Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-06-23


He had fed from the farmhouse where he
was boarding partly on account of the heat,
but principally 10 escape the sewing society
which met at the house that evening. He had
been lying on the bank for some time and was
just beginning to feel cool, when he saw two
queer-looking lights bobbing along the shore
and coming towards him.
Somebody trying to steal Farmer Browns
oysters" he thought, and prepared to give
the intruders good scare. But the lights
came so slowly that his mind wandered of,
and he was only aroused from his musings
when he heard peculiar voice near the shore
remark:
TITS man but he's asleep, and he hasn't
any gun"
''Hark !" replied the other in a cultural
tone che couldn't hit us if he had gun"
mo" said the other. Hes pretty good
sort. I've seen him before, and he don't go
shooting much"
just at this moment the cold was too much
for Mr. Thompson, and he gave way to pro-
longed "Achew!"
remarked
Hes a nice man, and he spoke then almost
like one of the noble family of Ardea. Say"
he continued, addressing Mr.. Thompson,
what did you come out here for"
MIR. Thompson was not surprised at their
speaking to him, and he answered politely
81 came into the country to escape the heat
of the CITY,"
Just what we came from Florida for"
Mr.. Thompson looked carefully at the two
speakers, and could see dimly outlined against
the water the dim forms of two birds. They
had long legs and necks, and long sharp bills
Mr.. Thompson at once decided from their ap-
pearance, and the reference to the family of
Ardea, that they were species of heron. The
birds noticed Mr.. ThOmpson's look, and one
of them said kindly:
81 suppose you want to have good look
at us, SO I'll just light my lantern and intro
duce myself" saying which he threw aside
the long feathers on his breast and disclosed
ball of light very much like that which is
seen on the common FREELY. This light he
obhgingly turned full upon his companion,
while the other performed the same office for
him. In the flood of pale phosphorescent
light MIR. Thompson was able to see them
perfectly. The first speaker was about three
feet high, with black head and back, and
tail and wings of ashy blue his legs and bill
were long like cranes, and his throat and
breast were cream-white on the top of his
head were three long white feathers. His
companion was the same, with the exception
OF the feathers on the head. After Mr.. Thomp-
son had looked at them few minutes, the
Ouo WIN tuS pluuleb on MS noaQ SAID
Now suppose you would like TO know our
names. In Florida and the southern states
we are called qua birds; in Virginia they call
US lamplighters; when we come up here to
Long Island we are quaks; and if we go farth-
er north, into Connecticut, they add an s, and
call us squaks. But we don't like those ap-
Pelations; our proper name is Ardea Nycti-
corax. am Mr.. Nycticorax, and this is my
wife, Mrs. N"
Mr.. Thompson bowed gallantly, and intro
duced himself as John Thompson of New
York. Then he continued: 81 don't like to
be inquisitive, but your having a lantern
makes me peculiarly interested in you. Would
you mind telling me something about your
self"
Certainly not, " replied the bird; 81 should
be most happy to do so. was born in Flor
ida. We live there in great villages of 5000
or 6OOO families, and we generally take trip
every summer for our health. We stop along
by the way, and some prefer to spend the
summer in one place and some in another, so
you see by the time we get here we are pretty
well scattered. When we get here we go to
housekeeping. But" he added, deftly snap
ping up fish in his long bill and tossing it to
Mr.. Thompson, Just eat that and I'll show
you the rest"
Mr.. Thompson swallowed the fish without
thinking, and in moment began to experience
the most peculiar sensations. His neck began
to stretch, his nose to elongate, his hands and
arms became covered with feathers Almost
before he knew it he was fVll-blown quak.
Nov, remarked Mr.. Nycticorax, ''you look
something like other people. II you will just
follow me, will introduce you to some of my
friends who are keeping house over here in
the woods" =
"Come," urged Mrs Nycticorax, and the
two tapped their wings and flew rapidly over
towards the woods. Mr.. Thompson followed,
and soon they alighted ON the top branch of a
tall tree Just beneath them was large nest
built of twigs, and on 1t was seated a motley
looking quak who welcomed Mr.. Thompson
cordially. She raised herself a little, and
proudly showed four light-green eggs. In
another tree was a small family about three
weeks old. They could not fly yet, but had
climbed out of the nest with the aid of their
strong bills and claws, and were perched com
fortably on a high limb, waiting for their pa
rents to return from fishing excursion. AZ
ter Mr.. Thompson had talked for some little
time, he suddenly remembered that his friends
at the farmhouse would be worried at his
prolonged absence. AS he was about TO ex
cuse himself, his friend said
81 will go back with you to where we fret
met"
Soon they were again on the shore of the
creek, ana MT. NyctlcofhA was saying good
night, when Mr.. Thompson detained him.
Zone more question:" said that unwearied
searcher after knowledge. "What is your
lantern composed Off"
Some kind of phosphorus or other" re-
piled the bird, and at the same moment threw
back his breast feathers.
Mr.. Thompson stretched out his hand to feel
of it.
couch you tickle I" screamed the bird,
and flew away. At the same moment Mr..
Thompson felt some one grasp his shoulder,
and familiar voice remarked;
"Wa'al, now reckon you've ketched
powerful cold, sleepin' here"
1t was 'Lisha, one of the farm hands.
Mr.. Thompson insists that he did not go to
sleep but his fellow boarders are rather in
clued to believe 'Lishas statement that 'Mr.
Thompson was a-sneezin' and snorin', and
a-snorin' and a-sneezin' and of hadn't wax
ed him up, he'd a ketohed his death"
Certain it is that Mr.. Thompson has suffer
cd with tremendous cold in the head ever
since. Allan FOrmdR IN HaypeJ's Young
People
Solomon was the first man who proposed TO
part the heir in the middle.
gIoa,, Y,axy Init nm tha ravaIlad slNava of