Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-12
QNOrtester 9aiIp SPY.
THE BULLFINCH.
BY FITz JAMES o'BRIEN.


ranging his feathers with great care, or occa.
sionally climbing down on Kamm's coat col
lar, until lie got within reach OF his mouth
where he would peck kiss at him and grave
ly reascend to his former position.
"Come, Bully" said Kamm, pausing be-
tween two stitches, and catching the bird in
his hand, which operation was followed by an
indignant "quick, come, its time for your les.
son."
Bully resigned himself somewhat sulleny to
position on the back OF a chair fronting tue
shoemaker who began with the weaving
motion o. the head to whistle "Roslyn CastIs, .
Very sweetly he whistled. The notes were
full of country wilderness, and in the peculiar
break to which they were characterized, re-
sembled that wild music called the Jodel by
the Swiss PEASANTS.
Bully instantly assumed an attitude of pro-
found attention, His head was cooked on one
side, and one bright, black, intelligent eye was
fixed on his master, He was as immOyabe as
if he had been stuffed, while the sweet melan.
choly air in silver thread Of sound issued vi.
brating from the boot makers lips. The air
then ceased Bully retained his attitude of
attention for a moment or two, then finding
that the strain was over, he drew himself up
proudly, erected his jetty crest, pulled out his
rosy corselet, and with a swollen throat and a
onaint swing of the body and firt OF the tail,
he iovouslv burst into "Ah UOuS dirdi je ma
man."
"Confound you for an obstinate little pig p
cried Kamnl, enraged twill you never learn
that tune, you red breasted IDIOT? III fog it
into YOU, by all that's great | will !" and so
saving he proceeded to catch his unhappy pet
and belabor him with bristle with such earn.
estness that one would have imagined that lie
intended TO hurt him.
90, Mr.. Kamm, please don't beat the little
1 al. Al
sure he sings very sweetly I've been listen.
ing to him outside the door these two minutes"
'tAh is that you, Miss Grace 2" answered
Kamm, with lavalike rush of blood flooding
his temples, as he greeted pretty piquant
girl of about sixteen years of age, who tripped
into the little shop, and held up one little hand
raised threateningly against the shoe maker,
while Bully, escaping from his relaxed grasp,
flew TO his Swiss cottage, where he secluded
himself in the attic with an air that indicated
an eternal abandonment Of the pomps and
Yanities of the world.
"Yes, it's me, Kamm," said the little lady,
"and don't like to see you SO cruel"
"Bless you, Miss, amt cruel, no how.
You see l want to get the bird to whistle "Ros.
lyn Castle" fine old air, Miss and though
I've been teaching him year or more, he
goes against me all he can, and won't do it,
So l make believe to be angry with him, that's
ALL"
"Well, but you brighten him, and that's
cruel. Poor little fellow perhaps 'Roslyn
Castle is too high for his voice"
This was a comic view OF the question, and
they both burst out laughing, which merriment
on the part of his oppressors seemed to Bully
to be an additional insult, for he got as near
his imitation chimney possible, and turned
his back on mankind.
"What can l do tor you today, Miss Grace?"
asked Kamm, as soon as he had given her
chair the seat of which he carefully wiped.
81 want a pair of yellow gaiter-boots for the
new piece, Kamm. 1t is burlesque, and
play the Princess Jaberatung OF the Polygot
Islands. l am disguised as boy, by the con.
nivance OF my father, because in the Polygot
Islands there is a law against woman's study
ing any branch of knowledge, and l have the
greatest passion for learning languages The
king of Lingualia, in neighboring territory,
who is also great lover of languages, gives
notice that he will give the hand OF his daugh
ter TO the man who will speak in the greatest
number of tongues. There is great tourna.
ment held, and l. although woman enter the
lists just for the fun Of tie thing. l overcome
all opponents, until at last stranger appears
who calls himself Prince Lexicon and who,
after three days struggle, corquers me by adj
dressing me in the Skyittche language, the
miar. The prince also secretly informs me
that he is aware OF my sex, and that he will
not claim the kings daughter, but prefers to
teach me the language of love. TheL the
king is enraged at his daughters hand being
sighted, and imprisons the prince and pursues
me. escape with difficulty, and in the end
rescue the prince just as he is about to be be-
headed, and all ends happily with our mar
riage in Consonant Castle or the lake OF Verbs.
4 M nn1x ,t,lo 1 I o,,I n
Mr. Kamm he sings song in the piece SO
beautiful %
''Why, that must be very pretty piece,
Miss Grace. suppose it's for that Mr.. Belv
dere ordered the scarlet boots with the gold
tasses."
"Well, if Mr.. Belvideres boots are to be ne
handsome as that Kamm, | hope that you'll
make mine lovely, for you know he is to mar
ry me-"
Il hope not, Miss Grace" said Kamm grave
ly, with touch Of pathoS i'll his voice.
ooh l mean on the stage you know, " said
Miss Grace quickly. "Wly, I'd rather do |
don't know what than marry him really, with
his airs, and his great conceited blue eyes,
which lie thinks SO much of. Hadn't you
better take my measure And now, Kamm,
/ want you to make them the cunningest
little things you can think o."
And SO saying, the little danseuse put very
pretty little foot upon n stool, and Kamm,
measuring tape in hand, knelt as if in adora-
ton before 1t.
"Soyou wouldn't marry Mr.. Belvidere, Miss
Grace :" said the shoemaker as ne bound the
arching instep with the graduated tape.
"No, | don't like him bit" was the decid.
ed reply.
"Ah but you are hard to please" said
Kamm with heavy sigh and a timid glance
at the pretty face that bent over him as he
knelt.
'No. am not, Mr.. Kamm not at ALL But
/ do Ikea man to have good heart, and some
respect for woman. l don't think Mr.. Belvi-
deere has either. Now, I'm sure I'm simple
enough in my tastes, for often remember with
pleasure that day when we went out on our
excursion to Hackensack, you and and
mother and had that nice cold dinner az the
queer little English ln1 called the Three
pigeons, aud which reminded us all OF Gold,
smiths comedy of ''She Stoops to Conquer !
and how jolly every thing was, and-ahd-the
drive home
"And," continued Kamm, rising and taking
advantage of what seemed to be a momentary
confusion on Grace's part "and that pleasure,
that shall never forget, the first time ever
pressed your hand with my own great clumsy
paw, the first tine that l ever felt little hope
sprngng up in my heart about you"
Grace suddenly drew down her foot and
stood halfstartled, half expectant before the
earnest shoemaker, who, measure in hand, and
all unconscious OF apron, continued =
"Yon see, | never said anything about II
since. To tell you the truth, l was afraid of
you, Miss Grace, you are so much above me,
and you know SO much finer people than am
but can't help loving you, Miss Grace
can't indeed and I'm sure il would be thejo
of my life to have the privilege and pleasure