New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-19
BURIAL OF GOLDFINCH
Fresh dir Girls Tribute to Dead
Songster-An appreciation.

"O-o-o-h! Look at the poor little birdr' ex-
claimed one of the girls at the Shepherd Knapp
Home recently as the children were taking their
daily walk. isn't that too bad2'
Her sharp eyes had discovered a goldhnch lying
dead by the roadside. The children gathered
around 1t and gently poked it with stick.
"one of those boys probably hit it with stone"
said one. They ought to be ashamed of them
selves"
isn't he pretty. thought" said another. I'VE
ought. to bury him. Can we. teacher?"
Yes if you wish" replied the attendant.
So the girls found a box, and tenderly laying the
bird inside. carried IL TO the home. They dug
grave in the shade of one of the apple trees and
gathered flowers and ferns from the fields and
woods near by. Lining the grave with ferns they
placed the bird gently its side in the grave and
surrounded 1t with white daisies. Each little girl
had a wild rose. which she dropped into the grave
until the body OF the bird was completely covered
Then they laid ferns over the roses and
threw on the earth
The little mound which made by the noVers
and ferns roped off by string. bit of paste
board, on which was printed the word Birdie,
was set at the head Of the grave. and goldenrod
was strewn around the little plot within the string
fence The children selected goldenrod 70 decorate
the grave because II yellow bird. and these
flowers seemed 10 be the most appropriate. After
the burial. two little girls stood besides the grave
and sang a song about the birds and then all drew
away reluctantly. declaring their purpose 10 return
each day and bring fresh flowers.
All during their visit at the home the girls ten
derby cared for the grave Of the goldhnch. Ihete
was walk taken without flowers teihs
brought back to lay the grave The niue
mound bright with yellow flowers. ox-eyed
daisies and goldenrod being the ones most favored
Their greatest care was keep the boys away
from the grave The girls were always afraid that
some OF them might carelessy trample on 1t, and
they suspicious of its being desecrated- But
nothing Of that sort ever happened.
sTrro hum rad nd forty hrae
away yesterday Two parties Of one hundred chill
dren each went away in the morning. One OF these
went to the Shepherd Knapp Home. at lAtchneld'
Conn. and the other to the Krom Farm, at Sho-
kan n Y the home for children OF tubercular
parentage Thirty-eight children went 10 spend
the fortnight at Owego. n. Y. and other nearby
stations on the Lackawanna Railroad FIVE ehil-
dren went to Morristown. N ]. OF the parties
which returned TO the city. tS came back from
Litchfeld and 100 from Shokan. N Y
letter from attensant states the progress
that has been made in Tire work 50 far:
Half the season is over. and look back on
the weeks that have passed In the WORK, ear ear
so ayntHyable The chiidren OF the third party
were very nice and behaved very Well indeed.
from the fresh air. THIS noticed while they were
here. but in particular when went 10 New. fP PIX
tween those who had been TO the country and tnoss
who had not The fS Children Of the city
pale and pinched and lacked tne Keen quiS S
glance that was SO nOucedOle III tiS eyes VI 'Ho
country children.
that which seemed to me 10 be the most prominent
OF ali was the care which the older ones took of
the younger Two little boys in my company were
seven and FIVE wears old. respectively They were
continually together. and although cousins. the
elder took fully good care of the younger as
though he were his brother
The children went into all the games with an
unwavering enthusiasm. When Company A lost
the Field Day its members cheered as heartily
did the winners. Company b. The new party
OF boys and girls Is very good one. and II they
do as we'll as the last party, we may look forward
some very good times.