Evening star., 1945-07-04
This and That
By Charles E. TraceueH.

CABIN JOHN, Md.
Dear Sir:
My name is Timmy Aunt Pat dis
covered me three years ago-I discoy-
cred this place myself
1t has many feeding stations big,
little, middle sized, all kinds, many
shapes-gourds, tree branches with
holes bored all along; in them is stuck
suet.
There is fine swinging feeder and
many other different kinds of places for
food. The porch rail has wood along
the edge on one side so the food can't
fall of.
Il like it here.
when first came here 1t was cold in
the stone heap. The bluebirds had gone,
and I decided I'd like to use their
house.
THE door was not big enough, so I
gnawed it bigger, just right for me
l liked it.
1t was snug and warm, but I was
often so sleepy that forgot to tuck in
my tail. Jack Frost didn't forget-he
ntpped 1t. He Is a sly fellow
Now, alas, have no hair on my long
tail
There was a time that we had little
food. Aunt Pat was In the hospital.
Everybody was worried, but when she
came back she remembered us at once.
There Is couple of gray SQUIRRELS
and all kinds of birds. We get along
f1ne because there are enough different
places where we can all eat at once if
we feel like it.
Now the dozens of children who are
Ia oil loxy
and give us water. There is tiny pool
with a concrete shallow basin on
pillar in the middle.
Il send you a picture to pin up of me.
I don't stay in one spot very long, but
1t looks some like me. I am telling
you, sir, not all chipmunks are bad
chipmunks, but reckon We are all
wee bit mischievous.
Your friend
"TIMMY THE CHIPMUNK,"
NJ
Study of birds and animals Is as fine
hobby as an invalid can have.
And when that person can draw and
paint, as can our valued correspondent.
it means that the terrible agony of
waiting is reduced to a bearable degree
Time Is mysterious element When
we want it to go slow, it seems to go fast,
and sometimes when we want it to
speed by, 1t goes too slow.
The birds are great help, In the
latter case.
They offer consolation and something
to be interested in, and bring a real
breath of the healing power of nature.
Many persons in hospitals have been
speeded out by nothing more than
watching sparrows in the vines on the
wall
We know OF one patient who spent
week watching a. lone starting which
daily came to flower box atop build
ing across the street.
That starting became an old friend.
Since that week the lonely watcher has
never been able to join the popular
sport of disparaging starlings.
At such times love of nature helps.
Feeding the birds is particularly good
because many of the species can be
brought to the window sill, and this in
winter as well as in summer.
In fact, there can be more birds In
the cold than in the hot days
Even the singing of English sparrows
is music to all but the most ILL.,
ng-drawn-out days of GONZALES
cence pass on wings Of song.
All that is necessary is determination
This, coupled with understanding.
Even the person who has never paid
any attention to birds and small ami
mails can work up an interest In them
when he feels he has to. How much
easier it is, then, when the watcher
turns to them as old friends. Prior in
terest becomes sort Of insurance.
We have often marveled at the prodi-
gality of some persons in throwing away
rich treasure by refusing to be inter-
ested In birds. Hitler wasn't interested
in birds, either. And see what happened
to hinl