The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-11
Love Birds Are Fine Example
 ToH Hurnans
By sOPHIE IRENE LOEB

YER a year ago a friend made me present of a. pair of young
 African finches, so-called Hove birds"-4tiny birds of paradise, l would term them. And they have taught me many lesson. ta
 Times without number have reflect ed that if only human beings could taks their, example from these birds, what a happy world this would be.
 Their routine of iife is so regular and so delightful that any one who doubts his Maker need only, observe these birds awhile and he will be assured that somewhere in the universe there is a Great Power that puts into little mites like these the desire to ives.the preser- vation of self, and love-yfs, love. #
 With the first sign of the sun they are dancing with glee because a new day is born and they are glad with it. And when we put the bath on the cage, they act just like human beings, bouncing from one twig to the other, exercising, jumping to the bath as though expressing their great giee in plunging and diving in and out.
 And who taught these birds even to bathe as they do? For they get themselves clean somehow, and they revel in the water. It is their first concern-cleanlihess And when they are through they get, together and re- lax-rest. Alter this they eat, drink and rest again bit
 When there is music they seem fairly to dance to it, and the joy of it seems to enter into their makeup. At twi- light, when the sun is setting, they sit very close together, doubtless reflecting and dreaming about it all. Often in these rest periods yod will catch one or the other leaning over and giving a fondling touch to the beak or head or neck of it's mate-real affection in the knowledge that they are enjoying some thing together something beautiful.
 At night, when the shades are drawn, they get very close indeed, so that you could not put blade between; not a sound, not chirp, complete harmony, , complete rest. There safe no quarrels, no dissension, no arguments. Once in while they seem to enter into d heated discdssion, but somehow they adjust it and are together again, very, very soon. And atgthe end of it all they have very peaceful day, and so the night follows the day.
 Happy birds! Poor people they are who cannot gain something from watch ing these tiny creatures who know life sc well and how to live it. An, there is the rub! So few of us know how to make the best of our environment. Here they are in a cage, yet making the most of it, being happy-at least having each other. For it is said when one dies the other follows shortly. after.
 How few people, indeed make their lives fit conditions Instead they tear their hair and cry aloud at fate. They find nothing with which to be satis- fled and contentment never finds them because they refuse to let it in.
 'Tis well indeed to look to the birds and other dumb living things and see how they accept their environment, striving, of course, to better themselves but not entirely unhappy under any circumstances. If we could. only cul. tivate the trait of tolerance with things as they are, So that nothing could put one actually out of the pale of some pleasure, the world would find fewer tears: and though we have trials some thing out of it could be gleaned and some sunshine enter into our lives.