The Story of the Robins/Chapter 16
CHAPTER XVI.
THE OLD ROBINS TAKE LEAVE OF THEIR YOUNG ONE.
As soon as the redbreasts had regaled themselves with the superfluities of the feathered captives, they took their flight to a different part of the garden, in which was a collection of fowls and foreign birds. It consisted of a number of pens built round a grass-plot; in each was a pan of water, a sort of box containing a bed or nest, a trough for food, and a perch. In every pen was confined a pair of birds, and every pair was either of a different species, or distinguished for some beautiful variety either of form or plumage. The wooden bars which were put in the front were painted partly green and partly white, which dazzled the sight at the first glance, and so attracted the eyes that there was no seeing what was behind without going close up to the pens.
The little redbreasts knew not what sight to expect, and begged their parent to gratify their curiosity. "Well, follow me," said the father; "but I believe you must alight on the cross-bars, or you will not be able to examine the beauties of these fowls." They did so, and in the first pen was a pair of partridges. The size of these birds, so greatly exceeding their own, astonished them all; but not withstanding this, the amiable Pecksy was quite interested by their modest, gentle appearance, and said she thought no one could ever wish to injure them.
"True, Pecksy," replied the father, "they have, from the harmlessness of their disposition, a natural claim to tenderness and compassion, and yet I believe there are few birds who meet with less; for I have observed that numbers share the same fate as the redstart which you saw die in the grove. I have myself seen many put to death in that manner. For a long time I was excessively puzzled to account for this fatality, and resolved, if possible, to gratify my curiosity. At length I saw a man kill two partridges and take them away. This very man had shown me great kindness, in feeding me when I first left my father's nest; so I had no apprehension of his doing me an injury, and resolved to follow him. When he arrived at his own house, I saw him deliver the victims of his cruelty to another person, who hung them up together by the legs, in a place which had a variety of other dead things in it, the sight of which shocked me exceedingly, and I could stay no longer. I therefore flew back to the field in which I had seen the murder committed, and in searching about found the nest belonging to the poor creatures, in which were several young ones just hatched, who in a short time would be starved to death! How dreadful is the fate of young animals that lose their parents before they are able to shift for themselves! and how grateful ought those to be to whom the blessings of parental instruction and assistance are continued!
"When the next morning arrived, I went again to see after the dead partridges, and found them hanging as before, and this was the case the day after; but the following morning I saw a boy stripping all their feathers off. As soon as he had completed this horrid operation, a woman took them, whom I ventured to follow, as the window of the place she entered stood open; where, to my astonishment, I beheld her twist their wings about and fasten them to their sides, then cross their legs upon their breasts, and run something quite through their bodies! After this she put them before a place which glowed with a brightness something resembling the setting sun, which, on the woman's retiring, I approached, and found intolerably hot, I therefore made a hasty retreat; but resolving to know the end of the partridges, I kept hovering about the house; and at last, looking in at a window, I saw them, smoking hot, set before the man who murdered them, who was accompanied by several others, all of whom eyed them with as much delight as I have seen any of you display at the sight of the finest worm or insect that could be procured. In an instant after this the poor partridges were divided limb from limb, and each one of the party present had his share, till every bone was picked. There were other things devoured in the same manner; from which I learnt that men feed on birds and other animals, as we do on those little creatures which are destined for our sustenance, only they do not eat them alive."
"Pray, father," said Dicky, "do they eat redbreasts?" "I believe not," said he, "but I have reason to suppose they make many a meal of sparrows, for I have seen vast numbers of them killed."
At this instant their attention was attracted by one of the partridges in the pen, which thus addressed his mate:—"Well, my love, as there is no chance of our being set at liberty, I think we may as well prepare our nest, that you may deposit your eggs in it. The employment of hatching and raising your little ones will at least mitigate the wearisomeness of confinement, and I promise myself many happy days yet; for as we are so well fed and attended, I think we may form hopes that our offspring will also be provided for; and though they will not be at liberty to range about as we formerly did, they will avoid many of those terrors and anxieties to which our race are frequently exposed, at one season of the year in particular." "I am very ready to follow your advice," said the hen partridge, "and the business will soon be completed, for the nest is in a manner made for us, it only wants a little adjusting; I will therefore set about it immediately, and will no longer waste my hours in fruitless lamentations, since I am convinced that content will render every situation easy in which we can enjoy the company of our dearest friends, and obtain the necessaries of life." So saying, she retired into the place provided for the purpose on which she was now intent, and her mate followed, in order to lend her all the assistance in his power.
