"I wish I could catch a bobolink," said Samuel.
"Let us try to-morrow and see if we cannot catch one in a box trap,"
said his brother Robert.
"That will be real fun," said little Maggie. And so the three children
talked the matter over, and made plans for the morrow.
"You must help me in the morning," said their father. "Samuel must drop
the corn in the hills for the hired man to cover, Robert will drop the
beans, and Maggie must put in the pumpkin-seed. We shall have it all
done by ten o'clock, and then you can play the rest of the day. If a
flock of bobolinks comes along you may be able to catch one, though they
are very shy, and do not stop long in any one place."
The next morning the sun rose radiantly in the eastern sky, and climbed
up among the golden clouds, and all the early birds joined in a glad
song of welcome. The robin chanted from the lofty branches of the elm;
the bluebird, with plumage brighter than the bluest sky, glided in and
out among the apple-trees, and enlivened the scene by its occasional
joyous song; the red linnet whistled and chattered in the shrubbery, and
the sparrow chirped in the hedge. All around seemed full of life and
joy.
The bobolink swung from the highest branches, and poured out his
ecstatic feelings in thrilling song.
The children went to the fields amid all this morning music, and tried
to translate the song of each bird into English.
The robin chanted, "Kill him! cure him! Kill him! cure him! Give him
physic!"
Who he wanted treated in this manner they could not tell, but that
seemed to be the language of his song.
The voice of the linnet or bluebird could not be interpreted easily, but
the bobolink spoke very plainly, and seemed personal in his remarks,
which were evidently intended for the eldest boy; for he said over and
over again, "Samuel! Samuel!--Samuel, planting, planting. Samuel!
Samuel! planting for bobolink! bobolink!"
This chattering and singing were kept up all the forenoon, and the
children resolved that when their play-time came in the afternoon they
would set some traps and try to secure one of these saucy songsters, who
had been talking so much to Samuel during the forenoon.
Soon as dinner was over the three hurried off to the sheep pasture,
where, among the maple-trees, a large flock of bobolinks were evidently
resting a day or two on their journey towards Canada, that they might
feast on the scattered grains of an old wheat-field near by. The
children took a few handfuls of wheat, which they scattered upon the
ground; and, as Maggie could sew better than the boys, she strung some
grains of wheat on a small thread. This was tied to a slender prop which
held up the cover of the trap, which was made by putting four blocks
together in the shape of a box. In it was a handful of wheat. When all
was ready the children hid behind some shrubbery and watched and waited
the result. They whispered to each other, and laid plans concerning what
could be done with the bird after he was caught.
Samuel said, "Sell him. I read of bobolinks being sold at bird-stores in
the city for two or three dollars each. We could get money enough to buy
snap-crackers and fireworks for next Fourth of July."
"Oh! I wouldn't do that," said Robert.
"Nor I," said little Maggie. "I should rather go without any money for
Fourth of July. Let's keep him, and put him in Dicky's old cage, and
teach him to sing."
"Perhaps you are counting your game before 'tis caught," said Robert.
"There are no birds near your trap yet."
Just then a large flock had discovered the scattered grain, and flew
down near the trap. Each one of the children watched in breathless
silence. Several birds entered the box, and chattered and feasted, but
the cover did not fall, and the time the children were waiting in
silence seemed very long. At length an old, strong bird caught up a
grain attached to the string, and gave it a violent jerk. Out came the
little prop, and down went the heavy cover, and a jolly old singer was
entrapped. He screamed and fluttered, and his frightened companions flew
away over the distant meadow.
The children ran to the trap, delighted with the capture they had made,
and each one got down on his knees and peeped into the trap. Sure
enough, there was Mr. Bobolink. He had on his black dress-coat and white
waistcoat and breeches, and a pretty yellow necktie. They all thought
him very handsome, and they laid plans for having him put into a nice
brass cage at the front of the house, where they could every day hear
his cheerful song. They were all delighted with their prize, and
thoughts of much enjoyment went through their minds.
"Take him out carefully," said Robert, as Samuel knelt down to open the
box.
"Don't hurt him," said Maggie; and Samuel raised the cover to put in his
hand.
There was a flutter and a scream, and Mr. Bobolink flew away, and soared
high into the air, and soon joined his travelling companions on their
way to Canada.
The children were much disappointed, and when they told their father he
laughed heartily, and repeated the old proverb:--
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the air."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------