The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-02-09
- tfor tho Sumter Watohman.]
A Talk with the Children.
NuNpEP FOJJRTEEN oCCcE

NUMBER FOURTEEN--aEEsE.
Christmas and New Years day have
come and gone. Court week has passed.
Mr.. Hubbard and his Coustabulary force,
with their seven shooters, have ceased to
arrest our people. Our peaceable citizens
who were arraigucd us the Ku Klux
Kavlan, he been honorubly acquitted.
Our 8re@eu have given their supper,
and enjoyed their 6uo speeches, and as
things have onco more resumed their
normal condition, we propose to renew
our pleasant little talks Oh different top
les. Suppose we try geese, of which.
there are, several species. There are in
our country, throo varieties Of domestic
geese. The. variety which is most com>
mon is readily recognized by the male
being always white and the female of u
dark dun color, sometimes partly white.
Another variety has larger body and
mock more arched, with red bills, and
feet like the former kind. The third
variety are much larger, with longer
neoks aud black bill with hump
upon it, which gives it a peculiar ap-
pearance. They are called China geese.
Both male aud female ara of tho same
peculiar dun color. All these varieties
look beautiful on the water. Their
oheerfalness, blue eyes, and grace upon
the water, make them very attractive
birds. :.
Nature has provided gocse with web
between their toes, as means Of pro-
pelling themselves in tho water, and
arrange to say, if hole is cut in this
film, SO as to destroy greater part of it,
tho web will all grow up again. Your
Grand Pa once bought quito number
Of geese, and fearing that they might
stray off, marked them by cutting hole
three quarters ofan inch 10 diameter, in
tho web Of each right foot, but to his
surprise, upon examining them few
months after, he found the holes all
grown up and the marks entirely oblit-
Grated.
Geese are remarkable for their conju.
gal affection, and mayservc US valuable
example Of constaucy. When once they
mate or marry, they arc as true to each
other as tho most exact virtue can de.
maud. They are very cheerful, never
iudulging in low spirits, as some silly
people do, but enjoy life to the highest
degree.
They are given to one bad habit, viz.
6yhting. Tho spring season is their
fighting period, and their battles arc
very severe, and the victory Of tho for.
tunate one is celebrated by loud cries
and cackling. Geese are very vigilant,
especially at night. The appearance of
a strange person or II sound Of an un-
common noise, will cause them to cry
out in loud cackle I. is said that
the ancient city Of Rome was once saved
by the cackling Of some domestic geese,
which aroused the scntinels, just in
timo to prevent its being surprised aud
sacked.
Wild geese arc beautiful birds, either
on land, IN the air, or on tho water
They migrate to our country in the
winter, and their early approach is said
to indicate very cold winter. When
on the wing, they utter strange wild
cry. There is but slight difference
between tho male and female. They arc
frequently captured by hunters in the
upper part of the State, and are quito an
oruau'cnt in yard Of poultry. They
never laJ eggs, however, or raise young
ones, but keep to themselves, and
appear as strangers in strange land.
The larges. and most beautiful Of the
goose tribe is tho swan. They a,c
much larger than the common goose.
have long arched necks and are bcauti.
ful as they float, swim aud dive. The
old once defend their young with great
bravery and force, striking Gcrcely both
with their bcaks and wings, aud have
been known to break the arms of men
who have vontured to rob thcirA,ests.
Your GRAND PA.
Tho champion halter Of Western
city claims also to bO the "uuive rsal
sympathixcr," because he has lelt for