The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-08

hand was thrust into the cage, a few seeds
were snatched up with lightning speed,
and after this was given to understand
that Tim is hungry, but never stoops!
l counted it q most encouraging sign,
however, that the bird should deign to
pick the seeds at the end of four hours
training. At the close of the sixth hour
Tim was as calm as an April sunset; he
was, indeed, most tractable, and no
sooner had l again put my hand contain
ing the seeds into the cage than he
perched upon my thumb as cheerily as
though it had been his perch, and began
to devour the proffered food.
allowed him to satisfy his hunger for
about one minute; then drew my hand
with the bird out of the cage and re-
treated to chair. Before l had seated
myself, however, he had deserted me,
and had perched above the window.
"You may stay there all day if you like,
my fine fellow, but you'll find it poor
pasture for hungry birds" l held the
seed'cup in my hand and on the floor be-
side me lay small vial of oil of anise.
When you get ready you may come and
get your seed, Tim" said l; and then |
went on with my whistling. For a half
hour or more the bird had the freedom
of the room, and, half in despair and
half eager to improve the time, l sat
down at my writing'desk, placed the
seed cup and oil bottle in front of me
and went on with my work. l had we'll
nigh, while absorbed in other thoughts,
forgotten Tim, when on sudden l felt
a slight rustling on my shoulder, and a
moment later he was on the table in
front of me. He was allowed to gather
up few more seeds; then l seized him
gently, opened the vial, rubbed very
small quantity of the anise upon his nos
trils, and then replaced him on the table.
1t must have been an hour before the in
toxication or stupor (Which, for the
benefit of our gentle readers, let me say,
is perfectly harmless) passed off; then
the bird began to eat again, and, finally,
on little persuasion, hoped upon my
finger, then on another, and so on back
and forth until put him back into his
cage. Hardly was he returned when he
poured forth his strains of sweetest
melody.
vi IuC uCAI udJJ dlICl ClCduluS IuS
cage, l placed it on my table, leaving the
door open and the seedcup outside. 1t
required no persuasion, however, to in
duce the bird to come out, and now every
sign of terror had left him. When he
ate gently stroked his feathers, talked
to him, whistled to him, fondled him
it was all l cared to do. Tim was con
quered at last. He had learned his first
lesson, namely: that to know the master
he must become friendly to him, and be
fore receiving food he must respect the
giver. From that day to this the birG
has been one of the family. Whereas
formerly had to contend in order to get
him out of the cage, now have to con
tend to get him into it. A part of the
day he spends with me, singing while
write and work, now pulling the heads
of my pen-wiper and dropping them into
the ink-stand; now removing the pin:
from the coil and carrying them to the
top of the bookcase; now getting into al
open drawer and playing michief among
my papers. Even while l write these
words of his little story he and bull
finch are contending in front of me fol
the possession of my blotter, and l will
not say them may" to their little antics
I-ADDLetOnS' Journal