The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-15

deposited three beautiful sky-blue egE2
New York Is q big, wicked city, she
had heard, but she felt secure In her
well concealed nest Big engines
came and with noise, and great deal
Of smoke, buffeted the car around
from one track to another Mrs. Rob-
in soon learned her home was not SUI
ficently secure. SO she built retaining
wall OF mud, tanning 1t tightly into q
creyice.
Starts on Journey.
One day. after an unusually large
amount of jolting, during which the
nest remained firm, the car wheels
continued turning the same direction
for long time. Faster and faster
they revolved and the journal hummed
Snugly perched upon her nest. all the
time warming the eggs with the heat
OF her body, Mrs. Robin rode away.
She left smoky New York and, ever
skimming over the rails. she passed
streams. hills and descended into val
leys. 1t was SO much like flying it
reminded her Of the spring migration
and she didn't care in. the least. Her
eggs were safe and her mother instinct
told her no harm was being done. At
night time she slept on her nest and
was always on guard when the wheels
stopped their rumble. Occasionally =
proving cat or dog passed beneath
the car while it remained on side
track. But no eyes other than her
own ever saw her home. At rare in
tervals she darted forth from beneath
the brake beams in search of food and
water. No matter if the car had
been moved in the meantime. her un-
erring skill led her to relocate it and
again she would nestle down upon her
eggs.
Arrives in Richmond.
There came day of more switching.
such as had been experienced at New
York Finally, the car rounded a
curve and was shot down long side
track and finally stopped. After the
noise of the engine had ceased, Mother
Robin flew forth from under the car.
She saw long red building. about
which swarmed a large number of
men. Some of them saw her. but no
stones were thrown and she felt safe.
wagon passed her car and from her
post on the hand brake she saw the
sign of merchant provision house
and the word Richmond
The next day young man left the
big. long building and came down to
inspect her car. He carried note
book and kept his pencil in his mouth
when not in use. He stopped to look
beneath the car and saw the nest He
was surprised at the peculiar location
of her home and told his associates
back at the building. Immediately
protectorate was organized. Company
officials were included and it was or
dained that the car should not leave
the yards until the young birds had
Matched. It made no difference how
badly the big moguls'' of the compa-
ny might storm. that car was out OF
commission for the present.
Others heard of the location of the
nest though, and publicity. like many
other things, had it's evils. Every
/ day hundreds of persons called to look
at the nest. Glasses Of school children
came down and enlivened the yards
with their laughter. But never one
touched the nest. Men came with
queer looking black boxes and Mrs.
Robin feared for her life, but this kind
OF gun only clicked and the man who
aimed it only smiled. Unknown to her
! her picture adorned postal cards sent
all over the country, was put in pho,
tograph albums and she became the
most noted bird in the United States.
But with her fame came her destruc'
ton. Thursday evening death came in
a tragic manner. She was struck on
the back with a stick and her back was
broken. The murderer did not even
carry away the body to bury it. II
was found yesterday morning by the
birds friends at the freight house. The
little birds that had Matched few days
ago were orphans, but the railroad
men had arranged to feed them and
guard over them until they could fly
And now even the tiny birds have
been stolen and probably killed. That
such should be the ending of the pretty
| little exhibition of bird love, is regret
| ted by all who have been conversan'
! with its details. The city gained no
/ : - - h1o Govt froy,o hiv Il