The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-07
A FRIENDLY REVENGE.
Henry Tyrren in the c,rrsnt !

Henry Tyrrell in the CURRENT
Yes, revenge was my motive. acted in
obedience to that noble instinct of retalia-
ton which helps to distinguish our species
from the lower animals The offence of nv
friend Hornbeam was one of those smiling
little social foil-thrusts, which must be- re-
sented cautiously if they be resented at all,
So gave him pair of young kingfshers.
| must exploin here that Hornbeam is an
amateur student of natural history, and that
birds are his speciality. Every feathered
creature, from chick to condor he loves
to infatuation.
Now, while the kingfisber species is com.
mon everywhere in this wild state, domes.
ticated king-fisher is truly rara avis in
terra. tt pad been by a mere chance that
had secured the pair Dhich l presented tc
my friend, and he received them with an eff.
fusive delight which am sure was not sinu.
lated.
AS soon as the two acquatic beauties ar
rived at Hornbeam's country villa, he pur.
chased for them a magnificent cage, the epi-
tome Of all modern pathological conven-
ience5
Shy and suilen, though by no means silent,
the birds quickly made it understood that
their solace after all was but prison, and
that they were very unhappy in it. They be-
gan to droop and pine.
Liberty the kind-hearted Hornbeam
cried-"liberty for all, especially the fowls
of the air."
Ihere was spare room under the roof OF
the villa. This was cleared of furniture, tine
floor was graveled, and the room trans
| formed into model aviary. The kingfish-
ers were turned loose in it; but, instead OF
rejoicing in their comparative freedom, they
| sulked more than ever
What can they want!" Hornbeam asked,
with great solicitude when l called to see
| how the pets were getting on. Il have done
| everything can think of for their comfort
and yet it appears that something or other
| is lacking
| Water, perhaps, l suggested.
"Wotern he echoed, diSdainfully. why
you don't suppose after all my experience
| with birds | would neglect their water, do
| you! They have more than they can drink,
! twice day
Enough to drink, doubtless" l replied,
affecting q tone of friendly counsel; but
that is not enough Remember that in theiI
natural state OF freedom, these creatures
| haunt the lakes and streams"
Hornbeam was silent for a moment.
You are right" he finally said, in a
| troubled tone. Then, after an interval Of
deep abstraction he suddenly frightened up,
and cried: Il have it! my bathroom is
directly under the chamber they occupy.
| Pil establish communication.
| The next day that part Of the house was
sUrr9n lore l to workmen. The floor was
torn up and the ceiling of the bathroom
cut through. SO that the kingdshers might
be free to descend AMI disport themselves on
the slashy brink of the bathtub, which was
ordered to be kept always full Of fresh water
for their accommodation.
Hornbeam watched with eagerness the
result OF his novel though somewhat costly
| device But even before he had finished
looking over the bills of the carpenters,
masons, painters, plumbers and upholsterers,
relative to the job" it became evident that
the work had been done in vain. The bird:
perched morosely in corner, as though
afraid they might possibly tumble down int
tie water AMI he drowned
Suddenly it occurred to my friend that
the pool in his bath-tub was of mirrow- like
serenity, whereas the kingfishers, it was
more than likely, had been accustomed to
II
sparkling stream was what they longed for.
Hornbeam did not hesitate. He called
back the mechanics The whole of The
plumbing would have to be altered, and {
special contract would have to he made with
the water works company. Tie tinancia
outlay would he considerable; but the stream
of running water would be a Triumphant
reality, and the poor birds would at last b,
happy.
Alas! they were not.
Their unhappy master-sI should rather
say slave-whose devotion to them increased
in direct ratio with the trouble they cos
him, began to despair He poured int
my sympathetic ear the whole history Of hi
unsuccessful efforts to provide a pleasant
home for the precious birds had given
him, and bosought my advice.
My dear Hornbeam," l responded, with
Mephistophelian suavity, your error seem
to be in supposing that the kmgfisher, low
water for its own sake.
what do you meant
Il mean that what they really care for i
the fish that are in it, Put some fish in you
running water, and think you will fint
that your birds will Ge as content with thei
surroundings as the fish in their own natura
element"
g IN do it, the enthusiastic Hornbeam
cried all stock that bath-tub with liv
fish, and the kingtishers can amuse them
selves diving for them
Two weeks later Hornbeam found the ex
pense of procuring the daily supply of liv
fish so enormous that he determined to catcl
them himself. OF course. an anglers outfi
must be purchased. A boat, also, woul'
be necessary, and man to row it, for the
seine-drawing would be no holiday sport.
Harnheam vas far-sighted man. II
was not one to stop a an expenditure which
once made would in the long run result i
an immense saving.
He bought steam launch.
There were DAYS when the fish were shy
and then the task of the provider was a yer.
hard one indeed. On other days the hau
would be so large that place to store tn
! superiiuous fish became necessity. An ar
tiiicial plIIl, and large reservoir to feed it
were accordingly constructed just back q
the Hornbeam villa.
An army of Italian laborers are now a
work digging system Of canals to extern
over the entire grounds All the trees hav
been cut down, and contracts are out for
series Of hydraulic works on u vast scale
D and representing a moderate fortune
y The two kingtishers are doing as we'll a
: could be expected.
Il Sometimes lately, / have had feelin
: akin to remosre for my act Of friendly re
. verge, and have begun 10 speculate as t
whether OF not the birds will die of oven
feeding in time to save Hornheam iron
ruin
The Proportion OF Children To Ruifies.
lChristian Union