20 DRE AUDUBON BUA Eee 
“Bobby Robin” 
The Story of a Lame Fledgling That, Becoming Well, Has Accepted 
the Hospitality of Our Home for Over Eight Months 
RutH Baxter Hicks (Mrs. W. T.) 
LITTLE lame robin, about ten days old, was brought to us last 
June by some neighborhood children. A high wind had dislodged 
its nest from the tree-top moorings; two other small birds were 
killed, and this one so badly hurt that the leg hung seemingly helpless 
from its body. 
I took the little fellow into my hand and its yellow mouth opened 
ravenously, the lameness in no way appearing to affect its appetite. 
I told the children that if the bird could have its freedom when 
well, I would take it and try to make it well, to which they agreed. 
This lameness continued for about three weeks, during which time 
the bird learned to fly, taking in all about five days to complete this 
task, Many were the hard falls and hurts which this little fellow got 
during this time. During this lameness we made Bobby a bed in a 
strawberry box, warming a small coverlet for his comfort at night, as 
the weather was still very cool after sundown. A soapstone under the 
box kept him warm until morning, and for three weeks he accepted 
this program without protest. 
Finally one night at dusk, he flew into the house, and insisted on 
choosing his own bed, this being the lower rungs of my mother’s rock- 
ing-chair. It must not have been just the kind of bed that he 
expected, for each morning he 
seemed sleepy and cold, and 
would let us tuck him back into 
the strawberry box, where with 
much chatter, which we called 
his “‘sleepy talk,” he slept for an 
hour. It was at such times as 
these that I took the little lame 
foot into my hand, massaging 
it gently, and placing the toes 
around my warm fingers in the 
position in which they would 
naturally fall when well. 
Bobby needed only care and 
protection and love to make him 
well, along with good food, for his 
Bossy’s Favorire Percu feet are fine and straight now. 

- woh 
~ 2 
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