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diff --git a/33775.txt b/33775.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2595db8 --- /dev/null +++ b/33775.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1305 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Little Robins Learning to Fly, by Madeline Leslie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Little Robins Learning to Fly + +Author: Madeline Leslie + +Release Date: September 20, 2010 [EBook #33775] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +MRS. LESLIE'S BOOKS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. + +THE ROBIN REDBREAST SERIES. + + + + + BOOKS WRITTEN OR EDITED + By A. R. BAKER, + AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. + + + QUESTION BOOKS on the Topics of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. + VOL. I. FOR CHILDREN. VOL. II. FOR YOUTH. + VOL. III. FOR ADULTS. + LECTURES ON THESE TOPICS, _in press_. + + MRS. LESLIE'S SABBATH SCHOOL BOOKS. + TIM, THE SCISSORS GRINDER. + SEQUEL TO "TIM, THE SCISSORS GRINDER." + PRAIRIE FLOWER. + THE BOUND BOY. + THE BOUND GIRL. + VIRGINIA. + THE TWO HOMES; OR, EARNING AND SPENDING. + THE ORGAN-GRINDER, _in press_. + + QUESTION BOOKS. The Catechism tested by the Bible. + VOL. I. FOR CHILDREN. VOL. II. FOR ADULTS. + + THE DERMOTT FAMILY; or, Stories Illustrating the Catechism. + VOL. I. DOCTRINES RESPECTING GOD AND MANKIND. + " II. DOCTRINES OF GRACE. + " III. COMMANDMENTS OF THE FIRST TABLE. + " IV. COMMANDMENTS OF THE SECOND TABLE. + " V. CONDITIONS OF ETERNAL LIFE. + + MRS. LESLIE'S HOME LIFE. + VOL. I. CORA AND THE DOCTOR. + " II. COURTESIES OF WEDDED LIFE. + " III. THE HOUSEHOLD ANGEL. + + MRS. LESLIE'S JUVENILE SERIES. + VOL. I. THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN. + " II. PLAY AND STUDY. + " III. HOWARD AND HIS TEACHER. + " IV. TRYING TO BE USEFUL. + " V. JACK, THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER. + " VI. THE YOUNG HOUSEKEEPER. + " VII. LITTLE AGNES. + + THE LITTLE FRANKIE SERIES. + LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS MOTHER. + LITTLE FRANKIE AT HIS PLAYS. + LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS COUSIN. + LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS FATHER. + LITTLE FRANKIE ON A JOURNEY. + LITTLE FRANKIE AT SCHOOL. + + THE ROBIN REDBREAST SERIES. + THE ROBINS' NEST. + LITTLE ROBINS IN THE NEST. + LITTLE ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY. + LITTLE ROBINS IN TROUBLE. + LITTLE ROBINS' FRIENDS. + LITTLE ROBINS' LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER. + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY.] + + + + + LITTLE + ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY. + + BY + MRS. MADELINE LESLIE, + + AUTHOR OF "THE HOME LIFE SERIES;" "MRS. LESLIE'S + JUVENILE SERIES," ETC. + + [Illustration] + + BOSTON: + CROSBY AND NICHOLS. + 117 WASHINGTON STREET. + + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by + A. R. BAKER, + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District + of Massachusetts. + + ELECTROTYPED AT THE + BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. + + + + +LITTLE ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY. + +CHAPTER I. + +MR. ROBIN'S POOR COUSINS. + + +Early one May morning, Fred Symmes was sent by his mother upon an errand +to the next farm. He did not go around by the road, but jumped over the +stone wall, and passed along through the pleasant orchard. As he came +near the pear tree, he saw a large robin flying back and forth from it, +and stopping to look, soon discovered a nest in the fork formed by two +of the lower limbs. + +What was his surprise, as the robin flew toward the ground, to have it +alight on his arm! when he at once recognized it as Mr. Robin, who had a +wife and family in the elm tree near the cottage. + +"Why, what are you doing here this bright morning?" he asked, holding +out his finger, upon which the familiar bird readily perched. + +Mr. Robin cocked his head, turned up his bright eye, and tried to +explain. But as Fred did not seem to understand, and kept saying, "I +hope you have not forsaken your wife and little nestlings, pretty +birdie," he alighted on the ground, picked up a worm, and flew away +into the tree. + +Fred quickened his steps, did his errand at the farm, and on his return, +found Mr. Robin had flown away. He climbed into a tree, from which he +could look into the nest. There he saw a female bird sheltering her +young, who were feebly chirping as she partly rose to meet the intruder. + +She uttered a cry of distress, and began to flutter her wings; but Fred +quickly slid down from the tree, and put an end to her alarm. + +When he reached