Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-09
Editorial and Literary Department

to her feet. letting the Duchess roll OF
| her lap to tho floor.
'Oh. Con. how you frightened mo!
And you've mado mo drop tho Duchess.
OH"
The Duchess was Bonnybelrs best
| doll, and she lived in the wardrobe
drawer between sheets OF tissue paper.
On great days. such as. Christmas and
oirthdays. her grace was taken out OF
nybelrs little lap as a treat. for a
by her big gold Watch At the end Of
until another great day arrived.
1t was not only the Duchess had
boon born in Paris and every stitch
Of her clothes in the same city. that
because she had been tho best wax
doll that Bonnybel's mother had
Bonnybell herself.
Small wonder. then. that Bonnybeirs
heart beat In frightened thumps whom
the Duchess had a fall from her lap.
she sobbed out.
n Ss' n ut Why s dom, yos a,1
Which hand will you have-riEht or
| left? Say quick!"
III us something to eat. don't want
any" she said.
fed itsei s answered Con. IT'S alive,
Bonnybell. and starving. I expect.
Right. then,"
There you are then; you've got II.
Lookr
In Cons right hand was tiny bird
Take care! Be very gentle! RI
| tell you all about 1t. Last night, while
IL m,
and so does John" John was the
a And ssy know ss ssis
creeper on the south wall that's just
Bonnybell nodded.
queer. I mean. 4 hit, Of a brown. sat
on the window sill making such fuss
couldn't make it out for long time:
And when I poked shout the heap Of
leaves the bird got SO fTsnti S,I that
trying 10 tell us something" And John
said. Maybe its nest is gone, So I
most with three dead D,rdies and This
living ono! And when took 1t out
the brown bird nearly went mad. John
ss otSers IFS BUT e eoad hew do t M
Eonnybell. and the pcor mother bird
No ac4sn baSs Rsna Srs said
| fully wicked. God watches over brown
birds samcs He watches over us. Con.
Oh. Con! let's be II mother to it and
You can't be n mother to 1t; that's
nonsense" said Con. -.
| said Bonnybell.
bow shall we feed ~
Well" said Con. 1T think. y know.
the first thing to do Is to bring In tho
fNrn oh IL rt
,, in T. and md peTnaps It's mother
the a srd % sha eh the so 1s and
waited. But. though her shrill pipins
cheers never h,r ceased ed for not LONE fme
from the window b:". Shs would not
trust her human friends.
This will r, never Ssgr d. d. H5clalmed
Wen have to feed it, Con-"
but what will we feed It onT'
asked her brother, 80
"oh. IL yc want the thing to live.
Missy" said John. when being applied
to. YOU'D best catch flies for 1t an
lying about They hain't so terrible
pertickier. birds amt"
The two children devoted their time
all that day to filling tho gaping mouth
OF the dear little birdie. and Il was
really astonishing what an appetite tho
"It's a most terrible busy thing to
be n stepmother. granny" Bonnybell
told the old lady when evening came.
'Ah, dear, yes! You little folk don't
know the toll and MOL 1t makes when
the good God sends such as you into
an earthly home! And yet-and yet"
added granny, under her breath softly.
whats home without the little
ones?"
The next day the nest and its occu-
rant was put in the window sill. With
anxious eyes the children watched pa
tiently while the mother bird new
across again and again and again to
take timid, short peeps at her bird
baby. At last she came with some
her terror was won; The little step:
mother stopped hack for tho real
mother was on duty again.
"But Use glad, Conf II would have
been dre'ful II we hadn't nursed 1t. and
God looking down from heaven at II
when II fell to tho ground I'll tho
time" said the tender-hearted Bonny-
bell.
And when the June days come and
the air was filled with the glad twit-
ters Of singing birds tho little atep-
mother always fancied she could dis
tinEuisi; the happy cheep Of the bird
ling she and Con had rescued from the
storms cruel destruction.
JOHN SIMS STITH.