IDYLLS OF BIRD LIFE 
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In July, 1919, commenced a siege of illness which de¬ 
veloped into a wasting affliction that finally took him from this 
earth in March, 1920. 
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At one time during his illness a change of climate w T as 
sought to give him a fighting chance. At first he refused to take 
the proffered opportunity, for he could not leave his wife and 
child. “I’d rather be home with you,” was his justification. 
But even here, his love for his birds and the trees and flow¬ 
ers did not dampen. They brought him daily courage to fight 
his losing battle. He appreciated his flower-laden apartment 
and noticed the birds whose music penetrated his room. 
A beautiful coincidence occurred in this last illness. All 
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the winter of nineteen hundred and nineteen, two birds were 
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frequent, if not daily visitors at his residence on Forest Avenue. 
In the garden adjoining the house two robins with white stripes 
v : p." on their backs came up to the very window of their sympathetic? 
brother. 
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In a final attempt to bring about a cure, the father induced 
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the son to accompany him on a trip South. He seemed to rally, 
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but his return home hurried the final summons to a new life. 
His last words were uttered when someone asked the name of 
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