The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-03-30

"Oh, pray don't disturb your arrange
ments on my account" said Uncle
Philip, rather grimly. "No doubt 1
shall get used to it in the course of
time"
just here Hero made diversion by
an unexpected and successful spring at
the chop on Jacks plate, with which he
vanished through the back door, while
Uncle Philip and Jack laughed and APP
plauded.
Uncle Philip stayed with us less than
a week, growing daily more silent and
testy. When, on the fifth day, he an
nounced his intention of leaving us, 1
could not feel deeply grieved; but Jack
was.
"It is all very well for YOU" he said.
Uncle Philip is no relation of yours,
and you have no old claims of affection
and kinship pulling at you. 1t is not
his money, as you very well know, but
he is the last one of my mothers family
left, and to have him driven out of his
nephew's house by those ridiculous pets
of yours-well it's hard, and no mis-
take"
Nonsense, Jack The birds have
nothing to do with it." said; but Jack
shrugged his shoulders
"All right" he said; "but man of
Uncle Philips age and habits can't stand
being wakened at daylight every morn
ing, and disturbed at all hours of the
day and night besides"
81 don't disturb him." 1 said.
You do" said Jack. "You spend
your whole time prancing up and down
stairs, opening and shutting the window
Just below his room, because you fancy
that those blessed birds are dying of too
much or too little air"
But jack" said the poor little
things are sitting, and they need con-
slant care. You wouldn't have me let
them die, would you?"
I'D have you consider the comfort of
human beings before that of animals" 4"
said Jack. However, the thing is done
now. Nothing would induce Uncle
Philip to spend another night here He
has business to attend to in the city,
hough, and has taken board in Nintht
street for few weeks"
[ was sorry that Jack was vexed, of
course, but l really could not feel very
unhappy at losing a guest so utterly
unfeeling and inconsiderate. Besides.
Aunt Clarice had written to ask when
it would be convenient for us to re-
ceive her, and she could now come as
soon as she felt inclined.
1t was the very day after Uncle
Philip left that I found Jou-iou, the
female bird, lying dead upon the floor.
My first idea was that it was a mean
piece OF vengeance upon Jacks part,
and / taxed him with it, but he denied
it Indignantly.
I'm not such a brute as you seem
to think, Madge," he said. "I don't
like the birds, but l wouldn't hurt q
feather of their tails. Look here,
though" as he poked out with the
point of his penlnife something that
had lodged in the beak. Here is
what did the mischief Stolen from
my desk, too, by Jove A clear case
Of poetic justice"
1t was tiny bit of red wafer which
he held out for me to examine, and Of
course had to acknowledge that it had
alone caused the catastrophe. L buried
my little pet mournfully, and thought
of bringing another to replace her, but
Jack put his veto upon any such pro-
ceeding.
But, Jack" I said" "Biiou will die
of loneliness"
Let him" said Jack, savagely, and
that was all.
Well, Bijou didn't die of loneliness.
On the contrary, after rejecting on the
situation for a few days, he plucked up
heart, and launched himself into such a
torrent of rollicking song that Jack was
more frantic than ever. Not even the
melancholy sight of the nestful of cold
little blueish speckled eggs seemed to
dash his gayety in the least. To tell
the truth, l was slightly disgusted
Though l would have died before l
would have told Jack so), for, try as [
might, l could not persuade myself that
that triumphant, roliclling, gurgling
song bore the slightest resemblance to a
wall of despair
We saw Uncle Philip tolerably often,
though he no longer staid with us. l
noticed, however, that he could with
difficulty be persuaded to enter the back
parlor. Even the sound of Bijou's
singing which penetrated the closed
doors, made him start and vince in a
manner which was simply absurd, though
he never said anything.