, 1876-06-10


ers in the tail had become firmly fixed.
As Mark had said Judge Clsmrns, his
father, was somewhat of naturalist, and
had passion for whatever was rare and
strange in the animal Kingdom.
Why, Mark !" he said. "whcre in the
world did you get that strange looking
bird :"
It's my opinion" replied Mark, with
an air OF greater importance than he was
accustomed to assume in the presence OF
his father, that is the Bird of Paradise
eastwise it belongs tn that species"
That night the bird WIS carefully laid
away in place where it would be safe
from the devouring presence of the old
| tom cats, which Mark afterwards wrote
about as creating such tartul deslruc.
tion at his sisters candy pulling. The
report soon circulated through the town
that Il strange bird, the like OF which had
never before been seen, WAS Killed, ana
Mark and Pole became the heroes of the
hour. The next day being Sunday.
Judge Clemens inNite'l all the wise men
of the village OF Hannibal to his house to
examine and pass an opinion on the new
geological specimen They came.
The bird was exhibited on table. around
which the savons gathered. One faction
headed by Dr. maintained that the
bird was nothing more than II common
black crow, the tan of whicn had been
turned gray hy some accidental cause
not understood, having possibly had salt
thrown ON it in the young and stender
days OF the bird. The other faction, head
ed by Judge Clemens, secuted such an
idea. 1t was absurd--ridiculous They
were willing to admit that the bird very
much resenbed the crow that possibly
it was crow; but, if so, it belonged to
n separate and distinct species from any
that had ever before been discovered.
The discussion was continued, and be-
came exciting. Neither faction would
admit themselves wrong and the other
right. Mark and Pole occupied the po-
siton near the door, and were attentive
and interested though silent auditors.
What " exclaimed Judge Clemens,
warming up, "do you tell mt that it
would be possible by any external pro-
cess to turn the feathers in the tail OF
that bird from black to the color they
now are 2 These uniform rings aud
spots would defy the skill OF the greatest
painter that ever lived. No, gentlemen
continued the Judge, as he rather viol-
entity took hold of the bird by the tail to
examine the spots more closely; "no
gentlemen---' But the discussion was
cut short by the bird dropping back On
the table, while the Judge held tine tail
in his hand
Lets scoot Pole" said Mark, "the
shows ended And the two boys vam-
oosed
The Judge contemplated the rare geo.
logical specimen" withconsternatlon and
then his eye wandered to the open door
and caught a glimpse Of his young hope
ful and hiscompanion in mischief cutting
across the back yard for high timber.
" Let us adjourn for dinner, gentlemen
we will renew the discussion after din
ner," said the Judge; but he never will
ingly renew it with any person except
Mark. That night, when Mark had got
into bed, after creeping through the back
window, vision of his father, standing
by his bedside, appeared to him.
so it is your opinion, is it, You
young rascal, that the rare geological
specimen is bird of paradise ?" said the
vision, as it ticked Mark on his naked
legs with keen cherry switch.
Mark said he felt sick and didn't have
any opinion, which was probably true,
Us he had dincd and suppcd that day on
green radishes, found in the garden OF
Poles mother. Hmni5aI (No) Courier.
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