A DEVOTED MOTHER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21971, 24 May 1941, Page 13

A DEVOTED MOTHER

A True Story In a big walnut tree, there was a nest which held three little baby sparrows, and, although it was rather untidy on the outside it was very very cosy inside and the feather lining made it very warm Indeed. Every day the old sparrows would find worms and other Insects to feed the young ones, which always seemed to have their mouths open. One day, however, a very sad thing happened. A cheeky little sparrow, perched on the side <>f the nest, lost his balance and toppled over board. What a fright he got. Fortunately he was not hurt, but he was very frightened and hopped all over the lawn chirping loudly. Very soon came frenzied chirps from somewhere in the tree and a little girl, finding the little fellow so sad picked him up. She did not know where he had come from so she placed hiin on a low branch hoping that he would be able to fly to his parents. The wee bird was too small however, to fly properly and he just sat there chirping. The parent birds became more and more anxious, and flew backwards

and forwards from the wee bird to the , nest in the hope that he would follow ' them. They kept this up for hours, , and when at last they realised that . their attempts were futile and gave , it up they were two tired little birds. ; Still' they were determined not to leave their little one to starve to death, and after It had been weU fed ! It ceased to chirp so pitifully. For the next days the parents were constantly with him and he received quite as much If not more more attention than his brother and sister. Each night the devoted little mother would sleep on the branch, which fortunately was a very sheltered one, beside the baby. This she did every night, until one day the little bird was strong enough to fly back to the nest and Join the happy family. It was really a miracle that nothing happened to the wee bird, but nothing did, and he grew up with his brother and sister as if nothing had happened, thanks to the great care which his loving mother had taken of him. (5 Marks to Daphne Hopkinson, age 10. Temuka.)