The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-03-21

| into service. 10 Spcak IlloTc piiii''y VIC h~'N
observed that You blackbirds have as much
as you can do to provide for your families.
! (thank goodness, all my little polyw"gs can
take care of themselves, and we have thought
that we might be useful to you in the capa-
city of singers. After your day S toll you must
indeed he weary and out of breath, and as it
$, ems necessary that you should have music,
why not procure the services of such as have
nothing else to attend to! My three friends
and myself form quartca.c, who can produce
music far superior to anything YOU have yet
heard. We have practiscd until we are per.
feet in our knowledge Of each others voices
and style Of singing, and are able to execute
the most difficult and intricate passages of
harmony without single error. Thus We
can give you the best music without cxcrtion
on your pvrt, and having nothing else to do,
we can study and improve ourselves until we
Shall be perfect in our art. This, interrupt
ed by your various engagements. you can
never be ablo to attain. What do you think
Of my plan!'
Primy was struck with the 6liliancy Of
the idea, and felt attered and proud at the
thought that Master Frog had selected him as
his contbtante in this matter: he did not think
for moment that accident alone had brought
about the meeting.
"Master Frog" said he, with great digni.
| ty. 81 am rcjuiced that you have chosen me
as your counselor. have, I say it without
vanity, great influence smong my comrades,
and am so favorabIy impressed with your
plan that shall lose no time in conmunica-
ting with my fellows. You may expect a ia.
vorable answer tomorrow evening"
The frog, placing his hand OH his heart.
bowed low. and turning, plunged into the
pool to inform his friends Of his success.
Irimy FASTENED to the tree. The whole
colony were singing loudly; but mounting an
elevated branch, Primy screamed Silence! at
the top of his lungs, and at length succeeded
in gaining u hearing. lie set forth in clo-
quent words the advantages Of John Frog
plsn: and finally won the support of the
younger members Of the community, who
were led away by the novelty Of the proposal,
and DANGEROUSLY demanded that it should BE-
adopted, and the Mes>rs. Frog Immediately
engaged. The older birds shook their heads
at first: they loved singing for singing S sake:
they saw that if the frogs were employed, it
was expected that they should do all the sing
ing while the birds should remain silent.
They consented finally, however, 10 the ar
rangcment. and Primy was authorized to ell
gage the foreigners.
The next evening Johnny Frog and his
three friends were promptly at their appoint
cd place. Primy soon made his appearance,
the arrangements were satisfactorily adjust
ed, and Prmy with the quartcttc returned to
the tree. The frogs were assisted TO their
places, and Immediately commenced opera
tons. This was the burden of their song:
"Chunk, chunk, tab, plum, plum,
! Chunk, too rLh, rec,
Punk, PUNK, tab, clum, clum,
Chunk, too, tab, teC.'
The blackbirds listcndrd in silence. The
younger ones appaud,d vigorously at the
close of each stanza: but the old ones looked
wise, and contrasttd
"Chunk. chunk, tab, plum, plum"
with the musical sound of their own their
own familiar songs. Every evening the frogs
were at their station, singing their songs for
the black birds who, as OH the first occasion,
listened i'll silence. But there was something
wanting in their usual evening gatherings
which even the younger members of the COM
munity discovered. There was not that joy
oas animation and chcerfulneSs which had
characterized their Social hours before the
introduction Of the foreign quartcttc. All
telt keenly the d, sire to sing, and it must bc
confessed that during the day, when absent
on Their usual avocations, many Of the young
as well as the old INDUCED in their old songs,
and could not help rcgretting that they were
unable to unite their voices with their COM
'ades as of old: but they dare not sing in the
presence OF the frog quar- tctle. They were
not familiar with the music, and not wishing
TO make discord, they held their peace and
listened te strains they did not understand
This feeling spread throughout the colony,
until at length there was not cheerful look.
ing blackbrd to b. found. Even Primy SEEM
I'd down-hcarted, and frequently allowed his
feathers to be rutflcd. From happy assem-
blage their evening meetings had become
dreary. silent, and mouralul, and rendered
even less endurable by the "Punk PUNK tab,
clum, clum. "of the frogs. who thinking on.
ly of the dignity of their position. were en-.
tirely regardless Of the feelings of others. At
length the old birds resolved on a change.
They had seen the folly Of the matter before.
and they hoped that now the young birds had
also become weary Of the monotony of their
present life. They spoke to the young ones
on this subject. and were rejoiccd to learn
that shame only had prevented them from re-
questing the quartette to Le removed. Mas
ter Johnny and his friends, after this, were
no longer in the ascendant. They were po-
litcly requested to change their tunes to the
old familiar ones Of the blacktirds, so that
all might join in the singing. They indig-
nsntly refused, and the result was that they
were dismissed by the black birds. and re-.
turned to their own pool and polywogs, to
sing and live as they saw it, while our friends
the birds, once more united in congregation
al singing" and once more were cheerful.
happy. and free. They never again engaged
"quartette" to do their singing; but thence,
forth. as sensible blackbirds. sang their own
songs, and enjoyed their own music.
In At THE DEATH.-The late Joshua Sears
prided himself upon never having paid money