The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-10-04
SCRAP.

CllluiSn hearts, OF now Wheu the mon
arch of a certain city died, the inhabit-
ants rushed out into the desert, and
seizing the first traveller they met, COM
PEELED him to return with them, and
bore him to the palace and crowned
HIM their King In some such fashion
think Scrap interpreted our proceed
ings, when we took him, little gaping
tledgling, from his nest in the cane
brakes, and bore him to his Kingdom
and palace in a Northern city. He
gave himself the most imperious airs
from the very start, though he was then
but helpless baby, unable even to feed
himself. But day by day his breast
grew soft and scarlet, the feathers of
his wings and tail long and glossy,
little cap appeared upon his head until
at last, arrayed in his full vestments.
he stood confessed, that most brilliant
bird of all the South, n Cardinal Gros-
beak.
He was so beautiful and so intelligent
that no one could resist him, and very
soon the whole household revolved
around the handsome Southerner.
Mary, the fat cook, labOred upstairs
every morning with an offering for his
eminence, consisting of freshly-killed
flies, neatly ranged on their backs on a
small butter-dsh, with their legs still
feebly kicking. The grave and rever-
end head of the family foraoed for
juicy grasshOppers. which were gra-
ciOusly accepted, and every tempting
tidbit and pretty plaYthing was saved
Tor Scrap. He knew no more of fear
than does an INDUCED and saucy child.
Never compelled to stay in his cage
against his will, he knew nothing of
confinement, and he was accustomed
from his babyhood to attention and
caresses. Under these circumstances
he made an interesting study to one
fond of ornithology; his native traits
manifcSting themselves in various anus
ing ways. He was the largest speci-
men of his kind that / have ever seen;
being so heavy his wings were incap-
able of sustaining him for long flight,
and his movements appeared quite
clumsy compared with those of a
canary. He was always perfectly
healthy, and perfectly happy, never
moping or pining in the least on account
of his captivity.
The Cardinal Grosbcak is considered
to be the most intelligent of all our ma
tive birds and certainly Scrap has
shown himself to be a remarkably bright
little fellow; moreover, he is not, to my
certain knowledge, unique specimen,
for | have known two other eros eaks
ties to his. These birds can only be
tanned to atfectionate companiOnship by
being taken while still fledglings from
the parent nest. A bird who is shared
after reaching maturity never forgets
its old free life; it displays no friendly
confidence, but is restless and unhappy
during all the period of its captivity.
Everything that sparkled or was gay
in color attracted Scraps attention. l
used to think sometimes that he was as
mischievous rs tame crow or a monk
ey. Jewelry, buttons, pins, needles,
lacCS, ribbons, in short, all sorts of
small gear were his special delight, and
was anything of the sort missing, a
search in his favorite haunts was pretty
sure to disclose it. Did | leave my bu-
reau drawer open for a moment, with a
scream of delight he would fly to inves-
tigate it. He would take every hair-pin
from my head in five minutes time did
/ permit it, and then he would attempt
to put them back again. This last per-
Torrance, however, / was forced to OBJ
iect to, as he evidently regarded my
head as sort of cushion-an article
whose use he perfectly comprehended-
for he always endeavOTed TO stick the
hair-pins in through scalp and all. His
favorite game was to take pin from the
cushion, and place it upright in cold
boiled potRtO-whiCh was one of his
staple articles of diet. Then he would
rummagc my work-basket for my thin
BILE, which he would hang like a little
bell upon the pin, and then he would
tap the thimble with his bill again and
again, apparently for the pleasure of
hearing its tiny tinkle and seeing it
shake.
Though Scrap was fond of the whole
60 I No, ,1NS ,F1 - 4.
tinguished regard. When he was given
any dainties he always shared them with
me. He liked fruit very much, and
when he was presented with grapes or
berries he always divided them into two
separate piles. When this was accom-
plished-and it was a work of time, for
he exercised much discretion in the per-
Torrance, hopping from heap to heap,
cooking his eye at the fruit, and chat
tering busily all the while-he would
lift up his voice and give a call which
sounded something like this: Eric
Eric-ETic-Ric RiC-y-Ricin until
/ came, when he would proceed to feed
me himself, tucking the berries into my
mouth one by one with much soft chat
ter between bites. When my pile had
vanished he would give a satisfied
"Chut," and then dispatch his own.
But alas! if l CHANGED to be ont on such
an occasion, his screams would resound
through the house with ear-piercing
shrillness, and he would allow no ons
to become my substitute. Woe to that
unlucky wight who attempted it, he
was always sent away with a bleeding
cheek or finger But when I returned,
Whist a welcome he had for me. He
v-ot Ia fly joyously to me, and press his
soft, warm breast against my cheek and
Tins 50 closely that l could feel the little
heart which throbbed under the feathers.
Yet. though Scrap loved me best of |
all he always preferred company to
solfude. and If / was not obtainabie he /
yolIId nut up with some one else. One
Cal,bath morning | went to church. /
leaving my mother at home with
Teadaehs. On my return. instead of ,