home, both Mr. and Mrs. Robin were picking up crumbs at +the cottage door. + +"Grandpa," said he, when they were seated at breakfast, "I saw something +very funny this morning. I found our robin in a pear tree near Mr. +Bacon's farm, feeding a whole nest full of birds." + +"Were they alone?" inquired Mr. Symmes. + +"No, father. The mother bird was there; and he fed her too." + +"I suppose the father has been killed," suggested the old gentleman. "It +is very cruel to kill birds when they have little families to take care +of. But I have read many instances where birds have assisted each other +when in distress: where the male bird has been killed, one of his +neighbors has fed and assisted in rearing the young brood, at the same +time he attended to the wants of his own family." + +An hour or two later, grandpa sat in his arm chair under the shade of +the graceful elm. Fred had brought his tools, and was converting a large +wooden box into a playhouse for his little sister. Annie stood near him, +her apron filled with small bits of broken china, which she called her +dishes, and which she was waiting to arrange in her new cupboard. + +It was very warm; and the boy's forehead was wet with perspiration. He +drew his jacket sleeve across his face, as he exclaimed, "There, Annie, +your house is done." + +"Thank you, thank you, dear brother," cried the little girl, in an +ecstasy of delight. She emptied the bright-colored crockery on the +ground, and ran to the house for her dolly and two chairs; the latter +her mother had made of pieces of smooth cornstalks, fastened together +with pins. + +"O, doesn't it look pretty, grandpa?" she asked, jumping up and down in +her glee. "See Minnie sitting in her parlor. Now I'll set up my dishes. +O dear!" she added, with a quick, appealing glance at her brother, "how +nice it would be if I had a table!" + +"Well, some time I'll make you one," answered Fred, with a smile. "And +you can put your dolly's cradle into the bedroom." + +"O yes," shouted Annie, with a cry of joy; and she ran away to fetch it. + +"I will help you make a table," said grandpa to Fred; "and I think we +can manage to put together a very pretty one between us." + +"I want to hear more about birds helping each other," said the boy. "It +seems so queer that they should know enough to do it." + +"It is a most interesting study," answered the old gentleman, "to watch +the character and habits of birds, and one which has engaged the +attention of many learned men. There is no portion of God's creation in +which his wisdom is more displayed than in the formation of birds. Each +and every variety are exactly fitted for the circumstances in which they +are to be placed. For instance, the eagle, who lives on high crags or +rocks, almost inaccessible to man, has a short, strong beak, hooked at +the end, wings of immense strength, and claws large and sharp. He is +gifted with extraordinary clearness of sight. Sitting on the summit of +a huge rock, or sailing around at a great height in the air, he discerns +his prey. Sometimes it is a fish just below the surface of the water, or +a lamb accidentally separated from its mother. He shoots down, down, and +with the speed, sure aim, and straightness of an arrow, pounces upon the +prey, and carries it off in his strong talons." + +"How different from our pretty little robins!" exclaimed Fred. + +"Yes, the eagle is a bird of prey, and is formed accordingly. The robin +lives upon grubs, insects, or seeds and fruit. It is not necessary, +therefore, for him to be possessed of much strength. His beak is just +fitted for the kind of labor he must perform in getting his food. It is +slightly notched near the end. He is a very social bird, and is +remarkable for the bravery with which he defends his young. + +Then there is the pelican of the wilderness, who is furnished with a +large pouch, joined to the lower part of his beak, in which he can carry +a considerable quantity of food to his young." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HEN HAWK. + + +While grandpa and Fred were talking, they suddenly heard a loud cry of +distress from the hen in the coop, quickly followed by the cluck, cluck, +with which she summoned her chickens under her wings. + +Presently Mr. and Mrs. Robin seemed to partake of the fright. She +uttered continual sharp cries, while her husband flew with quick, +violent motions over his nest. + +Fred hastened toward the barn, and saw a large hawk sailing in the air +above them. He ran to call his father, who was, fortunately, near at +hand. + +"Bring my gun," said Mr. Symmes, taking down a flask of powder from a +high shelf in the shed. + +"Now we'll soon bring him down," he continued, stationing