The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-03-20

find material for this wonderful
little home for father, mother and
wee birds when they should come.
Snow had covered the ground all
winter and old March wind had
been doing fine house cleaning and
though their eyes were sharp, suit
able material was hard to find. The
birds had to take many long trips
to and from the nest. Returning
one day with their yellow beaks
bulging with sweet clean hay which
had just drQrrrcui ronl a farmers
hay wagon, whom should they find
sitting on their precious nest but
a little brown sparrow, their worst
enemy. Surrounding the nest were
many other naughty sparrows. In
the toughest way possible the
Robins were chased from their
home under the caves. They must
hunt new shelter.
In the school yard were many
trees, here at least they would be
free to build as there were enough
u CSD lol liz IiC Iva N vi q
maple tree with its fresh spring
dress on, seemed the finest place
ever In twinkling came the
mother bird with a long string in
her beak. While the mother and
father birds were tugging away
trying to fasten the string TO some
twigs, along came the meddlesome
little brown sparrow, creating a
disturbance. Stealing the string
away they flew with it to the nest
under the caves.
Poor little Robins! This treat
ment was quite TOO severe. Where
they slept that night no one knew
but early the next morning they
were chatting away. Once more
they began TO build. This time
between the iron bars on the steps
of the fire escape, just outside the
Kindergarten window. This quite
overjoyed the children. the process
of watching the nest building was
great treat in store tor them.
They agreed however, that not a
word should be said to anyone until
the nest was finished. nor would
they go too close 10 the window.
lest something should frigh,en the
little birds away.
For many days the Robins work
ed, bringing straw. string, balls vi
mud and finally tiny little feathers
10 line the hest and make it SOFT
and warm. Mother bird laid some
tiny blue eggs, one each day until
the children counted 1873 eggs.
Then came days OF patient sit
ting OIL the nest with occasional
trips for food. The father bird
would sit on L twig near by to see
that no harm came to his dear lit.
tie male. lie would sing and chat
ter away while the motlerbifd
crooed her lullabies. One happy
morning something moved under.
meath the mother bird. Father
bird caughe sound-peep! Peep!
Peep! from three tiny throats
underneath the mother birds soft
warm breast. Three hungry
mouths were wide open for food.
Such ugly little babies, too. but
father and mother Robin knew The
secret. Worms and bugs were
plentiful and wee birds must have
water to make them grow.
Tie brides grew and grew and
learned 10 hop around The nest.
Sometimes they grew quite venture
some. One day When the father
and mother returned from a long
grubbing trip. they found their
babies on the edge of the nest just
ready 10 try tlieir wings, a perilous
position for such wee birds. and OH,
how the mother bird scolded until
they hoped back into the nest
When night came and the crickeus
and owls and frogs came out for
their evening frolic, father, mother
and all the little Robins tucked
their heads under their wings and
went to sleep.
Each day wee birds learn some
thing new
And this is what they tried to do,
They flew and flew and flew and
flew.
In the lsst on the fire escape the
Robins lived unmolested and IN
harmed until they ont grew the nest