The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-09-20
Selett STORY,
BIG NICK---A TALE OF OREGON
BY JOHN CLERKE.
GFrom Ballou's Magazine.

From Ballou's Magazine.
had grudee against him-not
serious one. requiring exemplary ven-
geance for cancellation, but one which
would have been satisfied if 1 could
have given him moderate thrashing.
He had shot my pet sea gull, bird
valued very highly, not only for its
own sake, but for the fact, OF which l
was well aware, that it was one of the
rarest pets alive. 1t had been tanned
by gentleman who had held the sin.
ecure of collector of the port, having
his Office in g romantic village few
miles up the bay; and after he, at the
, expiration at his official term, returned
to his native Georgia, the bird lapsed
into partial wildness until l CHANGED
to pitch my tent upon the beach, when
it coyly introduced itself to my notice,
and, having found me disposed to re-
oeive it kindly, gradually grew moro
intimate until it suffered me to stroke
its feathers and take it. in my hands.
My business was to forward passen
gers and freight from the landing on
tine beach, half mile from the ocean,
to the mines forty miles down the
coast; and [ was alone the greater
part of the time, both day and night,
except for an hour or two after the
arrival of the steam boat, three times
week from Sloanville, twenty-five
miles up the river. The visits of the
gull thrice day (always at meal
time), were very welcome 10 me al
though it remained but short time
after being fed, but hasted away to
disport itself on the crests of the
waves with its white-winged compan
ions. The steamboat came TO the
landing one morning shortly after my
gull and had taken breakfast; and
the bird having been well fed, and
feeling, l suppose, quite courageous,
as well as comfortable, perched him
self upon a drift-log about thirty
yards from the tent, and cody eyed
the Discrimination of passengers and
landing of freight, which had to be
completed before the turning of the
tide. .. !
Among the passengers was Big
Nick, who prided himself upon his
skill with the revolver; and when he
saw my gull sitting there so careless
4y, he tiseHglft a-goea- opportunity to
test the accuracy of his aim, and ac-
cordingly pulled his pistol and blazed
away, with only too great success
The bird fell dead. 1t was some
minutes before discovered what had
occurred, and to say that 1 was angry
would but taintly express my feel
ings For single moment-I did !
think of exacting life for life-ot serv- !
Nick precisely as he had served my
pet but my reason got the better OF
my wrath. Then 1 thought of whip
ping him; but when 1 reflected that
he stood six feet in his socks (when
he wore any, and built in proportion, !
l concluded that would not do; SO l
contented myself with giving him
piece of nay mind in choice American
OF the most proiane and abusive sort
at my command He took it good
naturedly, and offered profuse apollo
gies for his error. He had never
seen or heard of such a thing as a
tame sea-gull, and had no more idea
that the bird was pet of mine than
he had that was in the habit of en-
tertaining visitors from the celestial
spheres I refused, however, to be
couciliated, allowed Nick to proceed
down the coast CARRYING with him the
impression THAT I was mortally offend.
ed with him; and I never saw him
afterwards without feeling a strong
desire to fog him, only restrained by
a sense Of my inability to perform that
deli ate operation. 1t is unusual for
me to "hold spite" against persons
who have injured me, even intention
ly; and can only account for my
persistent ill-feeling in this instance
on the ground that the bird, having
ksen almost my sole companion and