The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-08-03
THE LONG FEATHER.

citios kind man put up a long row Of
bird houses. some on limbs Of trees and
some on tall poles. Now you shall hear
what happened there; and it is really
true, every word OF it.
Some spSrrows were flying around
the park on q bright day early in March
There were Mr.. aud Mrs Tufthead and
Mr.. and Mr.. Chirp. and ever so many
other coupl,s Pr--enily Mr. Tuttheai
IL, KID up AID sail: why. my dear
SEE these ch lrming little house l
,hink they must to to let. Wen go
AID se" - up th-y flew. and Lighted
on the little piazza in front OF the
honse There was door just big enough
for thu m tn go through. and in they
walked
Oh. this is very nicel said Mrs ruh-
head; very nice twee'! twcet! Thin k
We shall lake to keep house here.
Yes. think so, too. said her hus-
band; now We will 60 ctf and find
something nice to make nest Of. That
is tho first thing to do
SO they walked out and Looked about
them, and considered which way they
should fly.
Dear mel! said Mrs. Tufthead. that
disagreeable Mrs. Chirp has taken the
house next door. saw her come ont
little while ago. See our piazza j,i. Q
hers I'm very sorry. She hasn't a
pleasant temper at all, and I'm afraid
she isn't very honest
.Ah! my dear. my dear. said Mr.
Tufthead, that is very serious charge
TO make and tho little tuft on his
head stood up quite straight; that made
him look so very fierce that Mrs. Tuft.
head said. very meekly:
We'll. perhaps | am mistaken; but
last year missed great many very
nice cold bits that put away for lunch
when the children wero not hungry at
break kfast-time.'
Tut! tut! Don't talk about your
ueigLbors. It's bad plan. I'll fly of
this way, where l saw some feathers
flying about this morning. and you 60
down TO the other end of the park. aud
I think you'll find some delightful
straws.' So of they flew.
In . minute out of the next doorwsy
popped little head, with pair Of very
positive looking black eyes. When they
discovered that the coast WAS clear. out
came Mrs Chirp, with feathers very
much ruiiied up and generally wsrlikc
air about her whole appearance.
'Hoity toity she said. Such sn idea!
/ shall pay her of for saying such things
about me. Dishonest. indeed. 10 pick
up living anywhere that one can find
it! Why. what ara sparrows coming
TO Z and she looked very fierce. indeed.
at nothing in particular. Presently
she saw Mr.. Tuf,heAd coming back,
with . beautiful long feather in his
besk; 50 she went back into her house
and sAt down quite out of sight.
Mr.. Tufthesd put the feather wsy
back in his house. 1t was such = beau
tiful feather that he fslt very careful
OF it and . little uneasy about leaving
it. He didn't know exactly why; but
he did. So be waited about q few min.
utes, hoping his wife would come back
But she didn't appear. and he knew that
there were some more feathers aying
about, and Was afraid they would blow
away; SO he went after them.
just as soon IS Mrs. Chirp heard him
60 away she cs"e very quickly ont OF
her door: and rs soon as be was out OF
sight she ran into the next house. snd
presently camc out with the feather
But she didn't take it into her house
No. indeed; she was too clever thief
for that. She few with II TO hole in
an elm tree not far of. aud bid it; aud
then went back and sat down in trout OF
her own door. Presently Nr. Tufthead
came back With . bunch Of ravelings
in his beak, that somebody had thrown
out of . window; and he went in with
them. But in Q second out be came.
The little tuft over his head stood up.
and he WAS really quite . formidable
looking little sparrow.
.Ches chez. chee,' be said. He vas
really so angry be could only spuster.
.Chee, chez, chez! Who has taken my
feather, nv beautiful soft feather
What do you look at me 50 Tor: s.id
Mrs. Chirp. ruffiins all her feathers i
am sorry that my husband Is gone out:
You wouldn't dare TO look at me 50 II
he was a, home. Pshaw pshaw Who
cares for your old feather and abe
s,ru,ted up and down in front OF her
door, looking very Indignant
= - 4 Il ts.aAx