Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-05-24

ercu bnal his eyes WOulU 20 Suut, anu
generously yielding to their inclination
had sought his pillow. David seemed to
have been waiting for such an occurrence,
for at the first heavy breath from the in
ner room he unlocked a drawer, and be-
gan to tumble among its contents with
the air of one having important business
on hand.
"What are you afterH' asked sgd, at
tracted by his manner.
David laid out roll of wire, piece of |
sealing-wax, and shingle.
"I'll show you Directly" he responded
at last drawing forth q curious some
thing, that, when fairly out and right side
up, proved to be small gray owl.
"Therep'
"Hello regular old OWL Where'd you
get him" demanded Bob.
"What you going to do with him" in
terposed Mark.
David surveyed the bird complacently.
"Nice, ant he? Bought him of Bill
Jones for rabbit only rabbit ever
caught in my trap, too; but | thought this
would look nicer"
"Nicer for what9 What'll you do with
il ?" persisted Mark.
Elk him up and-Tll tell you what
it is, boys" said David, leaning back
against the chest of drawers, and decid-
ing to begin at the beginning, "to-mor-
rows mothers birthday, and she's just as
good a right to birthday presents as any
body, and l mean to give her this. Do
you see ?"
"What do you s'pose she'll do with
it ?" asked Bob, rather doubtfully.
! "Do? Why, keep IT," responded
David. "Put it in the parlor to look at,
of course"
"An owl, without any legs, and its eyes
out!" began sgd, slowly surveying the
purposed gift.
Bother! can't you wait until fellow
can say what he means to do ?" inter-
rupted Dave, impatiently. Nobody
said it looked like much now; but it amt
done yet. Bill Jones only got it half
tinished-stufied you know-and then he
got tired of it, and sold it to me. | don't
know how the legs come off, but it'll have
to be fixed up on something, so that won't
show, and hsFe some sealing-wax eyes
put in and tho it'll be all right. Mother
thinks lots of fshaving things round to look
at, such as other folks have. She's al
ways telling how nice they are, and this'll
be a sight prettier than any of the wooden
worsted cats and dogs that the Davis
girls make on cushions and things, for
they ant natural, anyhow, and this is"
The three pairs of eyes began to scan
David admiringly, and his purchase less
critically. Pleasing mother was consid-
erable, to say nothing of eutdcing the
"Davis girls" Besides, the project had
the charm of novelty Dave saw that he
had produced an impression, and gathered
up his wire and wax for work.
eff you hada little treeto put it on now, "
suggested sgd, lit would look better"
"But it would all wither, you see, and
| want something thatll stay. Guess III
, have to stick it on to this shingle and
, paint it green or some way, to look nice. y
, Look here 7 I know something bet
tern that" announced Bob, making Q
sudden dash for clumsy old trunk in
, one corner, that was his mothers abhor
renee and his own especial delight-th6
receptacle of valuables unnumbered
"Hold on a minute" And with vigor
, GUS poking and sitting, he brought to the
} surface an antiquated, tall brass candle
= stick
! Grub this up bright and stick him OF
A it !; it's handsomer than an old shingle
f anyhow"
"Wire him on"
p The Young taxidermist's eyes bright
\ ened, He saw no objection to his ow
, perching on candlestick if it wanted to-
4 or rather If he wanted it to--and consid
j., cred in itself, the candlestick was ceI
tainly a more shapely object than tn
n shingle.
h "Tll give it to you-don't care muc
d about it myself, anyway" said Bob mas
Q unanimously, beginning to polish it wit
/ the sleeve of his jacket. "Was goin' t
n make brass cannon of it, that was all.
g put in some powder t'other day to blo'
O out that concern in the middle that shove
e up and down, but had to go to schoC
a and didn't have time to do it; glad of
p now"
IF The small table was too narrow for $
e momentous an undertaking. Davl
, placed the lamp upon the carpet, an
II seated himself, d Turk, beside it, viii
the Others, interested spectators gathere
i around in circle-Mark on his knee
I Syd reclining, and Bob striking variel
N oil attitudes, while he vigorously rubbC
20 the intended pedestal, first on his JACKIE
d and then on his pants, to "shine her up
N as he said. Taken altogether, they locke
,e not unlike a group of devotees engage
s in some heathenish rite. But they hf
,s no thoughts to bestow on their own a
is pearance; it was all for the owl, and val
i. GUS grave suggestions and bits of advit
er were volunteered.
g. ''Fact is, I've only got some red al
IL green sealing-waX," said Dave, turnil
nj the bird around upon his hand.
ne "Take the green" answered Mark
se renely. at wouldn't have red eyes unle
he it had a cold in its head"
he Dave melted his wax over the lamp al
attempted to drop it in the proper plac
- but it would have required more skillt
20 20 fingers to accomplish the task quite rea
az az ily and neatly, and he was obliged to t
,st again and again.
~ 'J' "Here, let me hold him, and then "
an can take both hands to it, said sgd goc
H. naturedly, laying down the book he h
'ro been holding open, but not reading.
re "Say - exclaimed Bob, pausing for
pJ moment in his labors, "when you get
III all ready, let's slip down stairs in 0
as stockin' feet and stick it upon the parl
81 mantel where she'll see it the first thi
NV NV in the morn Hello !" elevating his nc
~ in the air with suspicious sniff, " SIN
, ~ % Sgd you're hair is all a.singein' 7
he sgd drew back from the lamp in
no may, and this unexpected moveme
brought the drop of hot wax Dave b
ru- designed for the fowl full upon his haI
le, "Oh whew ~ sgd dropped the b
De- suddenly, threw up his arm, and in dol
iu' so struck the lamp and overturned it
me violently that the chimney was broken
icy fragments. Some of the oil escaped, a
Oily in an instant Syd's open book lying up
the carpet, was in blaze.
The boys sprang to their feet. Da'
ner caught up the lamp, and though the
upon the outside of it had taken fire 6
IKE the flame was running down upon
ug hand, held 1t firmly, while he and
'ou blew furiously to put it ont. Bob
-, Mark stood looking on in perfect beN
nu' derment, not able to collect their 81
tered senses sufficiently to do anyth
ow for the moment, and the burning b'
seq was left unleeded upon the floor until
IN nv older boys succeed in extinguishing
IS pe lamp. Just then one of its fiery lea
uu- fell upon the old candlestick and an
plosion followed that seemed to shake
me- house.
at "Ohl it's the powder put in for C
non" shouted Bob, in terrified expla
tile tion. And then, the mischief being dc
to Mark bethOught him to dash a nitChel