Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-10

L Just as you mink" 1 replleu.
Use tse ! tse Whew whew whew P'
said Dick and finished Off with "Duncan
Gray" and the first half Of the "Sprig oi
Shillolah."
"Love Is the soul of nate Irshman,''
lie had been taught to say but it was as
frequently, "I.ove is the soul Of nate Irish
starliDg;" or, "Is love the sonl of darling
pretty Dick ?" and so on.
One curious thing is worth noting; he
never pronounced my dogs name Theo-
dore Nero-once while awake; but he of
ten startled us a night by calling the dog in
clear ringing tones talking in his sleep. He
ulcd TO be chatteriug and singing without
intermission all day long and IL ever he
was silent then l knew he was doing mis-
chief; and IL wen, quietly into the kitch-
en-, was sure TO find him either tracing
patterns on a har of soap, or examining
and tearing to pieces parcel Of newly-ar-
rived groceries. He was very fond OF wine
and spirits, but knew when he had enough.
He was not permitted TO come into the par
lor without his cage; but sometimes at din
ner, If the door we're left ajar, he would ST.
lently enter like little thief; when once
fairly inh he would fly on 10 the table, scream,
and defy me. He was very fond OF pret-
ty child that used 10 come TO see me. II
Matte was lying on the sofa reading, Dick
would come and sing on her head then he
would so through all the motions OF wash
ing and bathing on Mattie's bonnie hair I;
which was, thought, paying her very
pretty compliment.
When the sun shone in at my study win
dow, used TO hang Dicks cage there, as a
treat TO him. Dick would remain quiet for
perb aps twenty minutes, then the stiffness
would feel irksome TO him, and presently
he would stretch his head down toward me
In confidential sort OF way, and begin TO
poster me with his silly questions.
"Doctor," he would commence, "is ii, Is
II a nate Irish pet -
"Silence, and go asleep" 1 would make
answer. "I want 10 write"
"Eh?" lie would say. What Is III
What dye say?
Then, II didn't answer:
us it sugar-snails-sugar, snails, aud
Ira ndy7" Then: doctor, doctorP -
"Well, Doctor. what is il now ?" would
answer.
"Doctor-whew." That meant was to
whistle to him.
"Shan't," would say, sulkily.
Use tse Use r. Dickie would say, and
continue: doctor, will you go a-clink-
ingr' 1 never could resist that. Going
a-clinking meant going tiy-hawking. Dick
always called fly elink and this invita-
tion would receive a dozen times day,
and seldom refused. would open the
cage door, and Dick would perch himself on
my finger, and l would carry him round
the room, holding him up TO the flies on
I the picture frames. And he never missed
one.
Once Dick fell into bucket OF water,
and called Justify for the doctor ;" and 1
was only just in time TO save him from a
watery grave. When 1 cot him out, he
did not speak a word until he had gone TO
the fire and opened his wings and feathers
out 10 dry, then he said: "Bravo! B.r-ra-
vop several times, and went forthwith and
attacked Hezekiah.
Dick had little travelling cage, for be Of
ten had TO go with me by train and no
sooner did tho train start than Dick used
10 comm ence to talk aud whistle, very
much 10 the astonishment of the passen-
gers, for the bid was up in the umbrella
rack. Everybody was al once made aware
OF both my profession and character, for
the jolting OF the carriage not pleasing him,
he used always 10 prelude his performance
with: "Doctor, doctor, you r-r-rascal.
What is il, eh ?" AS Dick got older, am
sorry, as his biographer, to he compelled to
say lie grew more and more unkind TO his
wife-aIIacked her regularly every morn
ing and tho last thing at night, an c half
starved her besides. Poor Hezekiahi She
could do nothing in the world 10 please
him. Sumet lines now, she used TO peck
him back again she was driven 10 II. 1
was sorry for Hezekiah, and determined
10 play pretty Dick little trick. So one
day, when he had been bullying her worse
than ever, took her out OF the cage, and
fastened a small pin to her bill, so as 10 pro-
trude just very little way, and returned
her. Dick walked up TO her at once.
"What," he wanted to know, "did she
mean by going on shore without leave,2"
Hezekiah didn't answer, and accordi pgly
received dig In the back, then another,
then third; aud then Hezekiah turned
and let him have one sharp attack. II was
very amusing TO see how Dick jumped,
and his look of astonishment as he said:
"Eh What dye sayf Hezekiahi Hez-
ekiah -
Hezek iah followed up her advantage. It
was quite new sensation for her to have
the upper hand, and so she courageously
chased him round and round the cage, until
1 opened the door and let Dick out.
But Hezekiah could not always live with
a pin tied to her bill /; so, for peace sake,
1 gave her away to friend, and Dick was
left alone In his glory.
Poor Dlckiei One day he was shelling
peas to himself In the garden, when some
boys startled him, and he few away. /
suppose lost himself, and couldn't find his
way back. At all events only saw him
once again. was going down through an
avenue OF trees about q mile from the
house, when a voice above in tree hailed
me; "Doetori doctori what Is III" That
was Dick but crow few past and scared
him again, and away he fiew-for ever.
Dear little fellowi he may well have
asked "What Is II ?" for all things must
have appeared very hew aud strange TO
him.
Is II any wonder l miss my dear little
bird 2-Chdm6 erS' Journal
-
wRIrrEN ron THE vERNdNr PHGHn.