The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-08-14
PEEP.

PEEP.
ANOTHER story, my darling, and this
time about Peep! Well, jump up into
my lap, and wewill travel back through
many years of time, to one pleasant
afternoon in May. Laura, my little
girl friend who lived next door, and |
were seated on small box close by the
pasture gate. We were tired of play
ing Spanish bull fights, for the gentle
old COW would only wink her eyes at
our widest capers and brightest red
shawls; we were tired, too, of PLAYING
tight-rope walkers on the green fence
that separated the pasture from the gar
den, and were puzzling our mallheads
to decide what we should do next. Sud-
denly l espied something moving on the
other side of the field, and jumpngup
cried, "Oh, Laura, what are thAse
little yellow specks over therep Let's,
go and see." Away we trotted, and
what do you suppose we found? Why
lot of the dearest chickies you ever
saw. The naughty little things had
crept in through hole under the fence,
and had run away from their mamma,
who was anxiously calling to them from
the other side "Cut! Cut!'- -" Come!
Comet" How they did run and peep
as we came upon them! They all
scrabbled under the fence as quick as
they could, except one wee fellow who
was so frightened that he ran off in the
wrong direction. Then Laura got on
one side of him, on the other, and be-
fore long we had our little prize safe in
my small apron. Dear me, how we did
cuddle our precious little yellow puff
ball so that he would not miss his man.
ma, and very contented he seemed with
our devotion. Then we started for the
house, taking turns in carrying our baby
chicken, which we had determined to
own in partnership.
When we reached there Laura took
him in charge, while | found an old
starch box, and nailed a piece of mos
quito-netting across the front. This
made the incest house for our dear
chickie. We slowed him carefully
away in it with quantity of cotton for
nest, and dish of corn-meal for his
dinner. "What shall we call him,
Alice?" asked Laura, but before
could answer the saucy fellow replied
for himself peep" So Peep he was
christened from that day forth.
Peep grew very fast, and before long
he had great many small feathers on
his wings and tail, of which he was
very proud. He was so tame that he
would follow me all about the house;
even up the stairs; though he did not
like to do this, and would scold me for
not carrying him. Peep thought the
incest place to take a nap was in my
pocket, and into that he would creep
just as often as he could get chance.
One time forgot all about the little
mischief, and went down town with
him fast asleep in my pocket. As soon
as | went into store, however, Peep,
who had been aroused from his slum-
bers, commenced to scold loudly at be-
ing disturbed. was so embarrassed
by the surprised looks of the people
about that trotted out of the store as
quickly as possible. and took the
naughty fellow home.
Before long the summer came, and
Laura said she would take care of Peep
while l was away. Laura and her
mamma lived with her grandma,
dear little old lady who disliked pets of
all kinds; so Laura kept Peep carefully
out of her way. But one morning just
after breakfast, when they were all at
prayers, naughty Master Peep got out
of his house and walked off all by him
self on an exploring expedition. He
marched into the sitting room, and as
everyone was kneeling down with their
eyes tight shut nobody saw the runa-
way. Master Peeps sharp eyes soon
espied a bright ribbon on grandmas
cap. II wonder if it is good to eatP"
thought he to himself, with his head
inquisitively cooked on one side;
"Guess I'll 60 and see.'' So up hoped
the saucy fellow right on to grandma's
back, marched up to her cap, and be-
gan to peck at it with all his might.
Grandma, feeling this funny twitching
of her cap, and thinking it was one Of
the kittens that lived in the kitchen,
put up her hand to push it off. She
grasped naughty Peep by one hand and
began to pull him down. OH how he
did shout with indignation, and
oClaoOhou anu Hdppeu DIT grdnulid III
the most shocking manner. Grandma's
eyes opened very wide when she saw
him, but she quietly got up and put him
out of doors without word. Then she
came back, glanced rather severely at
Laura's shaking shoulders, and went
on with prayers as if nothing had hap
pened.
After this Master Peep was banished
to the barnyard to live with the other
chickens. Nevertheless he ALWAYS felt
himself to be their superior, and when
ever he was tired he would come into
the kitchen, curl up on old Bruno's, the
Newfoundland's back, and go sound
asleep. But one time, alas for poor
Peep, he dug his claws little too hard
into Bruno's side. This was more than
the patient dog could bear, and he
grabbed Master Peep by the neck to
shake better manners into him. But
Bruno, though he did not mean to,
shook all the life out of his little friend;
and when he put him down, poor Peep
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