But
at last one valiant cock sparrow came up. !
eagerly watching from within my chamber. and it
said to me: This may be a wicked trick but if il
do to him; Peeling each Others eyes out is
are minus one eye THis IS done during the mating
4 kept my disancs, and nd the Valiant liant cock picked
5re up S a al @ tR Te ean MS
and finally ne few away to them with good bit
Ing as there was AMONG the hens for W that morsel
of mutton tallow! It proved TO be irresistible to
came to the box and breakfasted
HOW THEY BECAME ACQUAINTED.
Familiarity between us never bred any contempt,
and indeed, my pets for long, long time resented
my presence at table--so to speak. For If would
come to the window, even when it was closed. they
would ali fly away to the extension roof. where in
their own language, which had to under
stand quite well, they would say to me:
" Don't you know hungry? OF course you
do Go away and let eat
'"1'hen would literally hold out friendly hand
filed with crumbs and minced fat. and say: Yes.
know you hungry. but If you don't intend
10 take into your fraternity, if you are deter
be permitted to love you and look upon you as
friends, why should feed you? want to get
eqn@bs eqn9ia4e te Rem GeS OF IT, lhsn "'"ia '0" my
''It was slow work and required a great deal Of
patience; a coming nearer and nearer to them one
step at a time. But now they ali know me and
gather &c on my window sill and sing me song for
their breakfast From the standpoint of melody or
there may be much to be desired in M that simple e
Surely that is the sWestes Story that was ever
told whether it be in song or verse. AL 49,,
show me that they depend upon me for portion
Of their happiness. and there they are summer and
TOR never forget them7to give them their bread
you'd y9 believe & 4b it? as4 taat of daTpg s
inlpatlently upon the window pane and says: furry
p With oaf M gh f do n6t
the snow Off the top. of their box
crumbs and GS % otRer bs in the earth am sure
nGyw fhey khEE t ey oSn that
ny is one Of the purest joys Of my life; and then
yes. amusing to an extreme degree After ]. have
forced my cock sparrow to call me and scold me me
rogue, will peck out of my hand.
HELPS THEM BUILD HOUSES.
But must tell you about their mating time and
their nest building. First, noticed them peoking
away industriously at piece OF manila rope
which I had tied around their box to keep it from
falling to pieces. They evidently wanted string
with which TO weave their nests; and they pecked
and tnggSd away at the end Of that rope until they
You may know that there skeins of fine cot
n If T d f9 such % eP sd also 9f bsaae
Of e9lored wools nIInly to their box, and then |
woods to cottons, although they. both of them
coIors the grays and browns and blacks and Whites
and greens were pulled out and carried away; but
"If I go away I arrange with neighbor to
& af ay m sre eaags e T9s to m hy est ea s
crumbs-iust to oblige her-but there it ends. In
Now. must tell you 5:5' what shabby mean Trick
my cat played me. and ' how punished him for it
cats name--is as sleek beauty as you ever laid
every luxury that reasonable feline could need
want yet he wanted ii to brsakf:st On my h9arders
'O1-S''+---Ns N+*~
IT had generally put closed door between Ajax
and my birds when they were at breakfast. But
one morning either forgot this precaution Ajax
asleep in some soft spot. AT any rate,
darling little sparrow hoped into the room, and
quick. as only a cat can be, Ajax had the bird in
his mouth
him until he was glad drop the poor. dead spar
row. Then took a good, firm hold of my cat with
one hand, while with the dead bird in the other
hand I pecked pussy's nose with the birds bill,
all the while talking to Ajax, telling him how
naughty he had been. and how much his conduct
grieVed me. I believe all animals understand far
more of spoken language than most people give
them credit for, and I have always talked TO my
pets; horses. dogs cats and birds, to say nothing
Of a nlotherless little white pig once brought up
on the bottle. and to which taught surprising
number OF tricks. Well scolded and reasoned
with my wicked Ajax every change got, each
time pecking his with the dead birds bill. IF
there ever cat that was humbled 10 the earth
by the indignities he forced to suffer. Ajax
was that cat. He went down into the cellar hid
himself in dirty. dark corner behind lot of rub
stayed for three whole days. at the end of which
he sneaked back to my side in an apologize way
which was most amusing to behold.
"AiaX also goth bath, which same thing he
hates and he has evidently come to the conclusion
that he does not care for little birds. for he VII
Iazily watch my boarders while they take their
breakfast without ever attempting to nolest them.
would have their cats and birds live in peace
together A cat is greatly impressed with his own
Importance dignity: he feels and does not soon
forget an ndignity like having his nose pecked
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