New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-28
PECCADILLO.
The MONOGRAPH OF A BIRD.

THE MONOGRAPH OF A BIRD.
From The LONDON Graphic
We call BIN PeccadillO for two reas0ns-hrstly,
because he would peck secondly. because he was
always committing little peccadllloes thougn, 10
be paradoxical he never had any little peecadioes
of his own in the shape of offspring. But, for the
matter of title, he was a bird whose habits con-
stanily suggested new names. ana ne hved MS HE,
so 10 speak, in a constant shower OF cognomens.
Sometimes he would go for n week by the name OF
" the Grand Panjandrum.' on account of his mag
nificent airs. Then he would be luryeydrop
from the way In which ne MADE ~ point OF sno"ihg
path leading from the woodshed to the ponltry-yard
and pig-styes. Next. perhaps. he would be The
the windhlovn. ragged Scotch fir at eventide and
warbling his peculiar MARBLES to the rising moon
peculiar from their resemblance TO donkey's bray
drawn ierkily through a brass-b0und keyh0le. with
a variation like the low note of a consumptiye car-
Ionet Again he would be the Indian Chlet, from
the way in which he neglected his two squaws, a
pair Of humble dowdy ladies OF vinegansh aspect
and subdued and injured air. '' Porthos' was n
favOrite name, too account OF his SNOWY 'front.'
and shabby rear. which reminded us OF the Daldric
of Dumas's great musketeer.
But en0uQ lIof Peccadilo's names memory refuses
to recall them all. Let IL suffice that he was pea
cock, the vainest most smali-6ranec, contemplate
piece of bird vanity and egotism that ever came
ont Of SHE'LL and metaphorically and really walked
through life on stills.
We had Peccadllo when he was young and modest,
As a little boy bird. in his dOwdy. brownlsh knick-
erbocker suit he wa patient aud peaceable. lie
partook modestly of his food with the Dorkng hens
in the ward. not greedy submitted with Eentle
patience TO the pecks in the back administered by
the pompous chanticieer, and was decided pet Win
all. -.
bobbedehov but saving in his desire for food his
conduct was faultless. He was big and stupid, and
breathed hard. and seemed concerned about ms cos
tune and the bottom button of his diney feathered
vaigtcoat and 50 surely yOn looked nara at INN
did he stretch out his long neck and hurry away to
hide his head among the wood.
Then there came a change-twO changes. and
those two changes we're In the course OF time two
mornings, in the first OF which Peccadllo was
made CAV and in the second Rayest Of the gay
With The dizzy feathers dropped of all his modesty
and with the fine growth of his glded panoply OF
feathers he stepped forth very Vanity Far OF
plumage, and strutted proudly about the cynosure
of neIgh5orng eyes. all of which he seemed to have
caught and stuck for ornaments about ms Tram.
Time glIded on, and Peccadilo married in dupl-
cate his two modest green velvet necked spOuses.
But IL was not n happy union. They lad eggs but
Peccadillo evidently objected TO the workmanship
for he stack his beak into them. and broke them,
roing into a perfect rage because the albumen got
into his eyes, and made bis feathers sticky, whlie
sunGry pulets partO0k of the undressed cnstard,
shell and all and evidently much approved. As
before Unlimited, no lesser Peccadilloes resulted
from the match and this may have been me reason
why the lord of the yard grew soured. and neglect
fu Of the partners OF his joys. he had no
nlcosant looks for them: he dressed not 90
crafty their eyes. but waited till they were
away, and he could gather together party OF
a couple of reckless sparrows anu SICK calcNen-
il the old one-eyed duck there, all the better
and then he would give q prcnonitory rustic, and
set ND his train IN wOndrOus disc OF beauty, all
Qoli and purple and green aud bronze OF lhousala
fnts and reflections and as plainly as bird could
speak, he said, 9" What do YOU think OF tbatT IL
is all nonsense to saw that that bird was not proud;
he coried IN his plumage, and displayed % on the
smallest provocaton. He wOuld even wait till the
cat cured up on the low wall in the warm sun
shine fast asleep with one eye. watching the little
chicks with the other, woke mp anu hegan 10
stretch when there would DE the customary spread
and strut, a regular walk-round Tor the ielne Dehe
tit but the puss had no eye Tor color anu EVIL
IDENTIFY wondering rs 70 the quality OF the meat
therein. responded not with single purr. failingd
better audience Peccadillo would spread himself in
the sight of the pigs the ioN siyc wall. ana then
stalking To the low ridge roOi pace mp ana down
tll on one occasion. puH OF wind seemed 20 blow
his pumes about bis ears. after which he confined
his struttings 10 the ground. lie never could mt
matters with the cock, who was OF jealous dspOsi-
ton. and rather proud OF mis- own Dlumes: Two OF
three time Over when PeccadiIO spread MS tram
before him. IacOsO grew violently red IN the lace,
set up the hackles about his neck, and, LOOKING
upon the display a. an insult, prepared 10 nght,
when down went the train, and the peacock deliV-
cred so deadly dart with his sharp beak shot by
his pringy neck that Jacoso never threatened hos
tIlIties more -
In fact there was something very warike about
PcccadlllO and you never saw him strutrlng about
before the ladies of the farmysrd without thinking
of lifeguardsmen IN the park Our bro was as care
full too. Of his plumes our military gentlemen OF
their Announcements. You never saw his feathers
dra2ged In the wet or dust. Come wet day. and
you knew that Peceadillo w9uld be IN the wagon
she'd carefully sheltered; and there he would stay
til IL was dry driving ont everything that came for
shelter with pecks from his poignant beak. Tie
would even drive away his danes. who walked DIS
consolately Off side by side, with the air OF pair
of meditative elderly maiGens, more than the
spOuses of so noble bird
IL mus: be confessed that he was tolerated only
for his grandeur for a more hateful tyrant never
lived. He would hunt poor patient hens with their
downy brOods, aud take savage pleasure IN Staying
them one by one with his keen dart, driving tile
mother nearly mad with fear as she saw
her little ones slain. Duckllngs he looked
upon with special aversion. pacing round the
pond till they came out, and then striking
them right and left. Deserved or not he
always had the credit of picking out the poor ducks
eve. He was seen 10 slay two pigeons, whlle the
life he led the inhabitants Of the yard was cruel
A hen would be peaceably peckIng. or enjoying an
investigating scratch with the peacock a yard
away. Dig, right IN the back came that relentless
beak and out came two feathers and the shrillest
cry The only thing that could be said in Pecca-
dlllos favor that he was just-that Is, he gave
TO all alike. II would the cat W ben curled up
into a ball let DIVE at the dog as lie lay dream
ing of bones unpicked,' OF trying TO solve the
mystery of the last flea. peck the children ycl0usy,
and seorn To run from the grown. his tyrannles
were frightful. and his Sins eliminated IN habit
of breaking the kitchen window when not supplied
with food.
Peace to his ashes. The pumes he shed, ana
which were so carefully collected, TO deck the DIN
ing-Ioom vases have become funereal now, aud his
counterfeit presentment full OF tow, that stands IN
the hail. does him but little Justice after all. FOR
the time came when his simple lay, or bray, was
heard no more from the aromatic pine; when the
chilly spot he chose for his roOstingplace became
vacant, and his end was peace-in the poultry
yard. GEO. MANVilLE TENN