Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-10-28

hut was sunk in darkness, when hide

hut was sunk in darkness, when hide
ous uproar arose in the kitchen.
The toymaker was quickly on the
spot with light, and lol there was
aba butting furiously at random,
while the bird futtered round him with
feathers ruffled, eyes aglow, and claws
working like the sails of windmill.
Yet, marvellous to say, bird and beast
agreed amazingly after that encounter,
and never fought moro. They would
lie together in the paddock till the
former grew restless, and then --whirl
whirl my lord was eff, darting through
the air as a fish darts through the water;
for heYbad soon grown into splendid
bird, and when he rose from the ground
the sound of his wings could be heard
all over the place. Still neither Jacques
nor his mother knew exactly what to
make of him, and still the father kept
his secret.
The day of the grand fair drew nigh.
The toymaker began to prepare for his
departure, and the packing Of his goods
was the work of some time.
One evening, in the middle of all, a
visitor appeared-Mr. Vedal.
The goat was in his customary corner;
Jacques on his knees helping his father
to sort the dolls in their proper sizes;
while his mother sat. knitting. As for
the bird, he had been abroad from an
early hour, but was sure to come back
The toymaker greeted the notary
heartily, and offered him chair.
Mr.. Vedal shut the door as he came in.
"You are bold and brave man." he
said, speaking quickly. "Can I trust
you to go to the Auberge for the suard?"
The toymaker drew nearer to him.
"What do you mean, sirP" he asked.
"Three men are on my track to rob,
perhaps murder me, and I am defense
less. Listen, my friend. When first
your son told me that you intended
going to the fair, thought I would see
you and put you on your guard, but I
was busy then, and am old, and have
delayed till it may be too late. The
men speak of have been lurking in the
neighborhood for months past. Re-
turning but now from visiting client,
who has entrusted me with large sum
of money, found they were in pursuit.
l was mounted, aud distanced them at
first, but my horse fell under me.
Hurry, now, and bring the guard, while
1 do my best to hold the place-they
will soon be here"
The listener understood the situation.
"You have been kind to me, SIR" he
said, in his frank way. II CO."
About half an hour afterward there
came a thump, at the door, and another
-thump, thump-till the door swung
loose on its hinges.
In that awful moment one last chance
was left-to rush out us the door fell in,
and trust to the darkness for escape,
As the notary prepared to put out the
light, a dark object brushing by his
side caused him to start violently.
"An eaglel How"
He was unable to say more By de-
grees the door opened wider, till there
was space for man to pass through,
and over the threshold passed the first
rufian. Before he could defend him
self-before he could even tell the
nature of the danger that threatened
him-whiz clapl-a stroke like fail
caught him in the face. and he pitched
head foremost on to the floor. Staggered
at first by the fate of their leader, the
others rallied and came obstinately on.
One drew pistol and prepared to fire.
| But just then the tramp of armed
men was audible. advancing at the
double. The ruffian flung his weapon
down, muttering: "The birds done for
usl" With that he was preparing to
make a run for it, when he saw
it was too late. The soldiers had ar
rived.
"All that glitters is not gold," says
the proverb. Be kind to all dumb
creatures if you would meet with kind
ness yourself. This is the moral OF
"An Ugly Bird"