The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-05

to at gentle little Brownie.
For weeks and weeks after Brownie
was gone Puck never tried his voice, nor
does he often now except in the night.
The wound to his self-love must have
been serious. I think he neglected his
bath during the Brownie interlude, but
since he makes ample amends, splashing
the water about and rushing to warm his
feet on my head. The other day was
taking a glass of lemonade which Puck
likes, and no sooner does he hear me
stirring the tumbler than he lights upon
the edge of it to enjoy his little drink,
but one morning coming as usual and
finding it plain water, he made pause,
tried sip again, and then quick as
flash down went his head into the bottom
Of the glass, up again he came and down
went his feet, then head again and so al
ternstely while stood enjoying the fun
with him. He took a thorough bath
and then alighted on my head and shout
ders for drying. I, however, transferred
him to the golden sunshine by my ge-
raniums. think this was a lovely choice
of bathing tub.
Puck has many whims, apd fancies,
and humors. He likes to be shut up at
bed time, and will play bo-peep round
chairs and table legs till tired of it, and
then go to reed stretched across a cor
ner, and throw me kisses. When take
him in my hands, he gives little baby
cry, and goes quietly to bed.
Since we have given him new cage,
1 perceive he likes it better than the one
made of reeds into which Brownie forced
his way, for he goes out and into this at
his own sweet will, never shutting the
door except at night, but the new cage
broke up the pretty habit OF smuggling
into the corner and calling for me; now
Puck utters musical little cry equiva-
lent to saying" sit is bed time," then he be-
gins his bo-peep play, running mot flying,
in and out under the chairs, doing my
best to catch him and he slipping out
and in with such q nonchalant air; at
length he betakes himself to his cage, and
from his perch sends me a fusilade Of
kisses.
Here let me state that this little smack
Of the bill is unlike any other sound that
he makes, and he utters it only as the
twilight deepens, before he puts his know
ing head behind his wing. Sometimes
half asleep he starts up and sends me a
few kisses; he never sends kiss to any
one but me.
What a pretty woodland idyl this re-
veals to us of the gentle denizens of the
forests leaning their little heads together
with tender caresses as the night draws
near The kiss that Puck gives me is
doubtless an educated caress, and it
must be an instinct Of heredity also. 1
am glad to see Puck extends this privi-
lege to no one but me. Another of his
exclusivenesses I will note here. When
the children (my grand. children) in their
play with Puck, NEEDLE with what he has
in any way appropriated, he pounces
down upon them with furious little
blow of wind, the faintest resemblance
to the snarl of the cat-bird, and gives
them sharp hit of the bill, but he never
does this to me, do what I will, from
whence it will be seen that Puck is loyal
in his affections, and reasons wisely as to
the Providence on which he depends.
Puck is a most companionable, loving
little wretch, lighting upon my head and
shoulders at odd. unexpected times like a
light breeze. He is especially fond Of
children, joining in their sports on their
heads and backs, and hitting hard when
they vex him. When they play at rail
road he rides on the cars, hops in and out
among them, pulling lines and trotting
like little pony. They do not mind him
for he is "abundantly able to take care of
himself" as Horace Greeley said Of me.
Sometimes they call him little boy. some
times pony, sometimes Kitty, for he
doesn't seem at all bird, but woe to
them if they modest peanut belonging
to him, or toy, string, or hollyberry, he is
down upon them with his little blow
like gust of wind, and his sharp bill.
1t will be seen that Puck has vast ideas
OF the rights of property. No sooner was
my room decorated with the beautiful
products of the South, mistletoe, holly,
and cedar berries, than Puck took pos
session of the crowns at the windows.
He few from one to another, setting
them swinging, turning his little body
about, and hopping up and down on his
slender knickerbocker legs with perfect
delight, and then on to my head or shout
der, and then back to the crowns. He
made lovely picture in the green circle.
I followed him to the window and he
showed his pleasure by jumping on my
head and then into the green cedar.
Just then one Of the children put her
hand upon the crown, and, presto! Puck
was upon her-such breezy blow from
his bill and such hit with it, showed
that that crown was owned by Puck and
nobody else. So with them all, they were
his and not to be meddled with.
He claims my pens. but has to COM
promise here by taking the holder in his
bill at odd intervals, to confirm and es-
tablish his rights, making his mark on
the paper by trotting over it before the
ink is dry, and carrying the pen up to the
ceiling only to drop it point downward