Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-18

~, since no harm had come to the nest
the day before. Two pairs Of bright
little eyes took in every movement,
and when Boy went towards the nest,
for he thought of it so long that he
persuaded himself it was not wrong
to do 80, two little hearts thumped
with fear. When he climbed the rail-
Ing, both birds set up sharp cries, and
flew about In great distress. Little
Mother really seemed to be beating
him away with her angry little wings,
SO near did she fly by him. Son wasn't
tall enough to see into the nest. He
was greatly disappointed, and I'm
sorry to tell you, but he reached right
into the nest to make sure the eggs
we're really there. At this not only
Little Mother and Little Mate, but
every bird within hearing began to
chirp angrily in fact, they made so
much noise that Sons mother came
hurrying out of the house. She saw
from the trellis and saw the little
birds beating about distractedly.
"Oh, Son, Son what have you done?'
she said.
II only touched them ever SO light.
I couldn't see in. I didn't break them,
honest, Mother, or take them out, .
Son protested.
But Father said not to go near them
she reminded him. "You have been
interfering with their private business,
and they are very angry as well as
frightened. Poor. little mother and
father. Just hear how they are taking
on. Come, we must go in at once.
Perhaps If we close the door and
blinds, and keep very quiet they may
grow calm and forget all about it."
But Little Mother and Little Mate
did not forget and 1t was nearly two
hours before Little Mother could make
up her mind to examine her home to
see Just what damage had been done
During this time they had cried their
distress, and the whole bird world had
shown great interest and sympathy,
for the air was full of bird voices
not songs, but shrill, excited chirpings.
Little Mother seemed to take a long
and silent survey, then she began to
pick and pull with great industry. was
she rebuilding the nest, or what? When
she had fixed things to suit her, she
flew quietly into the apple tree, not
joyously as she had week before, but
with one little mournful chirp that Lit
tie Mate heard and answered, for he
Immediately joined her and together
they flew away.
Son and his mother watched for two
days, but little Mother and Little Mate
did not come back. When 1t became
doubtful if they ever would, Sons
father took quiet peep into the nest.
He found it closed securely at the top.
Little Mother has hidden her treas
urers from inquisitive eyes," was his
opinion. perhaps after time she
may come back, open her nest, and lay
the remainder Of her eggs" But he
was only half right Little Mother
never came back, but had gone far
away into the woods, where with Little
Mate she could raise their family I'm.
disturbed.
Son didn't swing in the hammock
very much that summer. He didn't
like to stay where he could see that
sad little nest up In the woodbine. 1t
was the only really unhappy thing that
happened all that long lovely summer.
But Son Is nearly as tall as his father
now. He has learned many things
about the birds and the little wood
creatures, and grown to respect their
shy ways. He knows most of the
birds by their song and plumage, and
car initiate their notes very cleverly.
What is best of all, they seem to have
learned to trust him.