The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-01-07
Her F a11ily Of
One

AS young Strong was on his way to
call on Daisy Miller last summer be-
fore starting on a business trip, he
picked up a young sparrow that had
fallen from nest and decided to pre-
sent it to Daisy as a farewell gift, for
he knew her fondness for everything
infantile.
oh, you little darling!" said Daisy,
as young Strong gave the screeching
bird into her keeping. Il wonder how
you came to fall from the nest. And if
Richard had not found you an old cat
would have eaten you up, but now you
shall have a cage and everything you
want, and nothing shall ever trouble
you any more. And when you have all
your feathers and are big and strong
I'll put you out in the lilac bushes and
you can find a mate and make home
for yourself
Hold on" said young Strong.
That's prophecy, not history" Then
as the bird continued to scream, he
said; Daisy. would you mind putting
that bird under a flower pot ro some
thing? I've few things I'd like to say
myself"
But Daisy continued to talk baby
talk and cuddle the bird under her chin
until young Strong, in despair, took it
to the kitchen and turned a fruit bas-
ket over it. There the bird soon fell
asleep in the dark
Upon young Strong's return to the
city after three weeks absence he
fastened to call on Daisy and present
her with new pet. He found her
rather pale and worn looking, but he
was sure he had the right remedy for
ennui.
After cordial greeting he said:
I have brought you new pet, Daisy.
It's young chipmunk! You may have
to feed him with bottle for little
while, but he's hearty"
As young Strong held out the sleek
little body Daisy looked at it longingly
but turned away and said, Richard,
don't ever bring me another young
thing to raise up"
why. thought you were fond of
DdDy pets, SAID ne.
Il am" said Daisy. Then she sighed.
But they are SO tyrannical and hard to
please"
Weren't you able to please YOU
bird ?"
NO, / don't think he ever felt one
touch Of gratitude for all l did for
him"
Did you find it hard to feed him?'
Il found it hard to feed him enough
am sure he ate "a bulk of bugs and
worms and flies equal to his own
weight every day. At the first peep
of dawn he peeped, too, but he didn't
peep as quietly as the dawn did You
know the proyerb about the early bird?
Well. he Inherited that trait and
wanted . " as. soon as he opened
his s.R Te--7T-esngl
screed threatene6
give him to NsS CAT, and had to
him to the basement at night, AMI
spent most of the daytime digging
worms and hunting bugs
But" pursued Daisy, ''it wouldn't
have been so bad if | could have
looked forward to an end of my devo-
ton. However, no matter what I fed
him, nor how much, not a feather grew
except in his wings and tail. The down
all fell off and his little body was as
bare and sleek as a mans bald head.
And then father and the boys would
come and look him over and make sug-
gestions.
Walter said that was probably not
giving him the right kind of food, so I
hunted rare bugs and flies for days, but
all to no purpose; not a sign of a
feather"
Young Strong laughed did he
seem to have. any choice of food?''
"Oh, yes" said Daisy. He never had
as many angleworms as he wanted,
though he often had more than he
could keep down, for his little crop
was usually so full when he had sWal.
lowed two that the third one would
crawl out when he opened his mouth
to scream for a fourth. Then he
seemed to feel so sorry about losing
the worm that l would give it back to
him, and that performance would &C
on until usually the worm gave up and
went the way of his companions.
Then" continued Daisy, st grew
rainy and chilly, and knew he missed
his mothers warm feathers, so made
him little union suit out of an ole
silk glove, but he looked so bored and
ridiculous that l wouldn't make hin
wear it."
I'm sorry I had to be away 81
long," said young Strong, Il see I've
missed lot I should like to see tha
rare specimen of the sparrow fam
lily"
Well" said Daisy, you will have tt
have an Xray picture taken, then. fol
the cat ate him this morning
TOO bad!" said Richard. How dit
the cat happen to get him?"
You see,' said Daisy, 81 wantet
him to learn self dependence, and
was giving him flying lessons ever.