The Song Sparrow's Appeal 



By George B. Griffith 



Naturalists tell us that of all creatures below man, the largest animal brain in 

 proportion to the size of the body is found in horses and song-birds. Whatever 

 sense beyond instinct the little creature of whom we write may have had, some- 

 thing, at least, told it that it could obtain help at human hands. 



A little sparrow the past season entered the kitchen of one of our country 

 homes, and perched upon the windowsill in evident distress. Its feathers were 

 ruffled, and its head ever and anon turned curiously around and up, as if looking at 

 something out of the house and above the window. 



In and out it continued to hop, without intermission, regardless of all offers 

 of food, until the shutters were closed at twilight, and various were the surmises 

 as to the cause of its strange conduct. 



Through the course of the following day the same scene was enacted, with- 

 out any clue appearing as to the cause of its distress. 



At length, on the third morning, the mute petition for aid still continuing, one 

 of the family, bethinking herself of the bird's curious upturning of the head, 

 caught a new idea from it. Perhaps she might have a nest in the ivy that encircled 

 the window, and something might be amiss with its little household. 



Going to the second story and looking down, the cause of the trouble was at 

 once manifest. A thick limb of the ivy had become loosened by the wind, and 

 fallen directly across the petitioner's nest. It was too heavy for the bird to 

 remove, and offered an insuperable difficulty in the way of her getting in to feed 

 her young — now almost lifeless. 



The branch was quickly removed, when the mother-bird, pausing only for 

 a brief inspection of her brood, was on the wing in search of food. Her mate 

 soon joined her, and both were busy as quick wings, worked by hearty good will, 

 could make them. 



Once only did the mother pause in her work — as if desirous to give expres- 

 sion to her gratitude, she reappeared upon the window-seat, and poured forth a 

 sweet and touching song, as of thankfulness to her benefactors. 



She returned three successive seasons, to be noticed and fed at the same 

 spot where her acquaintance and familiarity with man first commenced. 



We will add another similar incident, which is also absolutely true. 



The correctness is vouched for by Mr. George Babbitt, late captain on Gen. 

 Gresham's staff, of which he himself was a witness. 



During the fierce cannonading in one of the battles of the Civil War, a small 

 bird came and perched upon the shoulder of an artilleryman — the man designated, 

 we believe, as "No. 1," whose duty it is to force down the charge after the ammu- 

 nition is put in the gun. The piece was a "Napoleon," which makes a very loud 

 report, and the exact scene of this occurrence was at a place called "Nickajack." 

 The bird perched itself upon this man's shoulder and could not be driven from 



840 



