The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-06
Kaiser and His Friends.

Kaiser and His Friends.
Of all the pets l ever had-and have
had good many-the dearest one was
Kaiser. Kaiser was canary. He was
given to me by my brother Rex, who also
named him. He was bred In the Hartz
Mountains in Germany, and when Rex
brought him home in the tiny wooden
cage in which he had crossed the ocean,
and set him down beneath the gas.light
on the sitting-room table, the glare of the
light, the crowd of faces and the laugh
ing voices so frightened him that he beat
his wings against the bars of his cage in
such frantic way that really feared he
would kill himself. Half an hours quiet,
however, Gained the little emigrant, and
he soon became perfectly reconciled to
these United States. He was provided,
through my brothers kindness, with a
beautiful little gilded palace, which was
Furnished with all the modern improve
ments." And he began life in the New
World under the most favorable auspices.
Kaiser's first friend was retired sea-
captain, who at that time resided in our
family. This gentleman had sailed the
ocean, man and boy, for fifty years, and he
had, during that long time, gone through
enough thrilling experiences to spin
hundred fairy tales out Of. The face OF
this old captain, though rather rocky, was
handsome, with square, determined jaw,
resolute mouth, and eyes as keen and
penetrating as those of hawk. Not
withstanding this, l never knew child
who would not 60 to him with confidence;
and if the lips of our humber brethren
of the animal creation could speak, sweet
testimony would arise from all over the
round earth of the captains universal
kindness toward all who are timid and
weak. Tiny Indian marmosets would
chatter of his goodness certain little
Peruvian spaniel would bark it; Persian
cats, and baby kangaroos, parrots and
paroquets would swell the chorus; and as
for old Admiral Dandalo's doves in St.
Marks Square in Venice, they know him
well, and COO about him, 1 am convinced,
until this day.
1t was not strange, therefore, that Kaiser
should feel drawn toward such man as
this, nor that he should try to attract his
attention in his bird-fashion, by various
little calls and futterings, when the cap
tain passed his cage, as he did when he
went to his meals, three times day.
Neither was it strange that the captain
should notice these small efforts, and that
he should respond to them one morning
with
"Well, brother, how are you? Is the
sunshine yellow enough for you to-day -
At this Kaiser was 30 delighted that he
burst into little song for very joy, and
the captain, also pleased, presented the
bird with two plump hemp-seeds on the
spot. After this it became the regular
custom for the captain to pause on his
way to the breakfast table to give Kaiser
two hemp-seeds,-great dainties to the
bird, you understand-and it was pretty
to see the little fellows expectant look as
he watched the captains great thumb
and finger fumbling in his vest pocket
When the seed was found, the captain
would hand it to the bird with a, There
brother " and Kaiser would reach up ant
take it in his bill, and put it on the foo
of his cage, and then would reach up TO
the other. One morning the captain for
got to feed his little friend, but he wa
soon made to feel that insulted msjest.
would brook no neglect, for Kaiser scoldet
and called 30 loudly that no one coult
breakfast in peace. The captain felt il
his pocket, but his supply was exhausted
"Won't you excuse me this morning
brother ?" he asked, laughing.
But no, it was evident that no excuse
would be granted, so the kind old cap
tain climbed the stairs which led to hi
room, and coming back gave Kaiser nj
two seeds, and the kings majesty was sat
isfed. And thought, as watched them
of how the hand which now 30 kindl
fed little bird, once held a pistol, an
the big fore-fnger cooked it, when b
alone faced a mutinous crew on mic
ocean, and by his own undaunted from
quelled them, and compelled their retur
to their duty. That same hand whic
had once helped in such grim business
was now so gentle that it would not ruff
one least golden feather upon the breas
of little bird.
But the captain was not Kaiser's onl
friend, by any means. My fathers whit
head was bent every morning to kiss hii
"good-bye" before he went to bushes
and many long conversation did the
two hold together. On Sunday Afternoon
they always looked over the papers,
company. Very often has Kaiser cooke
his bright eye at the columns OF the A.
rance, ana uOrn uULlo Dlb6 VI paper lrOl
its white margins as he perched on m
fathers hand, and twittered grave con
ments, like wise bird as he was, on I'll
editorials and leading articles.
My mother, also, he was fond Of. Ill
eyeglasses were a perpetual temptatio
to him. He never saw them without d
ing to peck at them, so that she could nj
read in comfort when he was in the ROOF
My brother, Rex, was in high favo
Kaiser thought it great fun to fight h
finger, and they were always having pug
istic encounters, and when Rex gre
tired, and put his hand in his pocket,
was evident that Kaiser supposed that
had vanquished him completely, for
would retire to the top of his cage and i
dulge in such song of triumph as W
quite aggravating to the other party.
"The little goose!' Rex used to So
"he is like Grant, he doesn't know VIII
he is beaten"
But, however much he thought of t
others, it was perfectly plain that
Kaiser his mistress was dearest OF ALL
was the brightest of companions during