himself at +the back door. He took his aim. Annie turned pale, and pressed her hands +over her ears. Then came the report; and, true enough, the great, brown +bird fell to the ground just in front of the hen-coop at which it had +been aiming. + +"That was a good shot," remarked grandpa, walking slowly to the place. + +"I seldom miss fire," said Mr. Symmes, with a look of honest pride. "My +hand is steady, and the gun is a faithful old fellow, that has served +honorably in war, and has helped me to get rid of many an enemy." + +"O, father, see how it flutters! It is not quite dead." + +"Bring it here, child, and I'll put an end to its pain. We should always +avoid keeping any living being in misery." He wrung the hawk's neck, +though Annie screamed, and then began to cry. + +"Why, sis, do you want our chickens and birdies all carried off?" asked +Fred. "This is a bad bird, and would have stolen them away if father had +not killed it. Hark! there are the robins now singing us a song to thank +us for protecting them." + +They all stopped for a moment to listen, as the beautiful songsters +warbled forth their sweet strains, filling the air with their rich +melody. + +"Do you suppose they really know what we have done for them?" inquired +the boy. + +"Certainly I do," answered grandpa, "They made known their wants as well +as they were able, and in language that it was easy to understand. The +little nestlings knew at once, from the cries of their parents, that +there was danger near, and joined in the notes of distress. Now, while +their father and mother sit quietly upon the bough singing their thanks, +they feel sure the danger is past, and that no accident will happen to +them." + +"I'm sure the chickies knew," said Annie. "They ran in to their mother +as quick as they could, and cuddled together under her wings." + +"They knew just as well," replied her father, "and understood her +language as quick as you would if your mother saw a great lion in the +yard, and called you, 'Annie, come here! run quick into the house, +or you will be killed!'?]" + +In the mean time, Fred had been examining the dead hawk, and now +exclaimed, "O, what a strong bird this is! I don't wonder smaller ones +are afraid of it." + +"It is of the same family as the eagle and falcon," said grandpa, +"though, as you see, its beak is very short, and bends gradually from +its base. It is naturally a ferocious bird, but is capable of strong +affection for those who treat it with kindness. In England, hawks were +formerly much prized, as they were trained to catch game of various +sorts, and sometimes became so tame that they would not only come when +called, but they would bring home to their owner whatever they took in +their flight. + +"A hawk which was once owned by a gentleman in England, escaped from its +owner, after accompanying him on a hunting expedition, and flew hundreds +of miles in the short space of about six hours. It alighted on a vessel +bound for America from Europe, which was nearly midway on her passage, +and was recognized by a silver ring on its leg, with the owner's name +engraved upon it." + +"Did it remain on board the vessel?" inquired Fred, earnestly. + +"For some days it did, my dear, and then it took its flight." + +"Do you suppose it could find its way back to its master?" asked Annie. + +"O, yes, as easily as the robins in the tree will find their way back to +our farm when spring comes again," said grandpa with a smile. + +"The chickens are all out again now," said the little girl, running to +the coop. + +"Yes, indeed!" exclaimed her brother; "they have forgotten all about +their fright by this time. Grandpa, what would you do with this dead +hawk?" + +"I would dig a hole in the ground and bury it, my dear." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +LEARNING TO FLY. + + +The next morning, Fred was awakened earlier than usual by a loud and +continued chirping in the robins' nest. He dressed himself quickly, and +ran to the window, where he saw Dick, the largest bird, sitting on the +edge of the nest, while his father and mother were hopping from one +bough to another, twittering incessantly, and trying to encourage him +to try his wings. + +Fred was greatly excited, and ran to the stairs to call his sister, who +slept below in the room with her parents. + +This was indeed an important day in the robins' nest. Dick and Jack, +Molly and Katy, were now fledged; and it was high time for them to begin +to exercise a little. + +"Dick is the oldest, and must try his wings first," said Mr. Robin, +firmly. + +"I dare not," answered Dick. "It makes me dizzy only to look down." + +"Don't stop to look, then," said his mother. "Spread out your wings and +fly