Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-29

Those young Flickers In the telegraph
pole grew very fast, but that was to be
expected. I know Of nothing in the
Great World that grows faster than does
a young bird 1t wasn't long before
they we're crowded in that house which
had seemed so large when it had been
finished by their parents. Then one day
when Mrs yellow Wing returned with
a mouthful of food she was surprised
and delighted to see two bills sticking
out of the doorway. That was a proud
moment for her. 1t was just such
moment as your mother knew when
you first crept You see. it meant that
two babies had begun to climb.
Now, the first thing that some babies
learn is how To creep. 1t is so with
most human babies. There are other
babies who first learn to walk; some
who first learn to hop; a very few who.
like baby Humning Birds, fly without
learning to use their feet first, and
some who learn to climb before they
either walk, hop or fly. 1t is this way
with young FlickerS. The two whose
bills were thrust out of the doorway
had climbed up the inside wall of their
house, and Mrs. yellow Wing knew that
1t wouldn't be long now before they
would be wanting to climb outside.
When these two had been fed they
bled up. SO it came about that there
was a great deal of scrambling up and
down inside that home all day long as
each of those nine youngsters tried for
chance TO peep out at the Great
World.
Now, in any large family there is
bound to be a difference among the
children. Some will be bold: others
will be tinid. Some will be headstrong;
nt 1rrin hn y
ambitious; others will be lazy. 1t was
just so in the big family of young
Flickers. Yellow Wing came hurrying
home one day to find three outside of
the house, clinging to the telegraph
pole, their eyes wide with wonder as
they gazed around at the Great World
Two more were peeping out of the
doorway. Mrs. Yellow Wing came hur-
rying up. Two were fed, and then.
their mouths being free, Yellow Wing
and Mrs. Yellow Wing began to talk
over what had best be done.
ut won't do for either of us to go far
away now" declared Mrs. Yellow Wing
There is no knowing what might hap
pen to the darlings, now that they are
out of the house. Of course, the first
thing to do is to give them some les
sons in climbing. They must be taught
to climb up and down and sideways, so
trunk, limb or a pole. 1t is quite as
important as learning to fly. They
must be taught how to use their tails
Fortunately. that seems to come nat
ural. See how those two up above us
are bracing themselves with their tails.
They are doing it just as if they always
had done it."
It hope no more will venture out
until these have learned to fly a little, !"
said Yellow Wing. IF all nine should
be out here at the same time and an
enemy happened along, we would be
sure to lose one of them at least"
You go look for some more food. .
retorted Mrs. yellow Wing, and stop
your worrying. While you are gone I'll
give the dears a few hints on how to
use their feet and tails"
So Yellow Wing flew off to hunt for
food and Mrs. Yellow Wing began a
game of dodge around the pole with
the three young Flickers who were out
side. Presently they were joined by
two more, the two who had been look
ing out the doorway. 1t was great fun
chasing each other around that pole
and up and down it. All the time,
without knowing it. they were learning
to climb. When Yellow Wing returned
he joined in the fun and Mrs Yellow
Wing went to hunt for food.
All afternoon those five young Flick