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The Bluebird Nest
© 2011 - William C. Highsmith

It was springtime in South Georgia in the year 1924. Little Virgie was six years old and next to the youngest of nine to twelve children. The number varied because her parents often took in nieces, nephews, and others when they needed help. Times were very hard in those days and often folks required assistance. Her parents were dirt poor farmers and certainly could have used help themselves; but, they were still willing to provide for those who were even less fortunate.

It had been two years since the accident and Virgie had recovered as much as possible. She had been injured while climbing a large wooden flower planter. It fell on her and the dirt covered her tiny face and filled her nose and mouth and caused her breathing to be cut off for some time. She was badly hurt and had to be taken to the doctor. He did the best he could; but, he told her parents that likely nerve damage had been done and she would never be the same again.

However, to the child, this was a care-free time. Although she enjoyed playing with the other children, she also loved to go exploring on her on. It was the exploring that left her with sweet memories.

She often told a story of the time she found a bluebird nest in a stump. The farmyard was surrounded with fields and woods. One spring morning her investigations took her out the back door, past the well, and beyond the out-house into the nearby woods. She found an old stump with a hole in it. Inside the hole was a bluebird nest. It held two tiny eggs. The little girl was enthralled. Every day she would visit the nest. Finally, the adult birds got used to her and she could even pet the baby bluebirds when they hatched and grew. She loved birds for the rest of her eighty-seven years.

By William C. Highsmith - April 22, 2011