Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-11-03
SCRAP.

There is an old Eastern story dear to
childish hearts, of how, when the mon
arch of a certain city died, the inhabit-
ants rushed out into the desert, and
Selling 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
fledgling, from his nest in the cane
brakes, and bore him to his kingdom
and palace in Northern city. He
gave himself the most imperious airs
from the very start, though he was then
but a 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, a
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, a 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 frcshly-killed
flies, neatly ranged on their backs on
small butter-dish, with their legs still
feebly kicking. The grave and rever-
end head of the family foraged for
juicy grasshoppers. which were gra-
ciously accepted, and every tempting
tidbit and pretty plaYthing was saved
for 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
Manifesting 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. t
The Cardinal Grosbeak is considered
10 be the most intelligent of all our ma
tive birds, and certainly Scrap has
shown himself to be remarkably bright
little fellow; moreover, he is not, to my
certain knowledge, unique specimen,
for have known two other grosbeaks
who have exhibited similar Characters
tics to his. These birds can only be
tanned to affectionate 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 as tame crow or q monk
ey. Jewelry, buttons, pins, needles,
laces, 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 moment, with
scream of delight he would fly to inves-
tigate it. He would take every hair-pin
from my head in five minuUes' time did
l permit it, and then he would attempt
to put them back again. This last per-
Torrance, however, / was forced to OBJ
ject to, as he evidently regarded my
head as sort of cushion-an article
whose use he perfectly comprehended-
for he always endeavored 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 a cold
boiled potato-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 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
family, was the object of his most dis
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