"I am very glad that my young ones have had the opportunity of seeing such an example as this," said the hen redbreast. "You now understand what benefit it is to have a temper of resignation. More than half the evils of life, I am well convinced, arise from fretfulness and discontent; and would every one, like these partridges, try to make the best of their condition, we should seldom hear complaints, for there are much fewer real than imaginary misfortunes. But come, let us take a peep into the next pen."
They accordingly hopped to the next partition, in which were confined a pair of pencilled pheasants. Flapsy was quite delighted with the elegance of their form and the beauty of their plumage, and could have stayed the whole day looking at them; but as these birds were also tame and contented, nothing more could be learnt here than a confirmation of what the partridges had taught. Our travellers therefore proceeded still further, and found a pair of gold pheasants. Their splendid appearance struck the young redbreasts with astonishment, and raised such sentiments of respect, that they were even fearful of approaching birds which they esteemed as so much superior to themselves; but their father desiring they would never form a judgment of birds from a glittering outside, placed his family where they had an opportunity of observing that this splendid pair had but little intrinsic merit. They were proud of their fine plumage, and their chief employment was walking backwards and forwards to display it; and sometimes they endeavoured to push through the bars of their prison, that they might get abroad to show their rich plumage to the world, and exult over those who were in this respect inferior to them.
"How hard," said one of them, "it is to be shut up here, where there are no other birds to admire us, and where we have no little ugly creatures to ridicule!"
"If such are your desires," said the hen redbreast "I am sure you are happier here than at liberty; for you would by your proud, affected airs excite the contempt of every bird which has right sentiments, and consequently meet with continual mortification, to which even the ugliest might contribute."
Pecksy desired to know if all fine birds were proud and affected. "By no means," replied her mother; "you observed the other pair of pheasants, who were, in my opinion, nearly equal to these for beauty and elegance. How easy and unassuming were they! and how much were their charms improved by the graces of humility! I often wonder that any bird should indulge itself in pride: what have such little creatures as we to boast of? The largest species amongst us is very inferior to many animals we see in the world, and man is lord over the greatest and strongest even of these. Nay, man himself has no cause to be proud, for he is subject to death as well as the meanest of creatures, as I have had opportunities of observing. But come, the day wears away; let us view the other parts of this enclosure."
On this the father conducted his family to a variety of pens, in which were different sorts of foreign birds, of whom he could give but little account, therefore would not suffer his young ones to stand gazing at them long, lest they should imbibe injurious notions of them; especially when he heard Dicky cry, as he left the pen, "I dare say that bird is a very cruel, voracious creature; I make no doubt but that he would eat us all, one after the other, if he could get at us."
"Take care, Dicky," said the father, "how you form an ill opinion of any one on slight grounds You cannot possibly tell what the character of this stork is merely from his appearance; you are a stranger to his language, and cannot see the disposition of his heart. If you give way to a suspicious temper, your own little breast will be in a state of constant perturbation; you will absolutely exclude yourself from the blessings of society, and will be shunned and despised by birds of every kind. The stork which you thus censure is far from deserving your ill opinion. He would do you no harm, and is remarkable for his filial affection. I saw him taken prisoner. He was carrying his aged father on his back, whom he had for a long time fed and comforted; the weight of this precious burden impeded his flight, and being at length weary with it, he descended to the ground to rest himself, when a cruel man, who was out on the business of bird-catching, threw a net over them, and then seized him by the neck. The poor old stork, who was before worn out with age and infirmities, unable to bear this calamity, fell from his back and instantly expired. The stork, after casting a look of anguish on his dear parent which I shall never forget, turned with fury on his persecutor, whom he beat with his wings with all the strength he had; but it was in vain to contend with a being so much more powerful than himself, and in spite of all his exertions he was conveyed to this place. But come, let us pick up a little refreshment, and then return to the orchard." Saying this, he alighted on the ground, as did his mate and her family, where they met with a plentiful repast, in the provisions which had been accidentally scattered by the person whose employment it was to bring food for the inhabitants of the fowl-houses. When they had sufficiently regaled themselves, all parties gladly returned to the nest, and every heart rejoiced in the possession of liberty and peace.