away. Try, and you will find it very easy. Here, see how I do it." +She perched for a moment on the nest by his side, and then slowly +raising her wings, flew to the ground. + +"I know I shall kill myself," muttered the cowardly bird. + +"Let me fly," exclaimed Jack. "It looks easy when you do it." + +"It is easy," said his father. "It is only to make up your mind, 'I can +fly if I will,' spread out your wings, and away you go. Dick, as you are +the oldest, the privilege of leaving the nest first is yours; but if you +do not start before I chirp three times, Jack may take your place." + +He then began, "Chirp, chirp, chirp;" but the foolish Dick did not move. + +His father was much displeased, and gave him a blow with his beak, +pushing him back into the nest. + +"Come, my brave Jack," said his mother; "you shall show us how easily +you can learn to fly." + +Poor Jack's heart beat strangely, as he saw how far it was to the +ground. His mother showed him how to move his wings, continually +spreading them, flying a yard or two, and then returning. + +"I am a bird, and must learn some time," chirped Jack; "so here goes--" +And shutting his eyes, he resolutely let go his hold of the nest, and +came down, rather awkwardly, to be sure, but still safely, upon the +ground. + +His mother instantly joined him. "Good Jack," said she, "I am proud of +you;" and she repeatedly touched her beak to his. + +"I thought I was falling, falling," answered Jack; "and now that I am +here, I'm afraid I shall be obliged to stay, for it seems impossible to +get back." + +"Here, take this worm, my dear," said his mother, "and then mount that +little bush." + +Jack did so, and found he could fly a short distance with perfect ease; +indeed, he was delighted with the exercise, and, being quite pleased +with his mother's praise of his conduct in showing more courage than his +brother, he thought, "There was never a happier robin than I am!" + +"I will leave you," said Mrs. Robin, "for I see your father cannot +persuade Dick to venture. You may practise from the bush to the ground +and back until I return. There is no danger," she added, as she saw +Jack turn his head quickly and gaze anxiously around. "All are friends +to us; even King, the great dog. And there he is now; so I will stay and +introduce you to him." + +King came walking into the yard, and Mrs. Robin hopped boldly up to him, +calling Jack to follow her. She stopped when she was within a few feet +of him, and began talking in a loud twitter, every now and then turning +her bright eye round upon the young bird. + +"Bow, wow, wow!" barked the dog, in such a loud roar that Jack shook all +over. But King seemed to understand that Mrs. Robin had asked his +interest in her young fledgling, and he was quite ready to do his part. +He walked a step or two forward, and then lay down to survey the new +comer at his leisure. + +At this minute, Annie came running to the door with an apron full of +crumbs. Her face was glowing with pleasure, and her voice was so kind +and cheerful, as she called out, "Birdie, birdie, pretty birdie," that +Jack felt acquainted at once. + +Mrs. Robin caught one crumb, swallowed it, and then, with a glance of +affection at Jack, returned to her duties in the tree. + +The little robin hopped up nearer, and began picking up the bread, ever +and anon cocking his funny little head, and chirping pleasantly, as if +to thank her for her care. Then he returned to the bush, and flew up and +down, up and down, while Annie laughed, and shouted, and clapped her +hands, and called him the smartest bird she ever knew. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GETTING WORMS. + + +"Come, Dick," said Mrs. Robin, in an encouraging tone, after she had +related Jack's delight at his success. "Come, now, or your little +sisters will learn to fly before you do." + +"I don't feel at all afraid," chirped Katy; "now Jack has learned, I +know I can." + +"That is right, my dear," said her mother. "But come, Dick, your father +is getting impatient." + +Dick reluctantly hopped up on the side of the nest. + +"Now," said Mr. Robin, "I will give you one more chance to retrieve your +character. Spread your wings and fly away, or be content to remain in +the nest without food. For I will no longer feed so disobedient and +obstinate a bird." + +Mrs. Robin hopped from branch to branch uneasily, while her husband was +speaking. She would not be guilty of the impropriety of interrupting +him; but she feared he was making a threat his parental affection would +not allow him to execute. "O, I'm sure Dick will try to be as brave as +his brother!" she said; "look, how he is enjoying himself, picking his +fill, and chirping to the dear little