The Young Bird's Flight

IT was one of the rarest of June days and the old appletree in the garden was the scene of an unusual stir in the affairs of its feathered family. A robin's nest in one of the upper branches was empty for the first time in weeks, and its late uncouth and hungry denizens were being encouraged to their first trial-flights, amid the shadows where none but parental eyes might see.

Over and over again the trick was shown them, and as the awakening impulses of a new life stirred to greater deeds, their ventures became more daring than wise, and thus it happened that one brave little fellow, whose course was laid for the pathless air and whose wings were planned for the sky's far freedom, missed his aim for once, and found himself brought to earth, where, fluttering, and crying with terror, he became the easy prey of a crouching enemy; and but for a friend's swift forbidding word and strong protecting hand, a tragedy would have been added to the otherwise happy chronicles of the day.

As the rescuer tried to soothe and quiet the frightened little thing, he could but think of the kindred danger besetting the first enthusiasms of an awakening spiritual life.

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Editorial
Being Original
September 12, 1903
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