Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-24

~ AAnhc q SIuuy VI AI "A WCCh, oAu
shall! set it free again"
And so the two boys set of without
their sister, for Grant knew that she
would not hear of his catching bird
either the old mother bird or fledge
ling. They reached the woods early
in locating the tree In which the rob
in locating the tree in which the hob
ms nest was hidden away underneath
leafy boughs. As snug as one could
imagine rested the little birds home
in the great protecting tree.
King soon climbed to the place
where the nest was located, and found
three fledgelings about half-grown
The mother bird had gone out In
search of food for her young, and
her three little brides were without
protection. Grant soon had the finest
one Of the trio in his hat, and climbed
down to earth again.
as it big enough to eat?" asked
King, looking admiringly into his
brothers hat.
They're big enough to eat as soon
as they come from the SHE'LL ex-
planned Grant. "All they want is the
worm or fly, and they can devour a
meal as readily as can their mother"
After going about the woods for
another hour, the boys set out towards
home. On entering their street they
turned into the alley back Of their
house, and went into the garage.
There they began devising some way
Of preparing a safe and comfortable
nest for the little birdie that was quite
old enough to realize something was
wrong, and that it was no longer In
its own safe nest.
"Tll gather the stuff for the nest, "
said King. And he ran to the house
where he knew most everything was
to be found. He soon had an old
CASTOR straw hat of his sisters which
he pulled apart to get the loose straw.
He had found a roll of soft white cot
ton, which was to be used In lining
the nest. A handful of dry grass,
which had been cut from the lawn
few days before, should answer as
foundation for the nest
And while the boys were planning
a new and strange house for the little
f1edgeling, the mother bird had re-
turned to the nest In the woods, car
rying in her beak big fat worm for
her little ones dinner. The mother
robin flew to the nest and looked
within. There were only two little
ones where there had been three!
She lowered over the two, mourning
the absence Of the third just as a hui
man mother would mourn the absence
Of one of her beloved children-were
it missing in like manner.
And while she grieved and could
not eat. sitting in sadness on the tree
limb, her poor head dropping, she
had O friend far, far away. In the
town. where the third fledgeling was
held a prisoner, there was Gertrude
James, and she had discovered the
presence Of the baby robin. It hap.
pened this way: While the boys were
busily feeding the little captive, that
vas beginning to lose its appetite
the new and fearsome order
Of things, Gertrude came to join them
at the garage. They did not hear her
football till she was quite inside the
door, and had seen the little birdie In
Kings hands.
For a full minute Gertrude stood
looking at her brothers whose faces
flushed when they saw they were dis
covered. Then she came and stood
quite close to them. "Give the little
thing to me" she said, holding out
her hand for it. And King obeyed.
Nov give me the bit Of food" she
ordered The bird, as II understanding
it was in friendly hands, opened Its
mouth and ate more readily than 1t
was doing in Kings hands.
After the meal was finished, Ger
trude turned about and started to-
WIFI $ha i,.d in h0r
hands, stroking it tenderly the while.
Where are you taking that Bird"
asked Grant, losing his patience. Its
mine to study for week. Then l
mean to carry 1t back to its mothers
nest"
ooh, we'll not wait a week, broth
err" assured Gertrude, calmly. We'll
take it today. Just as soon as l can
get my hat and jacket and can tell
Perkins to get the auto out, we'll
start with It."
"Now, Sis, don't be silly" began
Grant.
mo, Gertie, we'll not harm the lit
tie bird" declared King We've
meant all along to return 1t to Its
mothers nest"
"Oh, how kind" smiled Gertrude
"But suppose some one had come and
carried you, Grant, out of the house
when you were helples bsaby, and
told mamma nothing about It? Sup
pose you had been kept a week by
monsters who knew nothing Of your
manner of living, and who did SO just
to study you? Don't you think man.
ma would have suffered terrible
anxiety? And don't you suppose you
would have been frightened almost to
death?"
"But birds and people are differ
ent," explained Grant, his face cast
down, for shame was beginning to be
felt by him.
"That's what you say" replied Ger.
trude. But you have no means OF
proving that they are different
where affection for their young Is
concerned. So, We'll just carry little
birdie home again. Either OF you
boys can accompany me to show me
the nest you stole it FROM"
There was no use the boys say
ing anything more about the matter,
for at this point their mother ap-