girl!" + +"I'll chirp one, two, three," said his father, "and don't let me find +you here when I'm through." + +Dick, though very much afraid, was more than half inclined to venture. +His father's threat of leaving him without food had terrified him; and +then he saw Jack in the enjoyment of plenty; but he could not quite make +up his mind to let go of the nest. + +"Chirp, chirp," cried his father. Dick trembled, and at last ventured +to hop to the next bough; and before Mr. Robin had repeated the last +chirp, his mother went behind him and pushed him off. + +Poor Dick was awfully frightened; but before he had time to scream, he +had alighted safely at the foot of the tree. + +"O dear!" said he, straightening himself up with a braggadocio air. +"It's nothing at all. Here I am, safe and sound. I can fly now as well +as any bird." + +Jack flew from the lilac bush to congratulate him on his success. "I +knew you could fly, if you would only make the attempt," said he, +kindly. + +"Of course I can fly," answered Dick. "I was not at all afraid. I saw +you wanted to alight first, and so I held back; that was all." + +At this answer Jack was very angry. He flew at his brother, and was just +about to pick him, when he remembered his promise to his mother to +strive for peace. + +"After all," said he, hopping away, "you are not worth quarrelling with. +You are a wicked, lying bird." + +"It is now so late," said Mr. Robin to his wife, "I think we had better +feed Molly and Katy, and eat our own breakfast, before I go to my +cousin's family. When I come back, we will give our daughters their +lessons." + +They flew away first to the garden, when Mr. Robin stood a moment, as +was his custom, looking vacantly around. Suddenly he cocked his ear on +one side, made a glancing sort of dart with his head and neck, gave one +or two little hops, then listened attentively, while his eye glistened +with animation and intelligence. He held his beak close down to the +ground, then drew back his head and hopped once or twice; then, after a +moment's pause to ascertain that all was right, he began to pick with +all his might, and presently pulled out a fine worm, which his keen +sense of hearing informed him was not far off, and which his hops and +pickings had brought to the surface to escape what the poor worm +thought was his underground enemy, the mole. + +After having repeated this process many times, until Molly and Katy were +satisfied, Mr. and Mrs. Robin flew back to the yard, and alighted at the +cottage door. Here they found the family assembled to watch the motions +of the young robins. Jack had grown very friendly with Annie, and had +even ventured to hop up and rest on King's head. + +It was evident to all, that the dog was delighted with this mark of +friendship, though he considered it beneath his dignity to take much +notice of the little fellow. + +Dick appeared to be not so great a favorite. Fred and his sister had +often watched him from the window, and had already given him the name +of the greedy bird. Now he acted consistently with that character, and +seemed wholly occupied with the crumbs, hopping about and picking them +up as fast as possible. + +Mrs. Robin tried to make an apology for him, at the same time calling +him to come forward and speak to his kind friends. But Dick could only +stop to bow awkwardly, and then return to his food again. Indeed, he +much wondered how his parents and brother could wish to spend their time +in talking, while there was such a feast spread out before them. + +"Now," said Mrs. Robin to Jack, "I must go back to your sisters--will +you go with me?" + +"I will," answered Jack. "I want to tell Katy what a fine time I have +had." So he turned up his head in a very arch way to Annie, and after a +few pretty little chirps, flew lightly into the top of the lilac bush. + +Dick made no answer, and his mother determined to take no notice of him, +but to let him return to the nest when he thought fit. She ascended to +the tree, where Jack alighted as soon as she did. + +His little heart panted with the excitement and exertion, but his mother +praised him, and his sisters received him with joy. