OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 42, 28 July 1939, Page 6

OUR STORY

RUFUS THE ROBIN BetEy and David first met Rufus in the wood one cold autumn da>. Chum, their dog, was busy burrow. and the little robin, after watch ing him from a tree, flew 'down and picked up the worms from the soft earth he shot out as he burrowed. After that first day the children often saw him, and by degrees the robin got to know them quite well. Betty nicknamed him Rufus, and very soon the four of them (for, of couse, Chum was always included in anything the children did) became the firmest of firm friends. As winter approached the wipxls grew colder and colder, and the ground froze so hard that there were no worms for poor Rufus. It was then that the children hit on th.r idea of bringing suet to the woods for him.

''What a darling he is! said Betty, watching their little friend pecking and tugging away at the hard white lump. "I wish lie would eat out of our hands!" "Well_ let's try!" suggested David. So every time they met Rufus they tempted him to come to their hands. But friendly though the little bird had become it was weeks before they were succcssful. Rufus seemed to be timid. Time and time again he almost, came to them, and then, at the last moment, his courage would fail him, and he would flutter off looking quite agitated. At last, one bitterly cold day, when Betty held out her hand as usual, there was a flutter of brown wings, and almost before she could realise was was happening she felt the delicate clasp of two tiny claws on her finger as Rufus alighted, took the and flew off with it into the undergrowth to eat it at his leisure. By the time he was ready for more Betty was holding out another piece, and so he came, again. But now, instead of flying off with ft, he remained on her hand to eat it. Then David tried, but for some reason Rufus refused to go to David's hand. Perhaps his courage had deserted him or peihaps he had satis, fied his appetite. After this the children went regularly to the wood i taking crumbs and suet, and sometimes even a little flaked maize begged from the poultry store. How Rufus loved it! But, though he never failed to take his meals -front Betty's hand, he "'"HI seemed to doubt David, and poor David was quite upset about it. Then one spring morning, chev had a big surprise, for, on reaching the wood th<M' found two robin.; awaiting them. 'Why, it must be his wife!" whispered Betty, holding out her hand as Rufus flew towards her. "See if she'll come to you David?'' Drivid held out his hand invitingrobin, as if determined not to be !ef! cut of tlr-ir/s, came! '■What an awfully good idea of l!iij us. ' said Bet ty *'Xow '.v. 1 have a robin each!'' DETAILS OF JOINING. Five years and under; Waterbabies . Eight years and over five. Stokers, stewards and deckhands. Fourteen and over e : ght. Engine; rs, midshipmen and petty oiViet-r.-