Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-27


lived in the forest trees there were
the field mice, who were sort Of ram
blers. But during the winter they had
quarters in which they dwelt until the
spring came to warm the earth and
call them forth to fields anew. Their
houses were neat, coy little dens dug
beneath the surface OF the earth.s
crust, and when the snow came, 1t
made them securely warm. 81.
And now l have named the SPUR
rels and the field mice. Third in I'M
portance were the sparrows, a great
number of them. They loved the orch
ard during all the year round, never
going far away at any time. They had
the most delightful homes, too, for
Jimmy and Katie, with their fathers
assistance, of course, had built very
pretty cottages for them and put
them in the trees in very secure
places where the great branches
would hold them against all sorts OF
weather.
! Now, these same dear little sparrows
got very selfish and tried to 'lord 1t
over" the rest of creature-kind In Or
chardville. They thought because their
houses were handmade that they, the
residents Of such artistic quarters,
were superior. But the squirrels
thought differently. So did tho f1eld
mouse. Then there came some visit
ors to Orchardville. They came with
the first snow and gave gay appear
ance to the great white Orchardville:
These little annual visitors were the
snow birds. And the dearest, chat
tering, cold-proof darlings that the
orchard ever knew. They were not
selfish. nor were they 'stuck-up' like
the sparrows had become.
The first trouble which broke out In
Orchardville came about on a sun
shiny day. Though the weather was
at freezing point, Orchardville IN
habitants never minded it. They went
out as people go out in summer time.
There were the squirrels who came
out. a whole neighborhood OF them.
They began having game OF catch
over the hard snow.
While this gayety was going on Jimmy
and Katie Brown ran out (all mufhed
up in their heavy wraps) and threw
some bits of cake. bread. nuts and
other nice things to eat on the snow.
Fourth came the field mice. as soon
as ever the young Browns had gone
INTO the house again. And everywhere
about flew the visiting snow birds, get
ing their share and nothing more
mind yorl-- of the good things to eat.
Now, the squirrels made no objection
q this. They we're willing, yes, anx-
GUS to live and let live" But the
those naughty, stuck-up H.
lie things made an objection. They
hought that Orchardville belonged by
light. to- them. They had always toll
,rated the squirrels and the field mice
because they could not we'll help doing
%. But other winged creatures should
rot intrude their presence there and !
share in the good things to eat which |
he little Browns brought out daily.
"Get out, you tramps!" 1t was Mr..
ong.bill sparrow who yelled this at
lear Mrs. Snow Bird, a most demure
title lady. The two had started TO.
ward a bit of sweet cake which had
ooked so appetizing. But on seeing
Mr.. Sparrow, Mrs. Snow Bird had
Still, Mr.. Sparrow was
,old and impudent Get out, you
ramps" he called second time.
. Now. altogether the snow birds were
is demure and kind as could be, and
lad no desire to intrude where they
lad no right, they felt that they were
,eing badly used by usurper, so one
r them. a great fine fellow. stepped
I'D to the insulting and grasplng spar
ow and said: .
"By what right do you control this
,rchard We-the Snow Birds-have
Is much right to live here as you have
iir!" ...a -.-
"You are a pack of tramps," cried
Mr.. Sparrow, ruffling his feathers
You have no fixed place Of abode-no
ZONES, so to speak. And we - why,
yhv. lust look up In these trees and
zee our houses! They are works or
art and represent the aristocracy OF
the Sparrows! the
,ther Inhabitants Of the city live IN
,oles in the trees or holes beneath
,ld cabbage roots or corn roots. we
ire the upper class, II you please, ana
Nv that right We refuse to have our
grounds filled up with beggars.'
While the vain, foolish, Dragging
snarrov was talking a couple or
3ouirrels had come up to listen to MIN
and thew had been followed by half
dozen Field Mice. You may have an
dea that these little listeners did not
relish what the egotistical Sparrow
was saying about their living in holes
in the trees and the ground. So one
If the Squirrels turned and whispered
o his fellows and In turn to the Field
Mice. saying:
we've taken about all off that fell
ow that we're going to take. Suppose
We resent his and his companions. ac-
ions toward us in a very emphatic
manner Suppose we engage them IN
combat?'
"Agreed!" cried the other Squirrels
(for now half a dozen OF them mad
been drawn to the spot through curios-
ty.) agreed, friend. Let's teach them
1 lesson-the selfish, overbearlng
81
Yves. and we'll lend our assistance
said a quiet little Field Mouse. We've
been so cruelty treated by the Spar
rows. They chase us away from every
morsel of food the Brown Boy and
80, ~ Jx;od1v bripo hare And Why