The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-09

Ten Years OF Biindres. IN tho Hon. John
MuiInIy's PnrIo,- Yet n Life OF Moiodious
SorroM-MIng Folded Forever.


years ago, special passenger on board
steamer plying bctwecn that port and Now
York. and was placed In charge Of ono OF tho
! stewards OF the vessel who was to supply all
| his wants and 500 TO his safo delivery. Tho
| passenger was expected long before the day OF
| his arrival. hut the esteemed friend from whom
| no came us present to tho writer was resolved
| that the gift should Dc u rara ariS oven among
| that particular spocios Of foathored songsters
which IL Justly placed nj tho head OF the thrush
| family. the minus polvgl"ttus. the American
mockinG bird. When tho nnme OF tho vessel
was duly announced in tho morning papers a
delegation " two vas appointed TO receive and
conduct the little guest tc his future homo.
whore no was gladly and warmly welcomed
| Ho had hardly been an hour among his new
| friends when. aftor keen and curious inspec-
| ton OF his surroundings. no guvc expression
to his satisfaction with joyous outburst Of
melody again and again repeated. From that
moment he took his place IA q member of tho
family. among the other household pots. As
he was hardly moro than yonr old this exhi-
blton OF his voca powers gavc promise OF still
| better In the future.
| Smaller than tho average size he was per-
! fcction itself in form and grace His beautiful
| bright gray cy0s bramed with intelligence. Ho
! had no name ana so. aftor due dolbcratlon
and canvassnss ii MAS decided to call him Bob.
| or Bobby. name that in tho course of time.
when closer and more familiar relations were
established. took moro endoarlng forms. Bob
| by took an earnest interest In all domestic
matters brought under his immediate notice.
! and whonicompany were present he generally
! had something to say in the course OF CONVEX
| sation. and at times moro than was really rel
| evaut to tho subject particularly If the dis
| cussion were animated. Occasionally his
| .,t1 ,AI hall h..
voice Hssu'noa oeiiiseroh. tono' ana no
| would sound lnoto oil war. uonotlng very
| decided differences of opinion-tho snmc fierce
49,. Inn.,. ,i.h .nii w.. tIua
shricA oi uci''hce WIN "uich 'ho p'ru "'seS
| upon u hawk or anakc which approaches too
closely TO the nest in which he and his mate
wa,chfully guard thor cherished brood.
| 1t may not be known tn tho general reader
that the mocking bird is ono of the games, Of
| - - - a.. =, - 4, a.. .
teathered sohgs'crs. or mat wheh he Ia In u
! pugnacious mood he will attack any living
."','' sl"' ~ ~ 49, -, I'm
ana snake TO the King ol bIrds himself ana no
| rarely ever comes Off second best in the CON
! nict The writer has seen an unusually pug
| No., ' 60 80" -, i"e
hac'ous specimen IN mo central tarN nViary
which for some reason had conceived dislike
to one of the attendants. Whenever tho man
him with a vonrennco .woop down upon his
head. and. wrro his strength equal to his
tai carver Of that public oiiicaI there
| and thon Now Rnnhv aithnuph as
numnr"" u tribc Vs Ias j..h onod and cbiyn ls
RE, and when ne ana a pat canary we're allowed
lid fr,aG5m Of the abnrtnsWt he nlwmvS dc
cIinr th hn nae If az ainpmtivs sssiI
amt and uyiu., from nlacr 10 place ns no waa
pursued. refused to rc.aliatc His bearing
iar,,r and .trnniyor hiri which had ann" nil
tho way rom VnnrIu@a to join the family "f
"r,,t nj In, .,,m', linn, Mimi N nnr.e IaiiIo
and immin'nt G'tmsrrto bobby from the ercater
Nnrri,It,, And Illus thc, wore uorlorce kent
mart, But lobby, when tho two cages Wer0
brought near each other, would rui,le his fea,h-
the conflict Which was never permitted.
In the course Of time our pet endoarcd him
not.s, his sagncity, and his exquisite grace.
His every movement whether 1ying or trip
Itself Tho poetry of moti"n. If Mas n sigIt To
SOC Tie ianty ljiln .Tsatura, a. Tho door Of his
cavo was oi"neI COM, d1wn from his perch
stand Oh tho threshold surveying tho apart
ana out 'u uunp thc ,nnts r"stjn, now o, his
NM th,r ON tInt " lila ne nn t,riIinnd his hear.
ers with hi, cyrr-chnnging medley His song
nnishcj. he would circle round tho room in IN
ni,turr 'irlIn"e uiyo unnth"r displny Of his
linguistic ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Tine went on
| WAYS his earnest intcrr-t in All his sur
roundings. his irrcprcssbe curiosity gnvo
m"mbcrs oi the ffniIy. Tie moving of
! the eat the bprk ing Il tho dog tho crown. Of
| the rOost,,r tina unhu,p Of tin, turkny were ~
produced il is true. IN "A minor Key, but with
| an u,.riIrnry that ,0ulII NOT be mistaken When
chnnticIr"r sounded his clarion, hobby hardly
| ever failed 10 rrsponl and when tho surly
Watchdog notified the burglariously inclined
| that he WAS on guard our little echo rrpeatcl
the warning In a dilninuenlu scale But his
greatest triumph in tine vocal limo consisted OF
detached pieces OF music which he had picked
up AT random from tho whiStling of his partic-
ulur friend and which proved thar he pos
scsscd unusual Initiative powers. No wonder
that such a companion should make his way to
the hearts Of tho household. When anything
new was Introduced h- was all attcnt on,
Sound, OF Industrious Iiicnevcr fi,il,i TO evoke
his hgarty and yociferous Improvisation At
from his swelling. throat 1. perfect Hood of net
ody. As Il true n,slui p1iyyi6iieS. hr took The
Whole range Of sounds from grave To- gay
from lively to severe. Ills imitation 81
had some notes IF his own that wore peculiarly
sweet and malodious As general thing
} Bobby WAS obIicjnr and would when invited
give his hearers IA exhibition Of his accom-
rlishmcnts but at times he was pervorsn and
no amount OF persuasion could innrs hiin "a
perform even when the word OF his friend was
involved on tho question Of his utaIiii.
cations But in his happy JOYOUS moments