Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-03-27


approaching completion, assuming
shape and a compactness which must
have been gratifying to the indus
triOus workers. They had begun their
labors at daybreak, when other birds,
some big and some little, were lazily
chirping in the bushes, and they had
kept at it untiringly until the set
ting of the sun. If ever they stopped
| to search for food, they were not seen
and from nearby window an in
valid, happy and relieved to be in
terested in this really thrilling spec
tacle, did not so observe them.
This day, doubtless, the nest, Sc
curely fastened in the limbs and even
I protected from the wind and the rain
was about to be finished The birds
were applying the final touches, for
now they worked more slowly and
1 with more evident satisfaction. Oc-
casionally, even, they would appar
! emily forget their consecrated labor
and would fly about in search of some
| thing to eat. Just then two boys came
along, the alert eve of one catching
sight Of the nest and the birds fit
ting noisily and happily about it. I'M
mediately there was mischief, as well
as attention, in the eyes of this lad,
and he called his companion to wit
ness. Hastily they secured a long
stick, and both climbed the tree, al
most with the ability of chimpanzee.
Soon they were in reaching distance,
and then the deadly pole was brought
! into fatal effect. In a few seconds,
/ the little nest. which had taken days
of patient and persistent effort to
weave, was punched to pieces. 1t fell
in bits, to the ground. In an adj
joining tree the two birds were perch
ed, seemingly observant of the desecra-
ton in progress.
When the boys had descended and
were safely out of the way, both jubi-
liant over what they esteemed an
achievement, first one sparrow and
then the other flew back to the tree.
At first they were plainly perpleXed.
The nest they had left only a few
! minutes before was utterly vanished
| Instinctiyely they flew to the famil-
/ lar Dough, but it was not there Then
they became excited They chirped
their amazement; then their indigna-
ton, as loud as their tiny threats
| would permit They fitted baC.. M
forth, up and down, in their -eYcAte-
ment Eventually one, possibly the
female, spied the remnSnts of their
home on the ground. Her cries of
grief brought the male. Together they
contemplated it. Soon they were join
ed by probably a dozen other spar
rows, all of which evinced the liveliest
curiosity; but the original pair were
the most conspicuous by their demon
stration of sorrow Ultimately they
were left alone, and together they flew
into plum bush, just as the shades
| of twilight enveloped them. Ones
feathers were ruffled, but the Their
was silent and detected. Their ro-
nance. their springtime courtship,
their wooing, their dream, if birds do
| dream, of honeymoon, was wrecked!
But the next day they were working
| again, in a different tree, just as
blithely as before; and if the same
boys, or some others, with as much
mischief in their souls, have not hap
pened along, by now perhaps their
nest is built
There is romance, there is love, there
is diligence, there is grief and heart
aches, even in the tree-tops-and there
is also grit and patience ard determin-
alton!
! More Red Cross Cheer.
! WASHINGTON, March elliot