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +SORROW IN THE NEST. + + +"I do not think," said Molly, "that I shall ever learn to fly." + +"O, don't be afraid!" cried Jack, soothingly. "We'll all help you." + +"I am not afraid, but I cannot get away from the nest." + +"Why not?" asked Mrs. Robin, in surprise. "Why not?" repeated Jack and +Katy. + +"Because my foot is fastened to the bottom of it," replied poor Molly, +in a mournful tone. + +Her mother hopped to her side, and endeavored to remove a long piece of +worsted thread, which was woven into the nest, and was now firmly +twisted about Molly's leg. + +"How long has this been done?" she asked, in an anxious tone. + +"I first discovered it last night," said the patient bird. "Every time +I tried to stir, it bound me firmer than before. I have endeavered to +remove it with my beak, but I think I have only made it worse. Now I +fear I can never learn to fly." + +"Dear Molly," said Jack, pressing his neck to hers. + +"I will stay in the nest with you," said the tender-hearted Katy. + +Mrs. Robin said nothing, but after flying to the top of the tree to see +whether her husband was in sight, she began to pull at the string; but +every motion made poor Molly utter a cry of pain. + +"I must be content to remain quietly in the nest," she faltered, in a +touching tone of sadness. + +Jack and Katy began to chirp most piteously, and continued to do so +until their father returned. + +In the mean time Dick went on eating until he could scarcely move; and +when he began to think it was time to return to the nest, he was so +heavy and stupid that he could not raise his wings. He heard the +continued chirping of his brother and sister, and said to himself, +"Probably they are anxious about me; but I will let them see that I can +take care of myself." + +As he said this he tried to feel very brave, but he really longed for +the pleasant nest and the shelter of his mother's wings. + +Just then he heard the cockrel crowing right merrily. He had often heard +it before; but now it sounded dreadfully loud and near at hand; and +indeed it was so, for presently Mr. Cock came marching by, his head +erect, and the comb on his foretop glowing like fire. + +Dick ran to the lilac bush, and trying to conceal himself in some of +the lower branches, trembled like a leaf in the wind. Here at last he +fell asleep, with his head tucked under his wing. + +When Mr. Robin returned from his labor of love, he found his wife and +family in deep affliction. Poor Molly lay exhausted at the bottom of the +nest, her limb being more firmly secured to it by the exertions of her +mother to remove it. Jack and Katy kept up a succession of plaintive +cries, while their mother hopped from one bough to another, her tail +jerking and her wings flapping in distress. + +They all began at once to repeat the sad story of Molly's detention, +which Mr. Robin listened to with sharp cries of pain. He hopped into the +nest, but the poor bird begged so earnestly not to be disturbed at +present, that he postponed trying to remove the string until another +day. + +"Come, darlings," said he, "I will sing you a song, to try to cheer your +spirits." + +He flew to the Observatory at the top of the tree, and warbled forth,-- + + "See, the morning lights the skies; + Open, birdie, ope your eyes; + The trees begin to blossom fair, + And fling their odors on the air; + And every balmy zephyr brings + Health and sweetness on its wings. + The plants within the garden beds + Begin to lift their pretty heads. + We, merry birds, extend our throats, + And carol forth our sweetest notes. + The hen, with all her little brood, + Comes clucking round the door for food; + Around the yard the pigeons fly; + The stately geese, with heads so high, + Are marching off to swim and scream, + And sport upon the glassy stream. + The fields are smiling all around; + You cannot hear one jarring sound; + There's nothing harsh, there's nothing sad, + But all seems beautiful and glad. + O, how delightful all we see! + And if to robins, such as we, + So much of loveliness is given, + How very charming must be heaven!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +KATY'S FLIGHT. + + +The next morning Molly felt quite refreshed. "My foot," she said, in +answer to her mother's inquiries, "feels quite free from pain. I am +convinced that it is my lot to remain quietly at home; and I will try to +bear it as cheerfully as I can." + +"Dear Molly," whispered her mother. + +"Darling sister," repeated Jack and Katy. + +Dick said nothing, but looked stupidly from one to the other, wondering +what they could mean. He had returned to the nest late the previous +evening, and had not heard of his sister's affliction. + +Mr. Robin sat on his favorite bough, gazing sadly at the poor bird. He +had not yet tried to relieve her, and notwithstanding his wife's fears, +indulged strong hopes of being able to remove the string without +breaking the tender limb. + +"I cannot be really unhappy," continued Molly, looking cheerfully +around, "while you are all so kind. To be sure, I have longed for the +time when I could fly from bough to bough, or skim through the clear +air; and I have hoped, when I was old enough, to find a mate and rear a +family of