Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-07

learned person. and who was not at all
put out at finding that he did not direct
| " understand her. 1t proved that he
was occupied with very important mat
| tiers.
"a genius is always eccentric, your
honor, and / am sure it is his high birth
| that makes him so naughty in his man.
ners Don't you think 1 am right, Pro-
| fessor?''
..T'wit! T'who!'' said the Professor,
regarding her gravely with his large
saucer eyes.
witty, your honor? Oh, yes, in
deed, he is wonderfully witty!'' eagerly
said the foolish old duck. '.And, as you
say, your honor. considering aoito he is.
is hardly to be expected that. being
born swan, lie should condescend to
associate with the low-bred shanghais
and bantams.
The Professor sat for some minutes
perfectly still. gazingyith his big eyes
at poor anxious Madam Webtoes, who
waited patiently to hear if he had any
thing more to say. And at last the
Professor bowed his head gravely three
times, and then closed his eyes, as if to
declare that the interview was over; so.
after thanking him warmly for his val
liable advice and assistance, Madam
Webtoes fastened home to repeat his
opinion in triumph to her friends.
"You see, I was right" she cried
loudly to the assembled fowls. 1.-The
Professor agreed with me. He said Twas
right. My son is certainly a wonderful
person"
And she tossed her head scornfuIly at
them.
Now, Prof. Fussanfeathers was an
authority. His opinion was clearly i'm
portant. Perhaps Madam Webtoes' I'M
pleasant son would turn out to be a
swan, after all!
Several of the hens were much inn
pressed. and looked uncomfortable, and
the speckled lady secretly wished she
had not been SO indiscreet. Only old
Grandfather Cookies shook his head
slowly. He had heard people talk of
swans before
Here he comesr' cried the mother,
angry at their doubts. Cant you be-
Ieve your own eyes? Can't you see
how much taller and handsomer he is
than any other duck in the yardP'
The eldest son seemed to be i'll a
hurry. He came forward, stretching
his long neck with the peculiar Kissing
noise he always made, and followed by
his youngest brother, who was crying.
having just been knocked down by the
tyrant for daring to stand in his way.
But Madam Webtoes only pushed her
injured child hastily aside, while she
eagerly told of Prof. Fussanfeathers' de-
cision. 4.t. r..
..Of course said the eldest son.
haughtily, Il always knew | was far
superior to the rest. There is no doubt
about it; / am swan. And [ can afford
to despiSe all baser born creatures."
As he spoke. through the gate flock
of great white birds were driven. They
stretched their long necks forward with
loud Kisses, and ran awkwardly past the
other fowls on their way to the pond.
- "Here are the swans! Here are my
equals at last.'' cried the eldest son, full
of his blind conceit. ID,
And, Kissing contemptuously, he
fastened to join them. -.
ooh, come back, my someone
back!'' cried his mother, in despair.
A" You are mistaken! Those are not
swans, they are geese"
But he did not hear her; he had gone.
And while poor Madam Webtoes,
crushed by this terrible fall of her pride,
tainted entirely away, all the hens ex-
claimed, with shrieks of laughter:
GA swan, indeed! And he was no.
thing but a goose, after alln'-EUo l..
Gore031 m, (I0}C}e32 D03fe