SHE NEVER CAME BACK

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2286, 26 February 1912, Page 7

SHE NEVER CAME BACK

The sun was just peeping over the hills, the leaves on the trees stirred gently, and a sleepy voice among the branches piped “Mother, I am so hungry. When may we have something to eat ?” “Yes, mother dear,” came a chorus of voices, '“we arc so hungry. May we have some breakfast ?” “Yes, ray dears,” replied the little brown mother bird, you shall have something Just as soon as I can go out and get it.” i Poor little mother ! She had five hungry mouths to fill. But they were a happy family. Soon each of them would be able to fly and get his own breakfast. I "Oh, mother/* cried out the little ones, “you said you were going to teach Bright Eyes to fly to-day.” “Yes,” said the mother, M I am. When I return, and wc have eaten.” "Good-bye, mother dear !” cried the birdies, as she kissed each of them before leaving. ! “I’ll return soon, children,” and : away she flew ae happy as could be. i A little boy stood by the roadside. He had a stone in his hand, j “Oh, I see you I” he cried to the 1 little brown feathered thing, and up whizzed the stone. | There was a soft flutter, and down fell the poor mother bird with bar brave little heart beating its last. | “Oh, oh, oh ! ” cried the birdies, j '“Why doesn’t mother come ? We are so hungry.” | They waited until the sun was very high. "Oh ! ” they cried. What is keeping our dear mother so long ?“ j The sun went down In the west, and still she had not returned. Poor little birdies ! How they cried ! At last Bright Byes, who was the strong/ est, said she would try to fly and j find mother. But poor little Bright Eyes fell over the edge of the nest ’ and lay very still upon the ground. She never opened her bright little eyes again. Then, one by one, the ' others grew too weak to cry any | more, and they tucked their little 1 heads underneath their wings and lay 1 quiet in the nest. They never woke again. j The little hoy who caused all this trouble and sorrow was not really cruel ; he was very thoughtless. — i “Alliance News.”