The San Francisco call., 1909-11-06
by BEN BLOW

Pigeon was begun In The Junior Call
Saturday, October 3O.)
by BEN BLOW
- HE boy to whom the young
pigeon had been given was
a black eyed, black haired
youngster of about 15. the
nephew OF the man who owned the
pigeons and with whom he made his
home while his father was absent In
the desert country of southern Califor-
mia. where his mining interests took
much of his time. His mother being
dead and the schoolhouses being few
and far between in the wastes Of sand
and cactus where his fathers mines
were located. It was thought best for
him to stay in San Francisco. where
he could have the advantage OF good
schools He stood well in his classes
and played all the games that boys
enjoy so much after school. but early
every morning he visited the pigeons
and gave them their food.
Finding that he was really their
friend they grew to look for his COM
Ing. to perch upon his shoulder and
beg for food but of them all the little
red pigeon was his favorite and there
seemed to be perfect understanding
between boy and bird. True, there
were other young pigeons about the
had such spread of wing or such
round muscles as were underneath his
shiny feathers. nor could they sweep
in small circles around the loft like
he did, lodging to and fro like light
ming by the merest motion of one
strong. quick. wing stroke. When ne
looked out of the window Red saw so
many things OF interest that the lott
seemed small and very like a prison,
At length one bright and fresh sun
day morning. after rain when all
the earth seemed to be covered by
beautiful green carpet, the man came
to the loft and with him was the boy.
When they had fed the birds and seen
that everything was neat and clean.
the man picked up the young red
pigeon and strOked his shiny feathers
you're getting big enough to take
look outside he said, and lifting up
the wire screen he pushed the young
ster out upon the porch before the tiny
door. The ground beneath seemed very
far away to young Red; the sky above
lifted up farther than even his Won
derfuI eyes could sees and for a mo-
ment he was frightened, but remem-
bering that he had wings he spread
them wide to see IL they were still as
strong as ever and looked around The
view that greeted him was wonderful
the sea and mountains in the distance
people hurrying about close by and
more houses than he had thought the
whole world held Inside the loft the
boy and man were watching him cu-
rlously as he looked around. What
makes him sit so quiet and look at
everything so carefully?' the boy
asked. looking at his uncle with a
puzzled expression on his face
His uncle smiled at him a moment
and replied. Pigeons don't have lamp
posts to guide them home or street
signs or anything but trees and houses
and churches: he's only trying to fix
In his mind just how to get back here
before he starts to fly. When ne is
far up In the air the houses seem like
toy building blocks thrown on the
floor and before he can tell which
place Is home he has to learn Just what
the house next door looks like, just
how our house looks and just where
the loft is where he lives"
"And why did you push him out
through the little hole instead of open
ing the Window" the boy inquired.
Was there any reason for that?
Indeed there was" his uncle an
swered. THE first place from which a
homing pigeons looks upon the world
Is the place that he always returns to
when he has been sent out for a fiy.
Red is just getting his wise head filled
with information so that he can come
straight back here without wasting
time"
What are those wires that look like
wires for telephone?" was the next
question of the boy, who noticed them
Tor the first time. They end right
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