The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Today Set Apart For CeIebratlon
 Of BUd Day In ALabama Scho0h
Splendid Exhibition of Taxdermy at Birmingham High School Swallows skylarks and Nightingales Theme of Poets
 "The Song of the Cardinal"
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE,


 these birds knevN what sorrow he was causing to the widowed mate surely he would never have the courage to fire the shot into the pulsng heart.
 In chatting with a clever Birmingham woman few days ago about birds she told me that some time ago she had made the venture of raising Java wrens She was greatly interested in these beautiful birds, and in describing them to me said:
 '"They are the loveliest things in the bird kingdom that I have ever seen. They are dressed in the palest gray with the most brilliant streak of pink down the breast and around the throat is a collar of snowy white which makes an exquisite whole. These birds never sing alone, but it is always duet and always the same duet from morning until night, until their little threats are worn out with singing"
 And did you have any luck in raising themg' I asked
 Yes; l was successful for a time.'' was the reply, 'but they are very deli cate and great deal of trouble, and as l have several babies who require most of my time I gave up the idea of the birds."
 A book that every boy and girl should read and which it has been my pleasure to enjoy recently is ''The Song of the Cardinal" by Jean Stratton Porter and one extract should be published in every school book It is the conversation be- tween the old farmer and the hunter. which is well worth quoting here:
 Did you shoot at that red bird?" roared the farmer.
 AS the gun was at the sportsmans shoulder and he was still peerlng among the bushes, denial seemed useless. "Yes, l did" he replied, and made pretense of turning to the bushes again.
 There was a forward impulse of Abrams body. Hit em," he demanded, with awful calm.
 Thought I had, but I guess I only winged him.
 Abrams fingers closed around the club like steel bands.
 At the sound of his friends voice the Cardinal came darting through the bushes like tongue of flame and swept so close to him for protection that his wing almost brushed his cheek.
 See here See herel screamed the bird, in deadly panic. There was not a cut feather to be seen on him.
 Abrams relief was so great he seemed to shrink an inch in height. "Young man, you better thank yer God you missed that bird," he said solemnly, fer if you'd killed him I'd "a mauled this stick to ribbons on ye an I'm most afeered l wouldn't 't' knowed when to quit" He advanced g. step in his ear nestness, and the hunter, mistaking his motive, leveled his gun.
 Drop that,' shouted Abram. as he broke through the bushes that clung to him, tore the clothing from his shoulders and held him back. Drop that! Don't you durst pint no weepin at me an on my own premises, an after you passed yer word."
 Stake my life he's never been fired on before! He's purity nigh wild with nervousness. but he got too much spunk to leave his family an go off an hide frum critters like you. Theys no eau ton in i'm. Look at him tearin around to give you another chanct!"
 Curse, each man hes his particular altar. Mines in that cabin up to the bed O the river Marier lived there. God never did cleaner work an when He made Marier. Lovin' her sacriment She's so clean an pure an honest an big-hearted. In 40 year I've never jest durst brave up to Marier an try to put in words what she means to me. An Marier 'ud cry her eyes out if you'd a hit the redbird. Yer trappin's look like you could shoot. I guess that God made that shot fly the mark. l guess-'' If you can stop, for the love of mercy , do it." burst in the hunter. His face was siclly white; his temples wet with sweat and his body trembling. q can't bear any more. I don't suppose you think I've any human instincts at all, but I have a few and I see the way to arouse more. You probably won't be- lieve me, but I'll never kill another inno- cent, harmless thing, and I will never lie again as long as I live.'
 He leaned his gun against the thorn tree and dropped the rest of his hunters outfit beside it on the ground.
 "I don't seem a fit subject to have dominion" he said. "Ill just leave those things for you and thank you for what you have done for me-"
 There was a crash through the bushes, a leap over the fence and Abram and the cardinal were alone.