The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-09
A narwsuaau Dive rsion.

W4FWt0t3u DbvCFStVue
The servant Of my grocer, 0 sharp boy
named Joe, told me he had lately seen IN ine
streets large and handsome pigeon WIN
scar.et.,ipped wings, purple ta'tiea,oe,s'
and a small. well.shaped comb, IKE a COCK s.
cpon his bead. This was staggerer-a
pigeon with q cocks comb! The peaks OF
color 10 feathers might be accounted ior,
bur the comb! No, II was Impossible; tne
columbia were too widely distinct from tos
galiira. questioned the lad. he aec'srea
IL was true, aud that he had seen 'pe olia
often. He calculated he knewa pigeon, ana
no tnew what comb was. This was fine,
sleek bird, with Knowing look, and not q
bit skeery.
n This Is true, thought l, will knock the
pa,uralIsls epdwise A pigeon with comb
I must have that bird. will give him 10 Mr..
Tborpbury as o subject for a lecture. BE
will 90 back Of Darwin, even. Will write
10 Darwin myself. IL will be favorable
opportunity TO get an autograph letter; for,
of course, the great man will acknowledge
nv service Ia the cause OF science.
"Joe," said /. of You can catch that
bird 10 o trap-alive, | mean and without
injury--I will give you ten dollars.
The boys face frightened with Keen in
teligence. and he said, "Fll try"
/ visited Mr.. Tbornbury and gave him
the news. Our discussion was animated
and long, but il need not be reproduced
here.
had stipulated with Joe that, lin case he
should catch the bird, he should take the
trap direct TO my friends house.
Meanwhile the pigeon had been seen by
many persons, and it was noised about IN
the grocery and provision stores OF the
South End that his phenomenal ornaments
had excited great interest among savants.
Joe bad, moreover, expatiated upon bis ex-
pected reward, and had promised to take
his "sweeibeart" 10 the theatre on the
strength Of it.
When at length Joe made the capture, and
started off with The prize IN The grocer
wagon. he was followed by curious crowd.
got the word, and started also. BY the
time | arrived there were dozen persons
in the front yard. Joe bad already allgbted
with the box, and taken 1t indoors.
Mr.. To0ke ThorDbury, in his best blue
coat, and with eyes that cleaned behind bis
huge glasses, stood waiting for The trap to
be opened.
There the pigeon was, as bright creature
as ever was seen, with purple tail, Scarlet
tipped wings, and coral comb. The bird
ian ABOUT tue IODiD put vi"
not choose TO be banded.
Mr.. Thornbury's emotion was extreme.
"Sbades of Hunter and Button, OF Owen,
Agassiz, and AristOtle!" he calculated.
cam 1 TO be one OF yorktown TO alter
times as one OF the great co.ordinates 10
sciencey The Columbia thorDburyi shall
mark u new era in classification. Now we
will see IL the Director OF the Stubs lnsti-
tuie, who has refused to invite me TO lee
ture, will delay longer the acknowledgm
OF my talents.
Meanwhile the lively bird kept hopping
about, gracefully euding capture. MIR.
Tbornbury was unconscious OF the gradual.
ly.increasinc audience. as he talked and
mediated by turns. The entry and door,
way were flied with eagerly curious folks.
There was slight rustic. then voice
and quick footsiep. A buXom and sIucy
girl about twelve years OF age, In short
dress, and wearing long braidS OF yellow
hair, rushed IN, saying, in tone that was
like scoldiDg and crying at once, 90 declare,
it's too bad Billy, pretty Billy, comet"
She held out her band and the bird rose
on his wings and lighted on her finger.
"Tbere there!" she said, sootbiDgly;
"Pretty Billy. KISS mel"
The bird put bis bill to the full red lips,
and gave on audible coo Of delight.
"Now, Joe Saunders" she said, turning
to the grocer's boy, you see II you don't
catch II! My pa says there's law against
setting traps for birds in the city. Yes,
poor Billy !" she sand. caressing the bird
again, "tbey were going to cut you up"
giving a spireful glance at Mr.. Thornbury,)
L" but they sha'n't-no, they sha'n't."
My feelings went through as many phases
as the colors Of dying dolphin. There was
q pathetic as well as a comic side TO the
scene. The face Of Mr.. Thornbury was
a study for picture OF vacuity. He was at
his wits end.
! ventured TO calm the girps wrath by
admiring her pet. "Tbose are very unu
sual coors," SAID, pointing TO the purple
and scarlet tips.
"Ob, / did that" said the girl. gayly.
aud violet on The tai-ieathers. Aren't they
pretty? KISS me. Bllly!"
"But his extraordinary comb gasped
Mr.. Tbornbury.
Here the girl laughed outright, while her
merry eyes shone and her fresh color came.
"Pretty nice, isn't IL? Cut it out of
red felt. See the nice smooth ridges-iust
like real comb! It's stuck well, hasn't it ?
Fkh.glue does Mt soak of. Nice Billy"
And the pretty fend landed the orni-
biological monster up ana down, while he
chung TO his perch on her finger, and now
aud then fiutiered his carm,ne-tinted wings
and spread his violet tail.
"Say good.by to the gentleman" ssid the
girl, mscbievOusly and away she went.
There was not much to be said 0rOm
scientific point Of view. and was in haste
TO settle with the grocer's clever boy and be |
gone.
feared that Mr.. Thornbury would be |
Frustrated with the shock, but it is singular |
TO observe the elasticity of great minds.-l
Il. II Underwood, in HQrpe1'S UdQQzire |