A Lesson on the Sparrow.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4124, 22 September 1883, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Lesson on the Sparrow.

. 'What sort of a'bird is 1111 -■':' | ' This is an English sparrow. He cannot : carry off a lamb, like tliu eaylo, nor is he ; provided with teeth mid claws like the tiger, j but he leaves his mark all the same ?' ' j ' How did he ' here?' ' A philanthropise brought him over from ( England ' ■ What is n philanthropist?' ' Ho is a cross between :; lunatic and an I idiot.' ' What did he want; to bring'the sparrow i to New Zealand for?' | • Bccunsc he liated the country and wanted revynjfo. It wasn't enough for hiiu that we should have small-pox,measles, . fev.-rs, i'-iiv.st iires, and grass-hopper j 'What are the chief men-its of the sparj row ?' ' Hi.-? beautiful voice and lovable nature. j His song is much sweater than a lilo rasping i over cast-iron that people have died after hearing it." ' How docs ho employ his time ?' 'In screaming, fighting, and other forms of larrikinism.' 1 Where does ho build his nest?' ' In the cornices of houses. If ho could have the use of 1,000 trees rent free ho would I turn up his nose at tlio oiler. He couldn't j damage a tree any, but he can make it necessary to paint a house every month.' ' Of what is his nest composed V ' Of everything he can handle, except old jam tins and empty beer bottles.' ' Does the hard-hearted citizen over destroy those nests?' ' He does. When his family clothes-line, or crow-bar, or long-handled shovel is missing, lie pulls down the nest and recovers thu lost article.' ' Whatgdoes the poor sparrow do then ?' ' He rebuilds.' ' Can he be discouraged ?' ' If his nest is pulled bown 15,000 or 20,000 times he might commence to feel downhearted, but those who have routed him out ">OO or GOO times have not seen him even change countenance.' ' Would it be wicked to kill one of these sparrows ?' ' Awfully wicked. The philanthropist would raise such a howl that the killer would have to ship the country. Besides, you can't shoot 'em, they won't be poisoned, and no one ever yet trapped one. A man down in Waikato thinks a blow with a barn door might fetch 'em, but it is as yet an untried experiment.' ' That is all for this time. Let us nowlay away our books and sit on the steps and listen to the ravishing melody of the sparrow's evening song.'