Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-02-15
M. M. CORNER.
We Would Help People to Help Them
selves.
Edited by Aunt Hannah

Who taught you to sing. my sweet, pretty bird z
Who tuned your melodiOuS Threats?
You make all the woods and the valleys to
With your wild and silvery notes.
1T was God" said the lark as he rose from
the earth.
He painted our wings, He gave us our voice;
He finds us our food. He bids US rejoice"
Having learned this little verse in
childhood, the idea somehow has al
ways chung to us, that birds never
need any of our care and attention;
and perhaps if it hadn't been for I'M
usual weather conditions, we would
still be of that opinion. How true it
is that much cruelty is merely the re-
suit of thoughtlessness. We hear the
chirp of the little bird when the snow
is fast falling, and do not realize that
it is prayer for food, but now that
our leaders have called our attention
to this matter, it is hoped that no one
will be negligent.
We never could understand the pred
JUDGE against the little English spar
row; some say they drive away other
birds. That has not been my eXper-
fence; for we have many robins about
in the summer, besides other varie-
ties, and have often noticed them feed
ing together, bathing in pools, etc
seemingly on the best of terms. May
be it was the cat, or the boy with the
gun, that drove the others away
How many people know an English
sparrow from a song sparrow, or
chickadee, or a snow-bird? At any
rate we will not discriminate, but set
out an appetizing breakfast in a shell
tered place, at the usual time in the
morning, for like chickens they will
know the exact time they were fed
yesterday. Then about four o'clock
they will have an early supper. They
need little grit, when unable to get
to the ground,-sand will do;-you
grow larger each morning; and what
delight it will be to the little i'm
prisOned children, whose little world
is bounded by the view from the win
dow! eve truly wish sash curtains
had never been invented.)
Please don't throw out dry crust.
or a sloppy mess, tho they do like
bread dipped in milk and crumbled.
We saw a little bird on the walk,
vainly trying to work up a hard
crust; an old gentleman stopped and
broke it up with his cane. The bird
soon came back with others and the
crumbs soon disappeared
Millet makes good bird food, also
hemp and rape. Suppose we save
some next summer; also clover seed,
pepper grass, etc. We put out some
apple cores but they didn't appear
to care much for them, proving that
when hungry they need grain or
bread. So we doubt if birds often
modest fruit or buds unless they con-
tain worms or larvae.
We put out a little dish of water
each day, fiat salmon can answers
well, and can easily be thawed out.
Why do not some of our ingenious
boys get to work and rig up a feed
ing place, as well as a roost, also a
drinking fountain that will not freeze ?
We do not need to wait till spring to
hear the bird songs. Their chirping
at day break savors of spring, tho
we are nearly buried in winter SHOWS.
The deer must lack food also these
days and would venture near the barn
II not too timid. Wild animals too
suffer hunger, and torture in traps.
We hope trappers will make their
rounds as early as possible.
We would like to hear and know
more about those humane trans -
why are they not put upon the mar
ket? Cowper said 81 would not enter
on my list of friends, tho graced with
polished manners, and fine sense. the
man who needlessly sets foot upon
a worm"
We meet with Mrs. Louis Herman
son, Friday, Feb. IS. EVERYBODY well
come.