Evening star., 1937-07-19

THESE days we hear great deal
about welfare and welfare problems
They are nothing new The feath-
cred folk, at least some OF them,
know all about welfare problems,
and they are no nearer to a solution
Of them than are we human beings.
You see, there are frauds and i'm
posters in the bird world, Just as
among mankind.
Sally Sly the CoWbird puts all her
children on welfare. It isn't that she
cannot feed them and care for them.
just as other birds feed and care for
their young. No, indeed, it isn't this
at all. 1t is solely because she doesn't
want to be bothered with them. and
wants to be off, gadding about There
Is no reason in the world why she
shouldn't build nest, sit on her eggs
until they hatch, and feed and care
for her young, Just as other bird
mothers do for their children. But
Sally long ago discovered that there
are soft and tender hearts in many
feathered breasts, and that these may
easily be imposed on Why work
when your neighbors will do the work
for you? Why be worried and
bothered when others will relieve you
Of all such disagreeable things2 So
asks Sally, and proceeds to answer
her own questions by turning all her
responsibilities over to others. Is it
any wonder that Sally Slys children
are frauds?
There were three Of them in the
Old Orchard, each with a different
pair OF foster parents. Chippy the
Chipping Sparrow and Mrs. Chippy
were caring for one. Little Friend the
Song Sparrow and his mate were look
ing after another, and the needs of
the third were being attended to by
the Redstarts.
The Chipping Sparrows had no
children of their own. While they
were still helpless they had been
kicked out of the nest by their heart
less foster brother and had persisted
The Song Sparrows had succeeded in
raising two Of their own children,
but these were far from being the
strong, sturdy youngsters that they
should be, and all because the young
lmposter in their home, being much
the biggest and strongest, got not
only all his own share of the food.
but much Of theirs. The Redstarts
had but one remaining of the three
baby Redstarts who had been forced
to share their home with q young
CoWbird.
All were now out OF the nests, able
to fly, and had been for some time.
In fact, the young Song Sparrows
and the young Redstart had become
almost independent. They were find
ing most Of their own food, with
only occasional help from their par
ents. But the three young Cowbirds
showed no signs Of independence or
OF wanting to be independent They
were big, sturdy birds, so much big
ger than their foster parents that
to see the latter feeding them was
simply ridiculous. The way in which
they imposed on the ones who had
cared for them and brought them up
was the scandal of the Old Orchard
Just look at that fraud" said
Welcome Robin to Kitty the Catbird,
as one Of the young Cowbirds ran
across the grass after Mrs Chippy,
crying for the morsel of food she had
just picked up. Mrs. Chippy is
nothing but skin and bones, all because
she is working herself to death to
feed that fraud who should have been
off feeding himself long ago. Mr..
Chippy is no better off"
Il don't see why they don't refuse
to feed him. They would soon be rid
Of him then" said Kitty the Catbird.
Just what they should do" de-
clared Welcome Robin. Il said as
much to Mrs. Chippy, but the poor
thing is too tender-hearted. You
know said she, he is all we have
now, and he is so dependent on us.
He dosen't know how to feed him.
self. I certainly will be glad when
he can, but until then we must look
after him. You see, it isn't his fault
Cildt llc 1ieo 1lO pal CllIS VI Ills OWL
to look after him. I told her she
was simply being imposed on, but
she wouldn't believe it,
Kitty the Catbird nodded. "It is
just the same with those two other
frauds" said Kitty. They are just
imposing on the Song Sparrows and
the Redstarts, and they will keep on
doing it as long as they are allowed
to. They are a disgrace to the Old
Orchard. That Is what they are
Something ought to be done about it."
Copyright. 1879