The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-13
DAO[R5[VINRI)
AlRY Tale
PINE-Woops sPARRoWs.
s. fvAlN @ANl|1RQllkR


Woods Sparrow, ''how any creature
can care for the ocean or the lakes or
the rivers or the streams when they
can live in the great pine woods.
The great pine woods do not object
10 creatures who make their homes
With them. They are unselfish and like
TO share their beauty with other crea-
lures"
That is all perfectly true, said
Mrs. Pine-Woods Sparrow; "hnt you
must remember that we are birds and
not fishes
Il can remember that without any
trouble" said Mr.. Pine-Woods Spar
row, smiling.
"Ah, yes,' said Mrs. Pine Woods
Sparrow; "but you must also remem-
Der that creatures who are not birds
care for other things. Fishes like the
water because they can't live out of
it,"
II suppose that is very sensible; in
| fact am sure it is very sensible said
Mr.. Pine-Woods Sparrow, after a
| pause. 1T would be foolish of them 10
want TO live in the woods If they
couldn't live in the woods. That
sounds little queer, as l have
worded 1t. Mrs. Pine-Woods Sparrow,
but trust you understand me-
Il do; most certainly do" said
Mrs. Pine-Woods Sparrow. ut does
sound little strange to say that the
fishes wouldn't live in the woods be-
cause they wouldn't be alive If they
did live here-but il has much sense
t TO it. just the same
= Isn't there an old saying about
e fish being out of water:" asked Mr..
Pine-Woods Sparrow.
"Ah. yesl" said Mrs. Pine-woods
Sparrow. .They say when creature
] feels shy or out of place that he is
like fish out of water. The saying
: means that he is so utterly miserable
/ and unhappy"
ITS a good strong saying" said Mr..
q Pine-Woods Sparrow. "A fish out of
water would be miserable"
I'VE are shy said Mrs Pine-W Woods
Sparrow, but we're happy by our
}. selves and we don't look for the soci-
: That's So" agreed Mr. Pine.woods
L Sparrow. I'VE don't let ourselves get
U in any miserable position because we
keep right out of the way. / remem-
! Der one day when i had on by best
! suit-it was of brown and gray with
: touches OF black around my neck and
i shoulders; under my tail it was whit
. iSh-yoS xroS INV hast
d Mrs. Pine-Woods Sparrow smiled.
d for she knew her mate had no other
suit than the one he called his best
suit.
= .'Yes, / remember" said Mr.. Pine
i. Woods Sparrow, that / was sitting
re- or perching upon some tall thick
m grasses. / heard voices. but wouldn'l
8 look above. The voices came nearer
Mt and was feeling so shy and so afraid
TX For a moment / didn't know what
to do. But then hurried TO my wings
:, which bird will do, just as a person
= will hurry to his feet when surprised
i and / few off little distance, wheI
to ! went down into the grasses again.
he didn't tire myself going miles ant
rs miles. A little way was enough. Bu
o / didn't have to feel like a fish out OF
u water or bird off the land or ava,
ey from the air. 1 escaped in time.
81 And we. are all alike, we pine
woods sparrows. We build our home.
of grass and In the grass on. the good
Oh old, safe ground. And the mother pine
ri woods sparrows hatch several beauti
ed flu! white eggs into several beautiful
he birds
is I've always live far south, both sum
o. mer and winter. and do not move IA
ID, away, as other birds do.
= But it's nice to be what one is anc
nj, not what one isn't. I don't suppos,
IS one can be what one isn't, But IL.
ID nice not to want TO be anyone or any
thing else-that's what mean"
''Yes," said Mrs. Pine Woods Spar
Ike row, ''it's best to be satisfied. We lovs
Ter the grass and the big pines. We car.
Sh for the woods and the Southern land.
ne and we don't make friends, but live q
~ happy life by ourselves"
81. I'm sing a song about it," said Mr.
m Pine-Woods Sparrow. And he sang
he little trill and then chirped few
ed times, doing the same thing over ant
oss over again.
he I'm singing song" he said, "abou
happiness and being contented AM
satisfied; it is the song of the pine
ne woods sparrow family, the song of tn
81 shy but happy birds"
Of And Mrs. Pine-woods Sparrow knew
of that it was true, though his song wa
he the same one which he always sang
OF but as he was always happy and con
ed tented the same song always was al
vs. right.