THE BISHOP AND THE BIRDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2115, 22 April 1889, Page 2

THE BISHOP AND THE BIRDS

A bishop who had for his arms two blrdß, with tho motto: "Are not two eparrows sold for a farthing ?" thus explained the matter to an intimate friend. Fifty or elxty years ago a llitle boy resided at a village near Dillepgen, on the banks of tho Danube. • His parents ware very poor, and almost as soon as the boy could walk he was sent Into the' woods to pick up some sticks for fuel. When he grew oldor his father taught him to plok the juniper berries and carry them to a neighboring .distiller, who wanted them for making Hollands. Day by day the poor boy went to his t»Bk On his road he parsed (he open windows of the village school, where he saw the schoolmaster teaching a nomber of boys of about the samo age at himself. He looked at the<se boys with feelings of envy, so earneMly did be long to be among them, Ho was quite aware it was In vain to a*k hio father to send him to eohool, for ho knew that his parents h«d no money to pay the schoolmaster, and he often epont the whole day thinking while be was gathering the juniper berries wh*t he ooold possibly do to please the schoolmaster. In the hope of getting some lessons. One day when he was walking sadly along, he saw two of the boys trying to set a bird trap, and he asked one what It was for. The boys told him tbat tho schoolmaster was very fond of fieldfares, and that ihey were setting a trap to catch some, Tho next day the Uttlp boy borrowed an 019 basket of bis mother, and when' he went to the wood he had the great delight to oatoh two fieldfares. He then put them In the basket, and, tying an old handkerchief over it, took them to the schoolmaster's house and presented, them to him, " A present, my good boy V orled the schoolmaster, " you do not look as if you oould make presents. Tell me your price and I will pay It to yon, and thank you besides J" '•! would rather give them to you, sir, if you ploaße,^ said the boy. " You are a very singular boy," said he ; " but If you will not take money you must tell me what I oan do for you," *' You oan do for me what I should like bettor than anything else." "What Is that?" asked the master. «» Taaoh me to read," replied the boy, falling on his knees. The schoolmaster oompllod, and tho boy learned so rapidly that be recommended him to a nobleman residing In the neighborhood. Tho boy profited by his opportunities, and when he rose, aa soon ha did, to wealth and honors, he adopted two fieldfares as his arms. " What do you moan ? " aaid tho blahop's friend. "I mean," returned tho bishop with a smile, " that poor boy was myoolf."