Evening star., 1937-07-17

On gossip xcandals thrive and srow:
The truth the sossips seldom know.
Old Mother Nature.
THERE was scandal in the Old
Orchard. Yes, sir, things were
being whispered about that were moth
ing less than scandal. And Of all peo-
pie. Mr.. and Mrs. Chippy the Chip
ping Sparrows were the victims Of
it. 1t had leaked out that they were
bringing up one OF the babies Of
Sally Sly the Cowbird. and gossip
had it that they were neglecting
their own babies. OF course. it was
no ones business but their own
Certainly not But the Old Orchard
is like any other neighborhood, and
the neighbors did talk.
They say that their own babies
are not half fed. but that that
youngster OF Sally Slys is as fat as
baby we'll can BE-" said Mrs. Oriole
to Mrs. Robin.
1T is a shame and disgrace to
the Old Orchard" replied Mrs. Robin
Her own children should come frst.
Mine would I can tell you that"
Mrs. Catbird happened along in
time to overhear this bit OF gossip
I suppose you are talking about Mrs
Chippy." said she. Have you heard
the latest?"
What is the latest?" demanded
Mrs. Orioe.
They say one OF the Chippy babies
fell from the nest" replied Mrs.
Catbird.
More likely it was kicked out Of
the nest by that Cowbird young
ster," declared Mrs. Robin. "If Mrs.
Chippy had any sense at all she
would refuse to feed him. I would
starve him to death were I in her
place. Anyway, I would see that my
own got all they wanted before feed
ing him."
Mrs. Catbird nodded in agree
ment. $50 would l." said she. Il al
ways say that our own should come
first. 1t Is all right to be tender
hearted when your own are not SUI
fering, but when one who has no
right to 1t takes the food from the
very mouths OF ones children 1T is a
different matter. I thought better
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Chippy. The whole
affair Is disgrace to the neighbor-
hood"
Two days later another OF the
Chlppy babies had been found on
the ground dead. and the tongues in
the Old Orchard flew faster than
ever. 1t was outrageous that such
things should happen and nothing be
done about it. Poor Mr.. and Mrs.
Chippy. They had to bear the blame
for 1t all. They we're accused of
being hard Of heart, of caring more
for the child OF another than for
their own children.
How the neighbors talked! They
all seemed to know exactly what
they would do were they ever placed
in such a situation as Mr.. and Mrs.
Chippy, and you may be sure it
was very different from what they
were doing. The only ones who were
not critical were Mr.. and Mrs. Red
start and Mr.. and Mrs. Veery. They
said nothing. You see, they really
knew what the situation of Mr., and
Mrs. Chippy was. They knew, be-
cause they were going through much
the same experience. They, too. were
foster parents to young Cowbirds.
Poor Chippy and Mrs. Chippy.
While they were being 80 talked about
by their neighbofs they were doing
the best they could. They were not
Intentionally neglecting their own ba-
bies. The trouble was that from the
very start the young Cowbird was
80 much bigger than the baby Spar
rows that he managed to snatch
food that was meant for the Others
OF course. getting the most food. he
grew the fastest, and the bigger and
stronger he grew the easier 1t was
Tor him to get the food intended
for the others. When Chippy or
Mrs. chippy would bring food and
try to tuck It into the mouth Of one
Of their own babies the young Cow
bird would snatch It right out OF
their bills They were not feeding
him Intentionally but because they
couldn't help themselves. Their babies
were half starved in spite of all they
could no, and they worked from dawn
till dark to get food.
/. And then they returned to fnd
that one of their babies had fallen
from the nest during their absence.
Later the same dreadful accident
happened again. What they didn't
know was that those little birds had
deliberately been kicked out OF the
nest by the young Cowbird. but 10
1t was. 1t happened 4 third time,
and then there was only the Cow
bird left. He got all the food now
and constantly demanded more.
(Conyrirht 1oarN