Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-12-30
Lexington Boy's Composition on
The Robin

Lexington Boy's Composition on
The Robin
A comp osition on "The Robin"
by Master Richard Cox OF the
Fifth Grammar Grade, Lexington
schools. was recently sent to Mr.
william butcher, president Nat
ional Association of Audubon So
cieties, and he wrote very inter-
esting letter commanding the
young gentleman fol. his interest
In birds, and also stated that ne
would PRINT the composition 10
the Society Magazine. Following
is the composition infull:
THE ROBIN
I think 1t is very interesting to study
birds. To-day l am going to write
about the robin. The robin Is a very
handsome bird. He has black head
brown back and red breast, Mr.. Robin
has brighter breast than Mrs. Robin
while the young robin has speckled,
orange breast. The robin Is about the
size Of two English sparrows'
Mrs. Robin stays at home to sit on
the eggs. The nest is mate OF muo
with grass and feathers ON tho inside
| and sticks, grass and other things on
the outside. The egg is pale blue ana
that is why that color is called ioo'n'
egg blue. :.
A lesson we can learn from the rob
| in is to be happy no matter what hap
pens.
Sons birds know by sight are; thu
partridge, the meadow-lark, the chip
! ping sparrew, the hummingbird, the
blueb,rd, the crow, the buzzard, the red
| winged blackbtrd. the sparrow, the
oriole, the woodpecker, the yellewoird
the screech-owl, the chlmney'swallow
the redbird, and the catbird,
Following is the letter writer
by Mr.Dntcher after receiving the
composition:
MASTER RICHARD Cox, Lexington, Viz
ginia,
My dear Young Friend:
NY good friend, Miss KATHERINE
Stuart, has sent me to read, a compo
sition that you wrote and handed tt
your teacher, on the subject OF "rh'
Robin"
Ilbink your composition is really
/ splendit, and it shows that you hsv'
very carefully studied the robin in LII
40 that you describe 1t excellently.
Iagree with you that the robin Is
very handson e bird and 1t should b
protected, but am sorry to say tina
10 your home in the gre at State OF Vir
GINA a great many hundreds OF rotin
are killed every spring by men who a.
not appreciate this bird enough. ant
are willing to shoot them.
| You evidently love birds and woul'
like to N axe a suggestion to you: Wh!
cannot you start a Bird Club IL you
school and by this means endeavor T.
| get all Of your school associates, boy
and girls, to work to protect the bird
around Lexington.
| / am going to send you uBdar al
other cover a package of our illustrated
leaflets, and among them you will fin
instructions how to form Bird Club
and also pamphlet that will tell yo
how to feed the birds In winter -Mhe
the snow is on the grolrd; aud ais
a Ieafet that viii tell you and you
Club howto build bird houses and thu
attract the birds about your dwellings
where they will do great deal OF goo
in destroy ing obnoxious insects.
l am always very glad Indeed 10 hea
from the boys and girls who take al
interest In caring for the Wild bird
that are of 30 much value to the cour
try.
Some day when you get to be ms
you will probably be so much Interest
ed In caring for the birds Of your Stat
that you may become president OF
society for that purpose. You kno'
that Virginia is called the smother c
presidents" and l hope that you will b
a president ore day yourself.
am 50 pleased with youl letter ths
l am going to publish 1t in our Mage
zine, and whenever you or your youn
ass ociates in the school you alter
have any nice stories about birds, tn
result of your investigations in tn
Geld with the live bird and not take
from books, shall be glad to hav
them.
Thankil G you for your interest
birds, l am, very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM butcher,
Dec. 8. 1908 Presijen
Honor Roll at CoIored School
Prinninal IeRnu GilmnrA CAV