my own in the same sweet, peaceful happiness as our dear +parents have reared us; but now I resign all these innocent joys, and +find my delight in sharing yours. + +"Come, dear Katy," she added, "let me no longer detain you from your +morning flight. I long to see how gracefully you will raise your pinions +and soar away." + +"Sweetest and best of sisters," murmured Katy, in a loving tone, "every +moment I love you better than before, and am more sorry to leave you;" +and she nestled closely to Molly's side. + +"You will soon return, dear one," said her sister, tenderly; "and +remember there will always be one heart in the nest that will welcome +you with joy. Go now, love, and treasure up all you hear and see, to +cheer me in my solitude." + +While this beautiful interchange of affection was taking place, Mr. and +Mrs. Robin, the delighted parents, were sitting near, their hearts every +moment swelling with pleasure. + +"Now," said the tender mother to herself, "I am well repaid for all my +care and watchfulness of my beloved children; for all my share of the +labor of building a nest; for the long days and nights, through cold and +rain, that I have sheltered my eggs, until at last I have seen the dear +ones come forth. + +"Yes, indeed, and for the anxiety with which I have endeavored to +impress virtue and affection upon their young minds. To see them growing +up in the interchange of mutual affection, and to hear them give +utterance to pure and noble sentiments, far exceed all the joys of my +lifetime." + +One thought of Dick, as unlike the others, intruded itself upon her +mind; but she would not allow this to interrupt the delight she had +experienced. + +Very similar were the thoughts and emotions of Mr. Robin, but mingled +with them was a plan he was forming for the benefit of his dear child. +His purpose was to attract to his nest the notice of some kind friend at +the cottage. If he could succeed in this, he was perfectly confident +that she could be liberated. + +But now his attention must be given to Katy, who, in obedience to her +sister's wish, hopped to the side of the nest. + +"O, dear!" she chirped; "it seems a very long way to the ground." + +"It's just nothing at all," said Dick, spreading his wings and flying +away. + +"I know just how you feel," added Jack; "but it is really safe, or our +parents would not allow us to try it;--and only think what delightful +sails we will have through the bracing air. Come, dear; now we'll +start." + +"Steady, my little one," called out Mr. Robin. "Open your wings like +this. There, that is right; now let go the nest. One moment more, and +you'll be safe on the ground." + +"Bravo! pretty bird, bravo!" shouted Fred, who had that moment opened +the outer door. "That was well done for a beginner. Come, hop up this +way, and I'll give you some crumbs." + +"Chirp, chirp, chirp," answered little Katy, her bright eyes twinkling +with pleasure. + +Fred darted into the house, and presently returned with a liberal supply +of food. + +Mr. Robin caught up the largest piece just as Dick was hopping toward +it, and ascended with it to the nest. + +"O, ho!" exclaimed Fred, "I suppose there are more birdies in the tree." + +"Yes," said Annie, who had run to the door in her night dress, "you know +we counted four little mites of robins." + +"O, don't let that greedy bird get all the best crumbs!" she added, as +Dick hopped from one piece of bread to another, catching them up as +fast as he could. + +"Just see how pretty those act," said Fred, pointing to Jack and Katy. + +"Yes, he stands back to give her a chance, but the greedy one cares for +none but himself." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MR. ROBIN'S APPEAL. + + +When the tender parents had finished their willing task of feeding +Molly, they hopped forward close to the very door of the cottage, and +seeing the old gentleman sitting in the room, Mr. Robin made bold to +walk in and make known his errand. + +"I wonder what he is talking about, so very loud and earnest," +exclaimed Fred, coming in softly behind him. + +"I don't know; but he is very zealous about it. See how he turns first +one eye, then the other, while he twitters away as if his life depended +upon making us understand." + +Suddenly robin uttered a sharp cry, and flew away toward the nest; and +before they could express their surprise, he was back again, twittering +as fast as ever. + +Fred laughed aloud. "How very funny!" he cried. "What does it mean? He +never did so before." + +"I have no doubt he is trying to tell us something; and I fear it is not +pleasant news, from his mournful cry." + +"I wish we could understand," said the boy. + +"I once read of a man," said