Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1896 — Sympathy Among Birds. [ARTICLE]

Sympathy Among Birds.

Once upon a time when Olive Thorne Miller and Florence Merriam, two writers on bird life, were taking notes in Lewis county, New York, the found a widowed redstart and her baby in the wood lot Like all babies, the little

redstart was constantly teasing foe something to eat, and, like most mothers, the redstart was just wearying herself into the grave trying to supply the demand. Then came the kindly hand of a good-hearted and wholly unselfish neighbor to help her. A jolly bachelor of a chestnut sided warbler heard the bay cry and saw the weariness of the overworked mother, and he fluttered his wing at the thought that here was a chance to be courteous to one of the other sex, without any one being able to say that he had an ulterior purpose in the kindly attentions he might give her. Gathering a goodly worm, the bachelor carried it to the baby. At first the poor widow didn’t know about that. She might be without her natural protector, but no meddling stranger need think her unable to take care of herself gnd little one; and she made some pretty harsh remarks to the chestnut-sided warbler. But he, good fellow, did not mind that. He would have taken the baby in his arms and walked up and down to soothe it, had that been the fashion with baby birds; but, as it was, he kept on bringing worms and other things until even pert little Mrs. Redstart was calmed into a peaceful state of mind and, the baby being satisfied, was able to smooth out her much rumpled skirts and attend to the gloss of her beautifully-contrasted breast and arms. It was a most charming little episode in bird society.—The Chautauquan.