Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-28
BANTAM BOB.
yhe Story of Little, Handsome and
PIucky ,ird-His Ignoble End.


strutted in his gait as loftily as though
he We're the tallest of the Shanghais!
Little dwarf! hardly larger than a
robin, his weight less than osc pound.
Little, but so plucky.
1t is said of his variety OF birds:
They are more courageous and pug
nacious than gamecoeKs five times
their weight and size-a beautiful ex-
simple of great soul in a little body
Bob was a 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-tIie owners, Frank,
Elmor and Carrie Marsh excepted
that crossed his patiie ICES. Of course
he did
Bob was handsome He knew it.
At least he seemed to know it. In the
adjoining dooryarl was A 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 a beautiful
play of colors i'm the shifting sunlight.
Bob was every whit as vain IS the
peacock, else he never would have We'd
with or aped him so. If the peacock
promenaded along the top of the board
fence with naughty air, trying to daz-
Zle 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. l am
twice as pretty as he. Hear his harsh
voice. He can't crow. 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
favoritc would vanish, tail and all.
Bob had accomplishments. He would
stand erect upon the palm of Frank
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. a
woodchuck and coon. Elmer had
calf, a guinea pig. a lamb and dog.
Carrie. who was only four years old,
had only tabby and her five kittens
Bob was 4 joint possession.
These pets would have formed
Happy Family had it not been for
Bob's jealousy. If Frank caresSed his
pony, if Elmer patted his calf, or Car
RE Rugged Tabhy, Bob would fly into
their faces like a small fury. Then
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 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 she had torn
her new ball dress made of pink mo-
squito-netting. and she meant to make
pie of him, bake it II, Il patty-pan and
eat that pie herself. hateful little
rooster"
Frank and Elmer did not believe
Katy and said SO. .-Hes he had she
said, ''Shc was at the we'll talking with
John Niiiota 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
dreadfuliy torn. just ruined"
a
cried Frank. Elmer said: No bust
MSS To wear such slimsy dress
-EIsey began quarreling. when Carrie
said: Il know what made Bob tear
Katy dress" WHAT" said all their
xnices in concert. Cos Bob. he was
Jealous of Katy's beau" This witty
remark of Carries restored harplony
At once. and no doube saved Bob's
life
Mrs. Marsh was vexeI at him and
Threatened to have him hebeaded be-
cstssSe he flew on TO the kitchen table
and ale the top crust off her pies. At
tisis thyeat Carrie seized and hid him
under Il ~sieve in the woo2house cham
Der. feeding him. in the meantime. so
much fsch fruit-cake he came near dv-
ing of Gsspepsia.
The se,tsic teacher both feared and
hated him because he Was for ever
shocking her nerves by iumping sod ;
denly upon her shoulders and flying !
into her face Unexpectedly. He hated |
her because the noise of her plane !
drowned his crows. He wished always |
20 bt heard. But the children be- |
friended hita and saved his life many !
time. Once Though they thought i !
was all over with their favorite He |
had not spark Of reverence in that I
crest soul of his, not an atom. He (,
was saucy to the minister. Let Mr. /:
Marsa hear of that it would be useless
for them 10 interfere.
Perhaps Bob was angry because that
ed minister so frightened
the children THAI they had not petted
him since hfS arrival. At any rate. be
never showed more fight or rage in his
lie than when he flew at the parson. j