FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 8 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

DICK THE BIRD-BOY. "Go if boy.-,, faster, faster," cried Dick of the curly red hair, a.s ho leaned against a tree trunk on which a gay Mr. Robin was enjoying a morsel of cheese, and merrily cheered half-a-dozen boys running a, race. The Stile was reached at last. " Basil has won " called Dick; " don't argue Jim and Eric, you were not first though yea touched the wood together. Basil was first, I saw!" | Dick's word was law, he had a way with boys as well as with birds, and they both trusted him, so now without any more words, the boys hot and weary I throw themselves down on the tree trunk beside Jim. "What shall we doV " they said, lo"king up into Diet's smiling face. " Basil should choose," answered Dick, " because he won the race." Basil raised his thin eager face to Dick, and said shyly—"Will you tell us a bird storv? " "But the hoys know all my stones. "I don't," said Basil; "you see I'm ik town boy !" . " I guess Dick has some bird near mm now," put in Jim laughingly. , Dick whistled softly in imitation ol: • a starling and from the- branch above a starling answered, and then flew on to his shoulder. " This is Becky, my tame starling. She lives in my Hobby House with the other pets: she "will stay and hear the story, too, if you keep fairly quiet. Red-Room Isn't far away; ho was eating. hia > lunch with mo, while you wore playing." Softly ho called, and held out some crumbs' of cheese on his hand, and in. a few minutes the bird came, and ato from his hand, but ho soon flew off when ho saw all the boys easing at him. " He's a bit shy of a crowd " said Dick, "but he's never shy with me, neither ho nor Becky," and ho gently stroked the tamo starling. " Start ahead, Dick, or wo will gettired »< sitting still," interrupted one of I the boy*. Dick's bright blue eyes looked dreamily lup aud down the wood. Do was never tired of sitting still in Nature's garden. I but now the robin began to sing, and ! Dick turned to the boys, saying: "Robin's | told me what story to tell you." - Did it speak to yon*," said Basil, won- ! der in his eyes. " Yes." smilingly answered Dick. "He I told me to tell "you tho story of his friend Kitty Wren. Dong ago, people | thought they were husband and wife, the gay robin with his red waistcoat and quiet little brown Kitty Wren." " What's a wren," earnestly asked Basil. "Ho-ho!" teased the 'boys; "he doesn't know Miss Wren? " •■ I know a lot of things you don't," cried Basil angrily, " if 1 don't know about birds." Dick's quiet voice calmed the troubled wafers. "If you boys go up to town I guess you will' find what he says is quite true.'' " I suppose you are right," they agreed. " Go on !" Dick looked at Basil, as ho again began. "The wren is a little red-brown iiird only 3| inches long with a tiny tail that stands straight up in a perkv manner, lie is a home-keeping bird, and haunts some hedge or bush, or stone wall. He is called ' Robin's Friend,' because they both sing when most other birds are' silent. The robin sings all through the winter- even on snowy days, and ' Kitty Wren ' also sings all through the winter, at least on mild winter da-ya: so tho sweet merry songs of robin and wren you may hear when you go for a winter's walk.

" Robins and wrens have a. bit of mystery about them." Here Dick's voice grew mysterious in tone. " Each has a I story, come down the ages from long ago," like tho stories of our ancestors. The robin's story, about how he got his red breast, you know." "Rather." cried every boy, even Basil! "The little wren's story isn't so happy for her. It is said when the Danes invaded England a wren flew to pick cilimbs from a drum: and sang bo loudly that he aroused the army of his country's foes, _which otherwise would , have been attacked tm the soldiers slept. There are more stories of the same sort about her, so long ago it used to bo the custom to persecute wrens. "Of course," said Dick, sternly, " we all know how wrong it was to treat the innocent bird so cruelly. ' Miss Wren ' is a general favourite, and loved by all who know her. Though Kitty I Wren hasn't half the audacity of Robin, in cold weather she often comes quite near j the house, and answers me when I apeak I to her." " But all the birds love you,** said Jim. " And they would love each one of you. if you would learn their ways and be their friend," answered. Dick smiling at Jim's words. " Becky and I must be off homo, so my story is finished;" and Dick rose Dtp so quietly that the starling sat still oa his shoulder. "May I come with you," whispered Basil. "Oh, yes, and. see my Hobby House, and Becky's home. Come along," be said, and they" disappeared through the trees. Near the entrance of the garden at the back of his -home was an old tool shed with a red roof, lialf hidden in tho bushes. At the side of the door was a dog-kennel out of which came a lame sheep-dog, jvho greeted Dick with gre-at joy. "This is Guardie; he keeps away all enemies, cats especially, eh, old man? " said Dick, patting the wise old head. " Doesn't he scare the birds? " said Basil. "Why, no; he's on duty, and is very careful "not to frighten them; he even barks very low, here, but makes up for it when I take him for a run. Look," cried Dick, pulling Basil's arm, " There's ! Kitty or Jenny Wren eating a crumb on the wall by the shed." "How tiny she is.'' " Yes—but she has a big voice." Birds were flying in and out of the old shed, by tho broken window or holes in tho roof. Dick opened tho door, and in the dim light there seemed to be wings everywhere: they flew round bin) as he fed them ; his stores carefully hidden in covergtf tins in a corner. In the centre was a low tin bath, which he filled with fresh water. Basil shuddered as he caught sight, of a great solemn barn owl, sitting on the end of a long pole that ran across the shed to the window. " He's not well, poor Mr. Ov/1. I found him half-starved in Farmer Blake's shed." " Wasn't bo frightened when you caught him? " said Basil. "No," smiled Dick; "I talked to him gently, and he seemed to know I was a friend. There are a*-fcw bats in tho rafters, but they are asleep now." A jackdaw, with his leg bandaged, flew on to Dick's arm. and insisted on a talk. Then Dick took Basil outside, where high up on the wall was a long wooden shelf, the birds' table, and Dick produced from his pockets and inside his cap a collection of scraps of cheese, bacon skins and crusts of bread, evon y. few bits of meat". " Now, we will watch " he said, and they sat quietly down on a wooden bench, with the dog at their feet. Oh r how soon from bush and Iree. from outside and inside the shed, crime- birds. What a chattering and hustling there was! Tho bluo Tits left their coconut, determined to share in tho feast. Hnsil watched with wonder in his eyes, as Dick called a robin to him. Many of tho birds brought their bits close to the boys, and Dick told Basil their names, and whistled and sang softly to. them as only a bird-boy could. "' Aren't, the finches pretty * said Dick. "Mr. Chaffinch " is prettier than Robin. but he hasn't his winning manner." Bnflil sat as still as ho could till tho bird-table was emptied, and most/ of the birds h-A.il flown away. When the boys \vere_ parting, ho said with anxious longing in his voire— " Please Dick, may T come again, it's 'far bettor than a wild beast show, and .T;V b tnn V>ircls to know me, too." Como whenever vou like." said Dick, with his sunniest smile. "The more vou