For three successive days nothing remarkable happened either at Mr. Benson's or at the redbreasts' nest. The little family came to the breakfast-table, and Robin recovered from his accident, though not sufficiently to fly well; but Dicky, Flapsy, and Pecksy continued so healthy, and improved so fast, that they required no further care, and the third morning after their tour to the grove they did not commit the least error. When they retired from the parlour into the courtyard, to which Robin accompanied them, the father expressed great delight that they were at length able to shift for themselves.
And now a wonderful change took place in his own heart. That ardent affection for his young which had hitherto made him, for their sakes, patient of toil and fearless of danger, was on a sudden quenched; but, from the goodness of his disposition, he still felt a kind solicitude for their future welfare; and calling them around him, he thus addressed them:—
"You must be sensible, my dear young ones, that from the time you left the egg-shell to the present instant, both your mother and I have nourished you with the tenderest love. We have taught you all the arts of life which are necessary to procure you subsistence and preserve you from danger. We have shown you a variety of characters in the different classes of birds, and pointed out those which are to be shunned. You must now shift for yourselves; but, before we part, let me repeat my admonition, to use industry, avoid contention, cultivate peace, and be contented with your condition. Let none of your own species excel you in any amiable quality, for want of your endeavours to equal the best; and do your duty in every relation of life, as we have done ours by you. To the gay scenes of levity and dissipation prefer a calm retirement, for there is the greatest degree of happiness to be found. You, Robin, I would advise, on account of your infirmity, to attach yourself to the family where you have been so kindly cherished."
While he thus spake his mate stood by; who, finding the same change beginning to take place in her own breast, viewed her young ones with tender regret, and when he ceased cried out, "Adieu, ye dear objects of my late cares and solicitude! may ye never more stand in need of a mother's assistance! Though nature now dismisses me from the arduous task which I have long daily performed, I rejoice not, but would gladly continue my toil for the sake of its attendant pleasures. Oh, delightful sentiments of maternal love, how can I part with you? Let me, my nestlings, give you a last embrace." Then spreading her wings, she folded them successively to her bosom, and instantly recovered her tranquillity.
Each young one expressed his grateful thanks to both father and mother, and with these acknowledgments filial affection expired in their breasts, instead of which a respectful friendship succeeded. Thus was that tender tie dissolved which had hitherto bound this little family together; for the parents had performed their duty, and the young ones had no further need of their parental care.
The old redbreasts, having now only themselves to provide for, resolved to be no longer burthensome to their benefactors; and after pouring forth their gratitude in the most lively strains, they took their flight together, resolving never to separate. Every care now vanished, and their little hearts felt no sentiments but cheerfulness and joy. They ranged the fields and gardens, sipped at the coolest springs, and indulged themselves in the pleasures of society, joining their cheerful notes with those of other gay choristers which animate and heighten the delightful scenes of rural life.
The first morning that the old redbreasts were missing from Mrs. Benson's breakfast-table, Frederick and his sister were greatly alarmed for their safety; but their mamma said she was of opinion that they had left their nestlings, as it was the nature of animals in general to dismiss their young as soon as they were able to provide for themselves.
"That is very strange," cried Harriet; "I wonder what would become of my brother and me, were you and papa to serve us so!"
"And is a boy of six, or a girl of eleven years old, capable of taking care of his or herself?" said her mamma. "No, my dear child, you have need of a much longer continuance of your parents' care than birds and other animals; and therefore God has ordained that parental affection, when once awakened, should always remain in the human breast, unless extinguished by the undutiful behaviour of a child." "And shall we see the old redbreasts no more?" cried Frederick? "I do not know that you will," replied Mrs. Benson, "though it is not unlikely that they may visit us again in the winter; but let not their absence grieve you, my love, for I dare say they are safe and happy."
