The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-03-05
THE EMPTY CAGE.

"Sweet, s-w-e-e-t,' said the canary
30, you think SOL responded tn,
Doctor. who had come in and was seat
ing himself at his study table. "Well
am rather of that opinion myself; bu
keep still about it now. will you?''
Their conversation referred to the
weather and all outdoors generally, a.
seen from the open window. The long
tresses OF a weeping willow came watt.
ed lightly across it with every breath Of
the fragrant June air. The emerald
greer lawn. the blossoming shrubs and
roses, the humming of bees, the voices
OF children at play, the singing of birds,
made bewildering combination of glad
ness and beauty, at least for one little
feathered throat to express. But il
Dickie thought so, he evidently meant
to do the best he knew toward it. With
low, long-drawn liquid notes he COM
menced the performance, and was soon
started in full career.
s.Shut upr' called out the Doctor.
Rude words to throw at a dear little
fluffy daffodil of birdie! But Dickie
knew how to understand them, accom-
panied as they were with such merry
glance. He didn't shut up while you
count ten. On the contrary, he pro-
ceeded to sing louder than before. His
pretty yellow body slightly swaying in
his fervor, his nervous claws c1asping
the perch, his throat inflated, he poured
trill upon trill, lark notes, nightingale
notes. bell notes, a perfect shower and
medley OF notes without stint or pause
: till suddenly there came jerk and
then dead silence. A..f
The Doctor laughed q little silently.
He had reached out his hand and
twitched 3 piece of Irvine that hung
down. fastened to one foot of the cace.
Evidently it had known service of this
kind before. A few minutes perfect
silence followed. Dickie never did
know what to make of that phenome-
non. II was new surprise to him every
time, and always effectually silenced
him for the time being Now, he edged
along his perch to the side of the cage,
and craned his neck 80 as to bring one
eye to bear downward upon the Doctor
sitting. Innocence itself, his open
book before him on the study table. a
''Giye it up, !" thought Dick, consider
ing him a moment; and he posed for a
new burst. The low, long drawn LIQUID
notes recommenced. The Doctor started
up. T" Come, old fellow, he said,
THERE'S something too much of this;"
and lowered the cage preparatory to
conveying it away out OF hearing.
S-w-e-e-tr' pleaded Dickie.
!" Yes, it's altogether too SWEET
muttered the Doctor. and was proceed
ing. the cage in his hand, toward al
closet door, when conjunction seized
him.
Well. no. Dick" he said, 81 won't
be SO hard on you a day like this.
Come, you shall 90 out into the midst |
OF it. and split your throat if you like;"
and passing on to his mothers room,
ne hung the cage outside her window,
and returned to his book.
He had studied without further inter-
ruption long time, when there came |
gentle knock at the door, and in obedi-
ence to his summons, little JEANNE
Green entered-her modest face. with
its golden curls and blue eyes smiling
beneath her white cape-bonnet. Attic
Doctors kindly greeting she came to
him. Please. sir, she said. ssmother
sent me to eek y0n what she can do for
her finger. It's awful sore and aches
way up to her shoulder. She's lust
walking the floor with it, and she saws
4 1t doesn't get better she's afraid she
won't be able to do the work at the In
Urinary you want her for tomorrow.
She hadn't wink of sleep all night.
There isn't silver nor anything in it.
md she can't remember any way she's
lurt it. !"
Is that SOP" said the doctor. .rm
lfraid It may be felon, JEANNE. Tell
our mother to poultice it and use
,lenty Of laudanum. That's the best
ne can do. but l can't promise it will
lelp the pain very much. I'll stop in j
md see when / go round, in an hour or
wo."
/" Yes. sir. III tell her. Doctor. is
hat hat =, canary singing out your side win j
/" Yes. JEANNE"
Why! l thought It must be some | |
Their kind of . bird. They don't many | !
( them sing that way, do theyr'
The Doctor smiled. "Weii. no.'' he :
ald. never saw one before that !
ouid make quite 80 much noise as he I
oes. -
Noiser' thought JEANNE. wopder-
Ugly. - she softly left the study. ..Well, /
don't believe I should ever call that >
0isc, not Il l could hear him. liz
Dickie was pouring out more ecstacy .
hen she returned past the side win b
DIV. She couldn't resist stopping = b
olnont at the fence to listen. Dinah, =
e Doctors colored servant, was /,
ont some piecee en- the grass 5
'ar By to blesoh. ssOnly hear hfmr' Y