The Arizona sentinel., 1886-02-13
BANTAM BOB.


 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 a robin, his weight less than one pound. Little, but so plucky.
 It is said of his variety of birds: 'They are more courageous and pug nacious than gamecocks five times their weight and size-a beautiful ex- ample of great soul in little body" Bob was living witness of the truth of this description seventeen times a 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 colors in the shifting sunlight
 Bob was every whit as vain as the peacock, else he never would have vied with or aped him so. If the peacock promenaded along the top of the board fence with naughty air, trying to daz- gle peoples eyes 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 are every one as white as snow. I am tm ice as nretty as he. Hear his harsh voice. He cant crow. l can. Then up he would fly to the fence top and follow right in his 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 and always a full house. Frank had mustang pony, five rabbits, 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 joint possession.
 These pets would have formed a Happy Family had it not been for Bob's jealousy. If Frank caressed his pony, if Elmer patted his calf, or Car Tie hugged Tabby, Bob would fly into their faces like a.small fury. Then Elmer would seize and stroke him, Frank feed him lOppered milk and Car Tie 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 ac- count. Every member of the family had something against him. He acted so. Katy KOs-ta-ma-lasky, 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 pie of him, bake it in patty-pan and eat that pie herself, hateful little rooster"
 Frank and Elmer did not believe Katy and said so. ''Yes he had," she said, ''she was at the well 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 busi- ness to wear such slimsy dress" They began quarreling, when Carrie said: Il know what made Bob tear Katv's dress" "What?" said all their voices in concert. "Cos Bob, he was jealous of Katy's beau" This witty remark of Carries restored harmony at once, and, no doubt, saved Bob's 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 off her pies. At this threat Carrie seized and hid him under a sieve in the woodhouse cham Der, feeding him, in the meantime, so much rich fruit-cake he came near dy- ing of dyspepsia.
 The music teacher both feared and hated him because he was for ever shocking her nerves by jumping sud- denly upon her shoulders and flying into her face unexpectedly. He hated her because the noise of her piano drowned his crows. He wished always to be heard But the children be- friended him and saved his life many a time. Once though they thought it was all over with their favorite. He had not a spark of reverence in that great soul of his, not an atom. He was saucy to the minister. Let Mir. Marsh hear of that it would be useless for them to interfere.
 Perhaps Bob was angry because that solemn-faced minister so frightened the children that they had not petted him since his arrival. At any rate, he never showed more fight or rage in his life than when he flew at the parson.