A STORK STORY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1381, 5 March 1881, Page 2

A STORK STORY.

The Nachrlchte.ii of.'Basle adds a new anecdote to the rich collection of German stork tales. During one'of* the storms of - the year the* lightning, struck in the village of Lowenlmrg, and a"'stork's nest—-in which, there were" §b*md young stork* lings—was threatened by the : flames. The two parent birds contefflplatdd' the 1 * horrible situation from a distance with ' evident distress. At last the mother' bird darted down 'upon ths nest} and) 1 seizing one of her. young' family' Mih her beak, bore it off to' a safe, spot under a raeadow. ; The father followe'd her, and settled down to keep watch over his offspring. When the mother returned to the scene of danger the fire 4 had reached the nest, in which'une bird still remained ; but while she was 'flying round it preparing for a descent, the young one fell through the, charred ■nest into the burning, barn. It was no moment.for thought;- 1 Dawn tfartpd the mother into the smoke.;and fire, and, coming up with" her bprossljngin her beak, flew off, On the next day a wounded stork fell to the ground in .the market-place of the neighboring town of Treb.bin. She \ was unable to stand, and.the policeman, of the little" to:wii. carried herin to the guard-house, where it was discovered,;, that both\her legs .were sorely burned, and she was recognised as the heroic mother who had done the brave feat of rescue at the fire in Lowenberg. A. physician was sent for, and the burgo- - master found her a'tetnpprary hospital in the Rathha\i?£ ~ Jfceanwhile, the spouse of she-stork discoverediher Igently two young ones, and paid daily visits to the mother, as if to inform himself how' the • patient was getting on,-sand to assure her that their children were doing well. The school children, of Trebbin readily charged themselves with the task of findm" food for the patieut, bringing her everyday far moi'e than the necessary number of living frogs. The burgomaster paid an official visit every day to the guest of the muncipality, to see that the doctor's'orders : were duly carried out, and in less than : a -fqrtaight the bird was sufficiently hale'to fly away her husband and- children*