grandpa, "who, from his boyhood, had +studied the language of birds, and by close attention had acquired such +a knowledge of it, that from the song of the parents, he knew where the +nests were situated, whether they contained eggs, or whether the brood +was hatched. He knew even the number of young birds and their age, +before he saw them. This is truly wonderful, and if I had not read it +from the best authority, I could hardly credit it. If so, I suppose, by +careful observation, we could in many cases understand their different +notes, and thus learn their wants and emotions, as well as the birds +themselves do. + +"I was once walking in a wood, and caught sight of a party of jays +before they saw me. They were all chattering together and enjoying +themselves highly. Suddenly one of them uttered a short, deep-toned +note, when in an instant all was silent,--and they skulked one by one +to a neighboring thicket." + +"I suppose one of them caught a glimpse of you, and warned the others +that you were near enough to listen to their secrets," said Fred, with a +hearty laugh. + +Grandpa now took his cane and walked to the door, determined, as the +appeal was made to him, to watch the motions of the robins, and try to +help them if they were in trouble. + +But though Mr. Robin kept repeating his flight to the nest, and his +effort to talk, nothing could be made of it; and at length the poor +father seemed to despair. + +In the mean time, Jack, Katy and Annie were chatting merrily together; +and before this first interview closed, Katy had even ventured to take a +crumb from Annie's mouth. This the child thought the very summit of +happiness, and called loudly to her mother to come and share her +delight. + +Jack was evidently very proud of his sister; and while this was going +on, hopped from one to the other, his small head cocked in a very arch +manner. + +After a time the little ones hopped away, as they wished to fly back to +the nest. Katy was quite impatient to impart her success to her sister; +but when she glanced up into the tree, she was almost in despair. + +"Fly up a few times into this bough," said Jack. "It is beautiful +exercise." + +Katy did so, and presently, with a beating heart, from the bush mounted +to the nest. + +"O Molly!" she cried, "if you had been with us, I should have been the +happiest bird that ever lived." + +"How like her mother she grows!" said Mr. Robin to himself as he gazed +lovingly upon his youngest child. + +"Every time I picked up a crumb I thought of you," said Jack--"of you +alone here in the nest." + +"I have scarcely been alone a moment," said Molly. "Either father or +mother has been with me, and they have treated me to a delicious feast. +I shall soon become quite reconciled to my situation. But where is +Dick?" + +"He is eating, as usual," said Mr. Robin, in a stern voice. + +Jack and Katy now repeated the adventures of the morning, to which their +sister listened with great interest. + +"I can't help thinking about Mr. Robin," said grandpa, taking his cane +and walking out of doors as soon as breakfast was over. "Birds have a +wonderful instinct; and I have no doubt he was asking my aid about +something. They will often fly to man for protection when pursued by an +enemy." + +"I wish you would tell us a story about a bird," said Annie, earnestly. + +The old gentleman seated himself in his chair, and after resting his +chin on the top of his cane for a moment, he began: "A beautiful pair of +goldfinches once built their nest on a small branch of an olive tree. +The female laid the eggs and hatched the young brood, when the parents +perceived that the weight of the growing family would soon be too great +for the strength of the branch which supported the nest. This fact was +evident to the family who lived near, and had watched with interest the +proceedings of the birds. + +"One morning the goldfinches found their nest was giving way, and that +something must be done at once, or it would fall. They consulted +together, then picked up a string, and with their beaks drew it around +the slender twig, and then fastened it to a stronger and higher branch +of the tree. Thus they saved their falling house." + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Punctuation has been standardised; spelling has been retained as in the +original publication. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Little Robins Learning to Fly, by Madeline Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY *** + +***** This file should be named 33775.txt or 33775.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/7/7/33775/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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