Little Robins Learning to Fly

"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, "[**extra "]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."