Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

A gentleman of our acquaintance a week or two since remarked an unusual collection of brown thrushes in a thicket contiguous to his residence. His attention have been drawn towards them for several successive days, by their loud cries and eccentric movements, he was at length induced to investigate more closely the course of the unwonted congress of his feathered tenants, and ascertain if possible the cause of their excitement. Upon examining the thicket, he discovered a female thrush suspended by one wing to a limb. Near by was her nest, containing several half-grown birds. From the attendant circumstances he concluded that the maternal bird must have become entangled before the process of incubation was completed, and that some kindly hearted neighbor had supplied her place in hatching and brooding her callow offspring. He withdrew a few rods, and the committee of relief immediately resumed the self-imposed duty of administering “aid and comfort” in the form of worms and other insects, alternating between the mother and her young-she, meanwhile cheering them on their labor of love with the peculiar note which first led to the discovery of her situation.
Having watched this exhibition of charity for some half hour our informant relieved the mother bird. She immediately flew to her nest, expressing her gratitude by the sweetest notes. Her charitable friends, their “occupation now being gone,” [as the police reporter says] dispersed to their respective places of abode, singing as they went a song of joy.
The above statement may be relied on in every particular. The many pleasing reflections which it suggests we leave to be recorded by some of our friends abroad.-New Haven herald.