THE SONG SPARROW'S APPEAL. 



Naturalists tell us that of all creatures work as if desirous to give expression 

 below man, the largest animal brain in to her gratitude, she reappeared upon 

 proportion to the size of the body is found the window-seat, and poured forth a 

 in horses and song-birds. Whatever sweet and touching song, as of thankful- 

 sense beyond instinct the little creature of ness to her benefactors, 

 whom we write may have had, some- She returned three successive seasons, 

 thing, at least, told it that it could obtain to be noticed and fed at the same spot 

 help at human hands. where her acquaintance and familiarity 



A little sparrow the past season en- with man first commenced, 



tered the kitchen of one of our country We will add another similar incident, 



homes, and perched upon the window- which is also absolutely true, 



sill in evident distress. Its feathers were The correctness is vouched for by Mr. 



ruffled, and its head ever and anon turned George Babbitt, late captain on Gen. 



curiously around and up, as if looking at Gresham's staff, of which he himself was 



something out of the house and above a witness, 



the window. During the fierce cannonading in one 



In and out it continued to hop, with- of the battles of the Civil War, a small 



out intermission, regardless of all offers bird came and perched upon the shoulder 



of food, until the shutters were closed at of an artilleryman the man designated, 



twilight, and various were the surmises we believe, as ''No. i," whose duty it is 



as to the cause of its strange conduct. to force down the charge after the am- 



Through the course of the following munition is put in the gun. The piece 



day the same scene was enacted, without was a "Napoleon," which makes a very 



any clue appearing as to the cause of its loud report, and the exact scene of this 



distress. occurrence was at a place called "Nicka- 



At length, on the third morning, the jack." The bird perched itself upon this 

 mute petition for aid still continuing, one man's shoulder and could not be driven 

 of the family, bethinking herself of the ' from its position by the violent motions 

 bird's curious upturning of the head, of the gunner. When the piece was dis- 

 caught a new idea from it. Perhaps she charged, the poor little thing would run 

 might have a nest in the ivy that encir- its beak and head up under the man's hair 

 cled the window, and something might at the back of. the neck, and when the re- 

 be amiss with its little household. port died away would resume its place 



Going to the second story and looking upon his shoulder. Captain Babbitt took 

 down, the cause of the trouble was at the bird in his hand, but when released it 

 once manifest. A thick limb of the ivy immediately resumed its place on the 

 had become loosened by the wind, and shoulder of the smoke-begrimed gunner, 

 fallen directly across the petitioner's nest. The singular and touching scene was wit- 

 It was too heavy for the bird to remove, nessed by a large number of officers and 

 and offered an insuperable difficulty in men. It may be a subject of curious in- 

 the way of her getting in to feed her quiry, what instinct led this bird to thus 

 young now almost lifeless. place itself. Possibly, frightened at the 



The branch was quickly removed, violent commotion! caused by the battle, 



when the mother-bird, pausing only for and not knowing how to escape or where 



a brief inspection of her brood, was on to go, some instinct led it to throw itself 



the wing in search of food. Her mate upon the gunner as a protector. But, 



soon joined her, and both were busy as whatever the cause, the incident was a 



quick wings, worked by hearty good will, most beautiful and pleasing one to all 



could make them. who witnessed it. 



Once only did the mother pause in her George Bancroft Griffith. 



168 



