Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-13
BANTAM BOB.
Tie Story OF Little, Handsome and
Plucisy Blrd-lIis Ignoble End.

The story OF Little, handsome ana
Piuoky Blrd-Iiis Ignobie End.
Bantam Bob was little. He did not
know it. At least he did not seem to
know 1t. 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.
1t 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 a great soul in n little body"
Bob was living witness of the truth
Of this description seventeen times o
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 rs the
peacock, else he never would have We'd
with or aped him so. II the peacocF
promenaded along the top Of the boarL
fence with naughty air, trying TO DE-
zlc 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 10 say: Look at the
coarse monster. His features are the
colors Of the rainbow. My feathers
are every one as white as snow. am
twice as pretty rs he. Hear his harsh
voice. He can't crow. can" Then
up he wonld fly to the fence top and
follow right in his rivals footsteps,
growing Justify, until, tired Of being
crowed oyer by that little midget, the
layoritc would vanish, tail and all.
Bob had accomplishments. He would
stand erect upon the palm Of Franks
utstretched band, 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 full house. Frank
had mustang pony, five rabbits, a
woOdchuck and coon. Elmer had 9
calf, a guinea pig, lamb and dog.
Carrie, who was only four years old
had only tabby and her five kittens
Bob was i joint possession.
These pets would have formed {
"happy Family" had 1t not been fol
Bob's jealousy. II Frank caressed his
pony, II Elmer patted his calf, or Car
fie hugged Tabby, Bob would fly intt
their faces like small fury. Thor
Elmer would seize and stroke him
Frank feed him loppered milk and Car
rie call him pet names until his rufflet
feelings were smOothed and Bobby wa!
himself again. The children had theil
hands full to keep peace on bis ac
count. Every member Of the family
had something against him. He actef
SO. Katy Kos-ta-ma-lasky, tie R6he
Gliap hired girl told them the 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 anC
eat that pie herself, hateful littl'
rooster"
Frank and Elmer did not believ,
Katy and said so. "Ycs he had, sh,
said, ''she was at the well talking will
John Nikota when something cam,
Whack up against the back Of her neck
She ran into the house, tho doc
slammed to; her dress was caught ant
dreadfully torn, just ruined"
"There, there, you did it yourself,
cried Frank. Elmer said: "No busi
ness to wear such slimsy dress.
They began quarfeling, when Carri
said: ~ know what made Bob tea
Katy's dress" "WhatP" said all thei
voices in concert. "Cos Bob, he wa
jealous of Katy's beau" This witt
remark of Carries restored harmon,
at once, and, no doubt, saved Bob
life. 49, "a
nMrs. Marsh was vexcd at him an
thfeatGned to have him beheaded be
: cause he flew on to the kitchen tabl
and .te the top crust off her pies. A
This threat Carrie seized and hid hir
J, Under a'sieye il the woodhouse cham
hcr, feeding him, in the meantime, S
much rich fruit-cake he came near dy
Ing OF dyspepsia,
The music teacher both feared an,
hated him because he was for eve
shocking her nerves by jumping sud
denly upon her shoulders and fyin
into her face unexpectedly. He hate
her because the noise of her plan
: drowned his crows. He wished alway
to be heard. But the children bt
friended him and saved his life many
time. Once though they thought
was all over with their favorite, II
had not spark of reverenee In this
great soul Of his, not an atom. II
was saucy to the minister. Let Nj
Marsh hear of that it would be useles
for them to interfere.
Perhaps Bob was angry because tina
solemn-faced minister so frightene
the children that they had not petite
him since his affiyal AT any 'rste, I
meyer shoWea more fight or rage ip b
life than when he flew at the parson;
What do you think the minister sol
to the children after prayers that nigh
= It wis this; That's 4 plncky litt
bantam Of yours, boys" They bol
tprnedpale. Carry began to cry. i
continued; u wish | could obtain OF
just like him for my little sickly boy
home. lie is very fond Of such pets.
Was he not goodp Elmer told Fran
/; confidentially. "lf that minister wou
only stay, here should join the churcl
his church, right Off" $50 would /,
said Frank, ihe's the man for me;
/, knows enough to admire Bob"
When not doing anything else b
J was certain to be teasing Tabby. 81
did not care one fig on her own q
count, but those kittens of hers-tht