Paul's Canary - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

PAUL’S CANARY

I don’t see why I was made this way. I was such a sickly baby, everyone thought I would die. I wish I had--" Paul paused when he thought of his weary mother and how happy he would be when she came home.

He was crouching on a seat by the one window in the room, looking out at the tall buildings and the wet boards of the near-by houses. Sometimes, leaning out far enough, he could see the paved yard with its pile of boxes and rubbish.

Paul was far from strong. His deformed legs could hardly carry him about.

"I’m of no use at all," cried Paul. "I’m only a trouble to mother. I don’t believe there is another creature in the world as helpless as I am."

As he spoke, a gust of wind shook the loose sash and blew the rain furiously against the panes. The blinds next door rattled as the storm seemed to gather force and beat against the window. Then Paul started forward with breathless curiosity to examine a little dripping object that the wind had blown onto the ledge by the window. It was a bird, apparently helpless, scarcely fluttering as it clung feebly to the stone.

"Oh, poor bird, I’ll bring you in!" cried Paul. Opening the window he gently reached out his hand. In his haste he forgot to fasten up the sash and it pressed heavily on his shoulders. The wind blew his hair into his eyes and the rain drenched him; but he did not worry about this, his only thought was for the weak creature he hoped to rescue. The storm seemed determined to snatch the bird away before he could reach it. At last, however, he gathered the wet bird in his hands and drew it into the room. Before he thought of changing his clothes, he wiped, stroked, and blew the bird’s feathers, trying to fan the spark of life.

The bird lay in Paul’s hands hardly moving. Slowly it began to revive and to pick at its feathers. Then Paul considered himself. He had no other pants and jacket, so he wrapped himself in a blanket, taking his new pet under its folds. In the warmth and darkness, it slept. Paul, with a new feeling of content, watched it until he, too, fell asleep. When his mother came home, she feared he was sick; but on turning back the blanket, she was greeted by a lively chirp from the bird, which was now dry and comfortable. The little fellow displayed a handsome suit of black and yellow. One of his wings was injured, and parts of two toes were gone; but he was bright and chirpy and very hungry.

"Why, Paul, where did this come from?"

Paul related the rescue, and ended by asking: "Isn’t he pretty?"

"Yes; but he must have some seed. I’ll see if they won’t give me a bit downstairs," said mother.

Soon she returned with some birdseed, and, to Paul’s satisfaction, the bird began to eat. A little water in a cup served him for drink, and he slept on a stick that Paul balanced between two chairs.

In the days that followed, Paul no longer complained or felt discouraged while his mother was absent earning their living. Pet, as he named the bird, was his playmate. Paul taught the canary to take seed from his lips, to lie dead at a word of command, and to pull his master’s hair or eyebrows to get attention.

Now the birdseed that mother had borrowed soon disappeared, and Paul wondered how to get more. It would not be fair to use mother’s money. Could he not earn some? He thought and thought.

The window next to his room jutted out so that he often saw Mary sitting at her work. She was sorry for the lame boy, and spoke to him. He made up his mind that she might help him. One day, as she sat plying her nimble fingers, he called: "Mary, please. What do you call your work?"

She looked up and smiled. "Tatting."

"Is it hard to do?"

Oh, no! It’s easy; you could learn it."

Could I make enough to buy Pet some seed?"

"Why, yes; do you want me to teach you?"

"Oh, do!" cried Paul eagerly.

"I’ll come in tonight."

So she did. Paul’s fingers were straight and strong and he had a will to learn. Pet tried to investigate the process, pulling the thread; but Paul sent him to bed, and worked away until he could make the stitches as Mary did.

"I’ll sell it for you at the same place I take mine; and if you are industrious, you’ll more than buy Pet’s seed – a cage, too, perhaps."

"Oh, he doesn’t want a cage."

After that, Paul sat in his window as busy as anyone. He was happy over his work; and when a few pennies were left over after buying the seed, and he could buy some fruit for mother’s lunch, he was as happy as any other child. Mother declared that her son was growing straighter, and someday he would be strong and would take care of her.

Some months after Paul rescued Pet, he was wakened by feeling something on his face. As he opened his eyes, he felt Pet pulling his hair with such strong tugs that it was far from pleasant. The morning light was stealing into the room, its gray cold making everything look dim and strange. Pet pulled and tugged at his master’s hair.

"It’s not day," said Paul, trying to send Pet away; but the bird would not go. Finally, Paul had to get up and put the canary on her perch. As his hand touched the wall, he noticed it was quite hot. Pet refused to stay on his perch, clinging instead to his master’s shoulder.

"Mother," cried Paul, "mother, wake up!"

His mother was weary, and made no reply. As Paul listened, he heard the roar of fire and smelled the smoke. Springing on his mother’s bed, he wakened her and told her of the danger. She ran to the hall and aroused their neighbors; and in a moment the large house, with its many families, was in confusion. The next room was in flames. The fire had started from some clothes that were hung too near the stove; and if it had not been for Pet’s alarm it would have been serious. As it was, the firemen came and soon extinguished it, though Paul’s room was badly burned and he was obliged to sit with Mary the next day.

Everyone in that house came to see the lame boy and the canary that had saved their property and perhaps their lives. Paul was praised; and so many people wanted Pet, that Paul was afraid they would carry him off. Then came the man who owned the house, and he told Paul that he had saved him many thousand dollars, and asked him what he would like to have. Paul’s face flushed, and then he timidly said: "Some crutches, sir, so that I can go into the street."

"You shall have them," replied the man. Paul’s mother received a sewing machine, so that she did not need to go out to work; and Pet had a comfortable cage to sleep in, and all the seed he could eat.

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