Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-05

resting position as when you bring
down a bird on the wing. They were
especially afraid of my revolver, which
they looked upon as inexhaustible. I
made it my business to keep this fear con-
stantly awake, and every night before
creeping into my hut l discharged the
baby gun, : as they called it, just in or
der to refresh their minds as to the exist
ence of this dreadful weapon
Form my first arrival at Herbert Vale
my situation had been gradually growing
more difficult As | have explained, the
savage had no idea of gratitude, and when
they discovered that | lived among them
peaceable, Killing no one, they gradually
grew to have no contempt for my personal
powers. When that point was reached
was in constant danger of conspiracies to
murder me- One man in particular. whom
had befriended In various ways, led two
attacts on me IN one day, and | never after
that woke or slept with even my former
sense of security The spell was broken
and / knew that | must get away or die.
But even in that situation | was not entirely
alone / had found a friend, or, rather, he
found me- A black named Koki attached
himself to me and saved my life many times
by his friendly warnings. L resolved to
seek civilization again, and with I ok and
my horse began the descent of the river
bank. 1t was journey of lnnumerable
difficulties. but ended at last we came IN
sight of the sea and caught glimpse of
its waves At a distence of six miles from
the mouth of the river | took small boat
and here took my last farewell Of 1oki,
who had all along expressed the hope that
he would accompany me to Europe. But
at the last moment he backed out and was
obliged to part with him. AS reward to
his many services | had given him my best
suit. pair of white trousers, white shirt,
and a broad-brimmed hat, all very much
the worse for wear. The last view of Yoki
was of that stoical gentleman standing on
the shore, his keen brown eyes peering
from under the brim of that hat. When
l ATTEMPTED to take leave of him he had not
understood the significance of shaking
hands.
Thus left my only friend among the
savages, and many emotions crowded up
on me as the vessel receded; memories of
the string days | had passed with him,
and a sense of deep gratitude for the many
services he had done me. -
The Angelus Bird.
When travelling in the forests of Guiana
and Paraguay, it is not uncommon to meet
with bird whose music greatly resembles
that of an Angelus bell when heard from
distance. The Spaniards call this singular
bird bellringer, though it may still be
more appropriately designated as the An
gelus bird for, like the Angelus bell, it is
heard three times a day, morning. noon
and night. It's song, which defes all de-
scription, consists of sounds like the strokes
of bell, succeeding one another every two
or three minutes, so clearly and In such
resonant manner, that the listener,
if a stranger, imagineS himself to be
near a chapel or convent. But it turns out
that the forest is the chapel, and the bell
bird
The beauty of the Angelus bird is equal
to his talent; he is as large as a jay, and
as white as snow, besides being graceful in
form and swift in motion. But the most
curious ornament of the Angelus bird is d
tuft of black, arched feathers on its beauti-
full head; it is of conical shape and about
four inches in gth.-Guardian Angel.
In the life of Russian peasant there is
a period anterior to all tunics, mantles, and
even sheepskins. during which he lives a
kind of mummy life. The author of "A
Journey Due North speaks thus of the
peasant babyhood: ''Ithe youngest chill
dren are always swaddled and rolled up
tightly in bandages, SO that they may be
conveniently put away without the risk of
getting themselves into mischief or danger.
entered peasants house, and my first
thought was that the Russian peasants had
their idols and penates, with their heads
carved out In a remarkably life-like man
ner, the bodies being left in block, rudely
cut. One of these idols was lying on
shelf, another hung to the wall ON peg,
and third swung over one of the main
beams of the roof. Hooked curiously, and
saw the eyes turn and the head move.
why, that is "a child cried in astonish-
ment. What else would it be?' the
mother asked. l went up to the little fig
ure which hung from the wall and inspect
ed it more closely. On nearer view. I
was impressed by the extreme untidiness
of the little creature | could not resist
asking if the mother often washed these
swaddled babies 'Washed!' almost
shrieked the mother, washed! what, wash
baby? You would kill it, .