Evening star., 1944-10-06
This and That
By Charles +. TrdcetDell.
BETHESDA. Nd,

Dear Sir:
1--WE had most distressing happening
at our house the other day. I was
seated at a back window, looking into
the yard, when saw our kitten playing
with something.
"At first I supposed he had an insect
Of some kind, but quickly noticed so
much unusual leaping and capering
that became suspicious. and went out
to investigate. To my dismay I found
that he had baby catbird. Just how
a young catbird came so late In the
season I do not know, because I have
never heard OF one later than August.
But it was certainly catbird, though
1t had no tail to speak Of. 1 took the
frightened creature away from the cat.
1t seemed to be all right. as far rs 1
could tell although naturally very much
frightened.
Il put the bird in q bush, hoping its
parents would find 1t. I went back into
the house and started to read, and had
read only few minutes when I hap
pened to look out, and suddenly saw
the bird fly across the yard from the
bush, make q dive and land suuarely
at the feet of the cat.
Really, I could not blame 1t for seiz-
Ing the catbird again, because 1t new
squarely into its paws, actually into its
very paws.
This time I had more diniculty in
getting the bird away, but finally did so.
and was pleased to see that 1t was still
more frightened than hurt This time
1 was determined to keep 1t safe, 80 I
fn fIo o,,I & L.
big wooden box with screen over it.
"The catbird drank some water, and
ate little food, and appeared to be all
right to my eyes.
Il was giving it some more food, when
suddenly it f1uttered out of my hands
and disappeared behind some old boxes
in one corner Of the garage.
Nov this to me is the sad part Of
my story; try as could, I could not
find the bird, and have never seen 1t
since.
There was no hole for it to get down.
and the door was shut, so it could not
have flown out, but search as much as
I pleased I could not find It, nor 80
much as a feather Of it.
II know that rats come to the garage,
but certainly they could not have seized
it and made off with 1t without me see
ing the deed done.
Il looked under every box and barrel
and basket in the garage, and behind
all the other junk which we unfor-
tunately keep there, especially in one
end but found nothing. I still do not
know what become of it, and 1 cannot
understand what could have happened
n III TIC dicanySn oroy,co xxyor oxl a. .,
real mystery to me. If you have any
ideas, would appreciate them, as I
tried 20 hard to help the little creature,
and failed Is 50 often do when I try
to do good Sometimes think it is no
wonder people do not more often do the
good deeds they think Of, because they
fail and then have added another miser-
able memory to LIES long list.
Sincerely. M. j."
All friends of birds can sympAthize
with our correspondent.
It Is always good thing, in such
cases, to swing wide the garage door or
doors to let In Is much light as possible.
The frightened bird, when It gets be-
hind box or barrel, Is in darkness,
and thinks night has fallen, and SO
tends to 60 to sleep, and when the
garage remains dark 1t viii stay hidden
for many hours.
In the case Of Lilly Belle, the pet
robin, we recall that she few down be-
hind an old bureau in the tool shed,
and remained there without uttering q
sound for full ~ hours. The space
between the back Of the bureau and the
wall was so narrow that she could not
fly. 1t was only when We finally moved
the bureau that she came to light.
It is helpful to think that good deeds,
when motivated by kindness and sim
cerity, never can be failures, In 4 larger
sense, but have about them some Of the
triumph Of the spirit which Is more
easily seen In successful feAts. The
brave doctor who went down with his
patients on the stricken destroyer,
rather than leave them, as he might
have done, is q proud symbol OF that
spirit which makes us q brave race, and
the effort to save q small bird, though
unsuccessful, nevertheless has something
good about 1t which win remain an in
gpiratiOn, too. in IL small war.