The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-05
PUCK AND BROW ME.
BY ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.


am not going to write about Shake
peare's Puck nor the English good
household genius Loci, who does up the
work for faithful maidens overworked,
and turns the cream to sour frotn for
lazy ones; but of my two friends and
companions in the shape of two hooking
birds. While 1 indite this Puck has the
end of my pen in his bill, and now and
then gives toot over my paper and
turns upon me his sharp, bright eyes
with q saucy can't of the head as II to say,
sis there any use in doing what you do,
day after day."
"Well, not much, Puck, but then you
and I do great many useless things" at
which he betakes himself to his perch in
a fit Of spleen.
I am living somewhat secluded in the
present, and but for Puck and Brownie
might have fretted over the solitude
and acclimating fever, but the pretty
freaks of my birds have filled up the
spaces. However, in the first place, be-
fore / talk of Puck I must tell the sor-
rowful tale of my dear, good Brownie,
away in sleep with young Stanley's head
and foot stones marking the spot under
the grape vine.
Puck had become familiar presence
in my room, and with his great magnet
ism filled the place with sweet woodland
associations. One bright morning the
windows being all open and the aroma Of
saasafras and cedar RECALLING the senses,
Brownie, wild from the woods, rushed
into the room and fairly broke into the
cage of the mighty Puck, who so far from
extending to him the rights of hospital
ity, treated him like burglar, pounced
upon him and compelled him to beg on
his back for peace. [ few to the rescue
and opened the cage door, when out they
both came not disinclined to battle.
Let me here say, that both birds were of
the same size, age and sex, and to casual
observer looked exactly alike; but I soon
saw that Puck was broader between the
eyes. He was more gentle than Puck,
and at the assaults of the latter would
open his bill and make a little piteous
cry that only exasperated Puck the more.
Now, the germs of all that is bad in us
human beings exist in our friends-bi-
peds, quadrupeds and reptiles, 30 that I
may as well own up to the suspicion of
jealousy on the part of Puck. 1 kept on
shelf in the room a round box contain
ing ginger snaps of which Puck is inor-
dinately fond. No sooner do I go in the
vicinity of this box than down rushes
Puck, and when 1t is opened in he jumps
to regsle himself with the cake. so well
pleased that he will let me kiss his shout
ders and likes well to have me call him
Puck caressingly. Now Brownie having
less assurance than his rival, never came
near the box, but when tossed him
bit would hop down with delight to seize
it. Not 80 Puck, he would drop his
daintiest piece and rush upon Brownie,
drive him ANONYMOUSLY into a corner
and down upon his back, his slender legs
in the air with piteous appeal. Seeing
this 1 gave Brownie his tid-bits on the
sly.
One day Puck was trying his voice,
obviously pleased with the progress he
was making when Brownie, sitting ON
chair opposite, after listening awhile be-
20 10 hnk
and blow of wind like prolonged hem.
and it sounded derisiVe. Puck fin
ished his stave of melody, and then the
rush he made and the way he bounced
upon Brownie was worthy of an ag-
grieved artist. He chased him round
and round the room, caught him in
corner, threw him upon his back, and
rising to his proudest height stood upon
him in silence. Poor little Brownie 1
think he never get quite over it, nor did
Puck forget that derisive mockery, for
a few days after, watching his chance,
he gave him vicious blow near the eye
from which he died in the night, and
when 1 took up the cold little shape, with
more grief than care to own up to, the
vengeful Puck would, but for me, have
given another blow to his lifeless rival.
Puck hadn't a shadow of remorse,
from whence infer that conscience is
latent in his makeup. He recovered
many of his most engaging traits which
had been held in allegiance after the adj
vent of Brownie; but, he began an ugly
dance before the looking glass, which
compelled me to scold him, for when
cried "Ah, Puck ah, Puck p he would