A LITTLE GOLDEN BIRD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 14

A LITTLE GOLDEN BIRD

Hero is a true story told by the sister in charge of a missionary hospital in far-away Lahore:— "Recently a severe sandstorm swept down on us at.night. Many beautiful trees wero blown down, and in the morninp a beautiful golden oriole, with feathers like gold-coloured satin and wings and tail like black velvet, was picked up in the garden and brought to me by one of the servants. The poor thing was evidently in distress. "I examined it carefully, and found that though its wing was severely bruised it was not broken. So. I made it a home in my bicycle basket, and fed it with bananas, peaches, and crickets. "At the end of three days it could flutter about the room. As I was anxious that it should not use its wings too much I found an old parrot cage, into which it hopped quite happily, and looked round as much as to say, 'Please close the door. 1, feel safe in here.' "It was the most friendly little bird I have ever known. It would eat from my hand and sleep on my shoulder. When the early breakfast tray was brought to my room at 6 o'clock it would get quite excited, and perch on the handle of the tray while I ate my toast. I gave: it an eggcup of bread and milk, which it would eat up quickly, then hop back into its cage. It was very fond of golden syrup, and after swallowing a whole spoonful of it would wipe its beak on my arm. "In the evenings I hung the cage outside under one of the trees, and its mate would come and sit beside it. Gradually its wing got stronger, an'] soon it was able to fly about the room. "At the end of fourteen days>it flew into a tree, where it was quickly joined by its mate. They have since built a pretty hammock nest in a tree near the bungalow, and at present are engaged in bringing up a family. "In the evening my little patient often comes to visit me, but does not come near enough to be caught. Now and then it whistles one or. two flutelike notes, and I am sure it is saying 'Thank you for your care and attention. I am quite well now.'"—C.N.