The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-05-14
MISCELLANY.


Tom More the linen draper, of Fleet-street,
standing at bis door one day, country man came
up to him with nest of Jackdaws and accosting
him, says Measter wool We buoy a nest ofdaws'"
=" No, ldon't want any.o Measier freplied the
mani I'll sell 'en cheap; you shall have the
whole nest for noinepence." 81 don't want 'ern,
answered Tom More, so 60 about your business. ?
rs the man was walking away, one of the DAVIS
Popt up his head and cried, |" Mauk, mauk. !"
ihe bird knows my name, says More. Halo,
countryman, what will you take for that bird -
w noy you shall have BIN for three pence.n Tom
More bought him, had cage made, and hung it
uPih the shop The lourneymen took much notice
OIL tne bird, and would frequently tap at the bot
Tom Of the cage, and say, Who are your VINO
are you = and Immediately reply, aTon Wore
OF Fieet-street." In a short time the iackdaw
learnt these words and. if he wanted victuals or
water, would strike his bill against the cage, turn
up the white of bis eve, cock his head and CIV.
t. Who are you Who are you /! Tom More of
Flect-street." Tom More was fond of canine.
and often lost large sums of money. Finding
his business neglected in his absence. he had =
small hazard table set up in one corner of the din
ing room, and invited party his friends to play
at il. The jackdaw had by this time become ia
miliar his cage was left open, and he hop't in
every part fthe house; times he got into the
dining-room where the gentlemen where at play.
One them being constant winner, the others
would say, How he hicks 'em 7" The bird learn
ed these words also, and adding them to the FORM
er, would call, Who are you Who are you p
Tom More of Fleet-street, Tom More Of Fleet
how he hicks 'en?" Tom More from repeat
ed losses and neglect OF business failed In trade
and became prisoner in the Fleet. He took
hi Ir1 with M a.
supported by his friends in decent manner
They would sometimes ASK, What brought you
here y when he used to lift up his hand and an
swer, Bad company The bird learnt this like
wise, and at the end of the former would say,
=" What brought you here What brought YOU
here :" and Ito initiate his MASTERY lift up his
plnions, and cry, g Bad company. Some of Tom
Alore's friends died, others went abroad and by
| degrees he was totally deserted, and removed 10
the common side of the prison where the aistem-
per had broken out-he caughtit; and in the last
stage OF life, lying straw bed, the poor bird
VINO had been two days without food or water)
came to his feet, and striking his bill on the floor,
called " w lio are you, W no are you Tom More
OF tleet-street, Tom More of Fleet street-how
he hicks em. What brought YOU here What
brought you here? Bad company" Tom More who
attended on the bird, was struck with his words
and rejecting on himself cried out . Good God ,
to what wretched situation am reduced NV
father, when he died, left me a good fortune, and
an established trade, spent my fortune, ruined
my business, and am now dying in loathsome
Jail, and TO complete all, keeping that poor thing
confined without any support. III endeayeur to
do one piece OF Justice before die, by setting him
at liberty" He made shift to crawl from lis
straw bed, opened the easement and out the bird
flour A Hal
going over the Jail, and Tom More's bird mixed
among them. The gardeners were then LAYING
the plats of the temple gardens, and as often as
they placed them in the day, the jackdaws pull
ed them up by night. They got gun, and at
tempted TO shoot some of them but, being cum
ming birds they always placed one Of them as a
watch in the stump of hollow tree which. as
as the gun was levelled, cried Mauk.
Mauk, and away they all few SO that the man
could never shoot one of them. The gardeners
were advised TO get net and the first night il
was spread they caught fifteen. Tom More's
bird was amongst them. One of the men took
the net into the garnet of an uninhabited house,
fastened the door and windows and turn'd the
birds loose. Now (says he) you black rascals.
I'll be reyenged on YOU" Taking hold Of the
first at hand, he twists bis neck and throwing
him down cries, "there goes one." Tom Mores
bird which had hoped on beam in the corner
OF the room unobseved, as the man laid hold of
the second, calls out, how he nicks'em 20 The
man alarmed, cries, : Sure heard voice but
the house is uninhabited, and the door fast it
could only BE Imagination" On laying hold of
the third and twisting his neck, Tom More's bird
again says, how he hicks 'em !" The maa dropt
the bird he had in his hand and turning towards
where the voice came from, observed the other
with his mouth open, call out Who are you 7"
to which the bird answered ''Tom More of Fleet
street," : The devil you are (says the man) aud
what brought you here :" Tom More's bird lift
ing up his pnions, answered, bad company, Bad
company" The fellow frightened almost out of
his wits, opened the door, ran down stairs, and
out OF the house, followed BY the birds who by this
means saved their lives and gained their liberty.