The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1886-03-10
BANTAM BOB.
The Story of a Little, Handsome and
Piueky Bird-His Ignoble End.


Piueky Bird-His Ignobls End.
Bantam Bob was little. He did not
know it. At least he did not seem to
know it. He held up his head and
strutted in his gait as loftily as though
he were the tallest of the Shanghais,
Little dwarf hardly larger than
robin, his weight less than one pound
Little, but so plucky.
1t is said of his variety of birds:
They are more courageous and pug
nacions than gamecocks five times
their weight and size-a beautiful ex-
ample of great soul in a little body"
Bob was a living witness of the truth
of this description seventeen times
day. Did he not attack, rout and put
to flight every beast, every man,
woman and child-the owners, Frank,
Elmor and Carrie Marsh excepted
that crossed his path? Yes, of course
he did.
Bob was handsome He knew it.
At least he seemed to know it. In the
adjoining dooryard was vain pea
cock, the green and black of whose
back and wings, the blue of whose
neck, the brown, green and gold and
violet of whose tail made beautiful
play of eolors in the shifting sunlight.
Bob was every whit as vain as the
peacock, else he never would have We'd
with or aped him so. II the peacock
promenaded along the top of the board
fence with naughty air, trying to daz-
zle peoples ewes with his lustrous
| splendOr, Bob would strut up and down
| the gravel walk with an air just as
naughty and twice as ridiculous.
He seemed to say: Look at the
coarse monster. His features are the
colors of the rainbow. My feathers
I are every one as white as snow. / am
| twice as pretty as be. Hear his harsh
voice. He can't crow. ] can" Then
| up he would fly to the fence top and
| follow right in bis rivals footsteps,
growing Justify. until, tired of being
crowed over by that little midget, the
favorite would vanish. tail and all.
| Bob had accomplishments. He would
stand erect upon the palm of Franks
outstretched hand, and, at the word of
command, shut both eyes, hide his
head under his wing and pretend to be
| fast asleep.
The Marsh children had so many
/ pets that they played menagerie with
| them on Saturdays. Admittance one
cent aud always full house. Frank
| had mustang pony, five rabbits, a
| woodchuck and coon. Elmer had a
calf, a guinea pig, lamb and dog.
Carrie, who was only four years old,
had only tabby and her five kittens.
Bob was a joint possession.
These pets would have formed a
Happy Family had it rot been for
| Bob's Jealousy. If Frank caressed his
pony, if Elmer patted his calf, or Car
| RE Rugged Tabby, Bob would fiy into
| their faces like small fury. Then
| Elmer would seize and stroke him,
Frank feed him loppered milk and Car
| RE call him pet names until his ruffied
feelings were smoothed and Bobby was
himself again. The children had their
hands full TO keep peace on his &C.
count. Every member of the family
had something against him. He acted
so. Katy Kos-ta-ma-lssky, the Bohe-
milan hired girl told them 'he had torn
her new ball dress made of pink mo-
squito-netting, and she meant to make q
pie of him, bake it in a patty-pan and
| eat that pie herself, hateful little
| rooster.
Frank and Elmer did not believe
Katy and said so. Eyes he had, she
said, ''she was at the we'll talking with
John Nikota when something came
whack up against the back of her neck.
She ran into the house; the door
slammed to; her dress was caught and
dreadfully torn, just ruined"
There, there, you did it yourself,
cried Frank. Elmer said: ''No bust
ness to wear such slimsy dress y
They began quarfeling, when Carrie
said: 81 know what made Bob teal
Katy's dress. WHAT" said all theil
voices in concert. Cos Bob, he wa:
jealous of Katy's beau" This witty
remark of Carries restored harmony
at once, and, no doubt, saved BOb'i
life.
Mrs. Marsh was vexed at him and
threatened TO have him beheaded be
cause he flew on to the kitchen table
and ate the top crust of her pies. A
this threat Carrie seized and hid hin
under a sieve in the woodhouse cham
Der, feeding him, in the meantime, s.
much rich fruit-cake he came near dy
ing of dyspepsia
The music teacher both feared anC
hated him because he was for eve
shocking her nerves by jumping sud
denly upon her shoulders and fiyinj
into her face Unexpectedly. He hates
} her because the noise of her pian'
drowned his crows. He wished Away
TO be heard. But the children be
friended him and saved his life many
time. Once though they thought
was all over with their favorite. III
had not a spark OF reverence in tina
great soul Of his, not an atom. III
was saucy 90 the minister. Let Mr.
Marsh hear Of that it would be useles
for them 10 interfere.
Perhaps Bob was angry because tina
<olamn-faced minister so frightenel
tfs children that they had not petite
! him since his arrival At any rate, b
never showed more fight or rage IN hi
4 l. L ~