FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15566, 25 March 1914, Page 12

FOR THE CHILDREN.

FEATHERED FRIENDS.

Bert and Bella Johnson are spending ft happy childhood at Windy Grange, a breezy uplard farmstead. This winter they, have 'Ltd a delightful diversion from the ustal farmhouse routine. When I walked out one frosty afternoon to wish -. them a " Hs.ppy New Year." they were , delighted to show me the novel sight, and then P.ertie related the story which " explains it. Windy Grange is surrounded on two sides by a thin planting of larch with: an occasional ash arid beech. Last springtime Bertie was gathering primroses in the planting, when he was stsxtled by a pheasant rising from the thick grass at his feet and flying away , with a loud flapping. Looking down hi* .■••• saw in a nest of dried grass and leave* on the ground fourteen olive-green eggs. : " How his eyes sparkled at the unwonted find! He is very fond of the birds and Z delights to watch their engaging ways :» and habits. He did not breathe a word '{• of this treasure trove to anyone save his i sister, Bella, whom he knew could keep % a secret. Day by day he watched the nest until •*; one memorable morning he found the egg-shells cast aside and in the nest were fourteen fluffy pheasant chicks. By the - end of the summer they had grown big, - and all but one had wandered away from the little plantation into the big wood half a mild distant. But one of the * birds remained in the neighbourhood of * the old nest. And for a strange reason. It 'had formed a close attachment with a young blackbird which was also hatched in the larch planting. • - One summer evening, Bertie noticed v the pheasant standing by the side of a hedge whers the trailing brambles grow, ■ furnishing in the autumn luscious black- | berried. For some minutes the bird ! stood motionless, except that it lifted its head from side to side as if on the look - oat for someone. Presently a blackbird ? shot out of the wood and flew over Bertie's head straight to where the pheasant was standing. The bigger bird * stretched his neck as if to greet the <:■' newcomer. _ The black! hopped de- •" lightedly in front of him, evidently returning his welcome. The pheasant then stepped quietly forward and began pecking on the ground as he walked. The blackbird made quick little runs to and fro, but never left his friend very far- - So the two fed together until it was quite dusk, and all the other birds had ft; "one to their sleeping apartments. Sud- '~ v aenly the two friends simultaneously took 'd wing and flew to a holly-bush, where they were, apparently, accustomed to-'® roost side by side. Bertie communicated the news to hi* % sister with .great delight, and the next, evening she also observed the two friends feeding together. During the whole off| the autumn the pheasant and the blackbird foraged the fields, side by side. »'"t Then came the frosts of winter, and the ground was locked fast in an icy gripNow it was the blackbird's turn to lead the bigger bird to a sure supper-table. ' v. In the stockyard each afternoon Belli ' . feeds the pigeons with grain and rumba, and all the little birds in the neighbour- A hood share in the —thrushes, black- *g birds, starlings, sparrows. chaffinches, linnets, blue-tits, robins, and occasionally * 5 the bigger rooks and jackdaws. One y afternoon she noted a blackbird strangely -J agitated, _ flying from the stockyard to J the planting, and back again. Presently--a she found that he was bringing hia pheasant friend, who seemingly was shy g and had to be much encouraged. The venture, however, evidently was quite jjj satisfactory, for from that day the pheaiant was never absent. There fgg was permitted to see them, side by side,«g joyously eating to their fill, the warm brown plumage and purple and azure neck of the pheasant contrasting strongs|g| with the blue-black leathers and yelioWj p beak of the blackbird. | " Hot* do you account for the Strang® • friendship?" I asked Bertie. _ >:2|| "I think it was like this," he replied--a The pheasant must have befriended thj blackbird when he needed a friend ft® fj now he is repaying the debt which : ;MSi owes, on. the principle that ' one gos» , J turn daserveJi another.'" , fijw " I think you are right, Bertie," said. "It Reminds me of the saying $8| the old Book : ' With what measure met©, it shall be measured to /J 0 * again..'" ' ' . .. --mm