At that instant the young ones arrived, and met with a very joyful reception. The amusement they afforded to Frederick soon reconciled him to the loss of their parents; but Harriet declared she could not help being sorry that they were gone. "I shall for the future, mamma," said she, "take notice of animals; for I have had much entertainment in observing the ways of these robins." "I highly approve of your resolution, my dear," said Mrs. Benson, "and hope the occasional instruction I have at different times given you has furnished you with general ideas respecting the proper treatment of animals. I will now inform you upon what principles the rules of conduct I prescribe to myself on this subject are founded.
"I consider that the same almighty and good Being who created mankind made all other living creatures likewise, and appointed them their different ranks in the creation, that they might form together a community, receiving and conferring reciprocal benefits. There is no doubt that the Almighty designed all beings for happiness, proportionable to the faculties He has endowed them with; and whoever wantonly destroys that happiness acts contrary to the will of his Maker.
"The world we live in seems to have been principally designed for the use and comfort of mankind, who, by the divine appointment, have dominion over the inferior creatures; in the exercise of which it is certainly their duty to imitate the Supreme Lord of the universe, by being merciful to the utmost of their power. They are endowed with reason, which enables them to discover the different natures of brutes, the faculties they possess, and how they may be made serviceable in the world; and as beasts cannot apply these faculties to their own use in so extensive a way, and numbers of them, being unable to provide for their own sustenance, are indebted to men for many of the necessaries of life, men have an undoubted right to their labour in return.
"Several other kinds of animals, which are sustained at the expense of mankind, cannot labour for them; from such they have a natural claim to whatever they can supply towards the food and raiment of their benefactors; and therefore, when we take the wool and milk of the flocks and herds, we take no more than our due, and what they can very well spare, as they seem to have an over-abundance given them, that they may be able to return their obligations to us.
"Some creatures have nothing to give us but their own bodies: these have been expressly destined by the Supreme Governor as food for mankind, and he has appointed an extraordinary increase of them for that very purpose, such an increase as would be very injurious to us if all were suffered to live. These we have an undoubted right to kill, but should make their short lives as comfortable as possible.
"Other creatures seem to be of no particular use to mankind, but as they serve to furnish our minds with contemplations on the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, and to exhilarate our spirits by their cheerfulness, they should not be wantonly killed, nor treated with the least degree of cruelty, but should be at full liberty to enjoy the blessings assigned them; unless they abound to such a degree as to become injurious, by devouring the food which is designed for man, or for animals more beneficial to him, whom it is his duty to protect.
"Some animals, such as wild beasts, serpents, &c., are in their nature ferocious, noxious, or venomous, and capable of injuring the health, or even of destroying the lives of men and other creatures of a higher rank than themselves; these, if they leave the secret abodes which are allotted them, and become offensive, certainly may with justice be killed.
"In a word, my dear, we should endeavour to regulate our regards according to the utility and necessities of every living creature with which we are anyways connected, and consequently should prefer the happiness of mankind to that of any animal whatever. Next to these (who, being partakers of the same nature with ourselves, are more properly our fellow-creatures) we should consider our cattle and domestic animals, and take care to supply every creature that is dependent on us with proper food, and keep it in its proper place; after their wants are supplied, we should extend our benevolence and compassion as far as possible to the inferior ranks of beings, and if nothing further is in our power, we should at least refrain from exercising cruelties on them. For my own part, I never willingly put to death, or cause to be put to death, any creature, but when there is a real necessity for it, and have my food dressed in a plain manner, that no more lives may be sacrificed for me than nature requires for my subsistence in that way which God has allotted me. But I fear I have tired you with my long lecture, so will now dismiss you."
While Mrs. Benson was giving these instructions to her daughter, Frederick diverted himself with the young redbreasts, who, having no kind parents now to admonish them, made a longer visit than usual; so that Mrs. Benson would have been obliged to drive them away, had not Pecksy, on seeing her move from her seat, recollected that she and her brother and sister had been guilty of an impropriety; she therefore reminded them that they should no longer intrude, and led the way out at the window; the others followed her, and Mrs. Benson gave permission to her children to take their morning's walk before they began their lessons.