New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
By Frank H. Sweet

earned Tor himself and
though N size ne was smaller
than most OF his com anlOnS. the earning OF
the name had carried INN 10 the very front Of
them al. SO that now ne held without 0ppOsI-
ton the best place At seed stalks n winter
and the choice portions OF berry bushes and
DrIa-S II summer
But reaching there had brought penalties
well as privileges. He was covered with
scars and marks Of conflict One wing would
never again be n perfect alignment with the
other. and the eve that had dared and sCOf1-d
four martins II a bunch would never be so clear
and open as II was before There were bare
places on ms body where feathers had been
pulled out by VICIOUS opponents, his blu had
grown blunt and hard through much attacking
and tending. and the greater part Of his tan
feathers were Irreparablv gone.
But the wonder was that any part OF HIM
could remain for he had never gwen an inch
nor left a hghr as long as an object was unar-
not kept pace with the soaring and d1Sfgure-
ment OF his BODY.
ct II mad not, Tor there was no voice n al
the country more CHEEKY and roIlickIng and
carefree than that OF Turfruf the sparrow He
could sing a song or help q friend OF fight a
night with equal heartIness or Indifference. ap-
parentIy 10 was Al one To him and al a part
OF the every dav round Of lOIlIuv and eniov-
ment- And the odd part of It was that the
birds he whipped We're his stanchesu friends.
OWS-Enghsh sparrows. Of course
are not Ike the shy s0nCbIrJis they do
not resort 10 a sunny slope below the orchard
ar N some secluded pasture or thIcket for their
spring concerts The wOodp1le or chicken ward
does fust We'll. OF even about the S<rT<r-ssre
door or On top OF the clothes poles or garbage
barrels. and they do not care "a snap Of tneir
bills for al the cats that NAV 1t. lurking near
The cats add "a welcome VARIETY % the general
excitement and hubbub and are "a spur To
emulation and % the educational keer1eSs 5F
the Young sparrows.
Iuftrut q popular leader N these. back
yard concerts, which made up IN heartIness for
what they lacked n musical ability and Turf
rJ1t S voice was always the loudesr and ioIlies-
And Tust n fight OF brawl OF anv bit NJ
danger, Il he could get there IN ti7yle 10 meet
the brJnt Of the attack himself he was sure r,
DO so. There was a story among ms a5rnirerg-
those whom he had whIpped-that he once
waited until eat got near him be was able.
20 snatch 1illtul Ut FUR from her bacl, as he.
flew across
In one thing alone was TutIr,lf a Lagpard
and that was galautry. He did not -zre f,r
the sparr'" girls AMI took uo pains 20 conceal
ms indifference And vet perhaps II was a Won
der for they were usually as good hrawIers
and fighters their hrothrrs-indeea II
might seem better for often a 4Vash frt-tI-r
yuuugvter would be sent dvJng ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
by "a sharp billed girl Possibly IT was their
very Delligereut proprusItIes however rhar
he did not approve Of for ,5r1etrr,a. y,-ns,-
they were lighting and 1rawiing together there
would be more Jt censure.than commentator
IN his eyes lt may be that he lilei not H. ~
same things ~ girls that he did N men
The girls themselves did not seem IN s-r.-
Tor they tossed cheir heads and IntIrnare3 tFr-,+
II was a case % sour grapes. Tuffr,if Was al.
Scared AMI ugly that no self respecting sr,-i
would look at him and he was taking tins W
II maintaining lta 10. lt-rt7ri.r.-