Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-02-02

$500 SNhbA VI
else.
Like every gentleman Of refined
tastes, he kept himself sc~rupulously
clean. II he had a chance, he took a
thorough-going bath several times a
day, holding his head under water and
giving his neck and r a rubbing
with his foot, a thing | never saw any
other bird do. As he dried himself in
the sun, every glossy feather was laid
in its place, and his toe-nails were,
one by one, carefully cleaned.
Jack was a dainty feeder, too. 1t
seemed almost a miracle that he was
so strong and active, he ate so little.
He was very fond Of fresh meat, but
took only a small morsel at u time,
holding it in his claws, and eating it in
the most delicate fragments.
Jack had been in the house about a
week. was in an adjoining room on
some house-keeper's errand, when l
heard an agonized ''Y-e-o-u-wm
"Some n is killing the cat.' |
cried, and rushed to the rescue. There
was no to be seen but Jack, stand
ing on one leg on a high shelf, pulling
his white eyelids over his eyes in n
droll way he had, saying plainly
enough; Didn't | fool you, thought"
| took the joke with great enjoy
ment e his c~leverness, and went
back TO my work. In a few minutes
might have thought Jacks room
held u small m%enagerie. There was
the spiteful bow-wow-wow of q small
dog who is being tormented, the neigh
ing OF a horse, the growing OF rooster,
the cluckiug OF hens ana the mewing
OF cats, interspersed with explosive
sounds, like the pulling of corks, all
ending up with n derisivc ha. ha! ha!
was speechless with delight and
amazement at such an unexpected
show Of talent, and stood in silence by
the door waiting for the next. Moth
ing more was heard. After two or
three minutes some one said, in a
wheedling, cOaXing voice: Come on,
Jack! come on, Jack! Come on here!'
There" thought |, ''some boy is
trying to get him out through the win
dow just as | expected" and | tip
toed to the door and opened it sudden
ly, to take the culprit in his guilt.
No one there but Jack, sitting on
the shelf looking solemn and indiffer-
ent,
The rest of the family were incredu-
lous when | told them what | had
heard, and made some general re-
marks about the power OF imagina-
ton; but before long we all OF u had
our ears tickled with II good many of
these funny rehearsals. But we had
to take our pleasure on the sly, for as
soon as Jack knew any II wa listen
ing to him, he was silent. He had one
of those rare natures which delight in
art for its " sake, and not because
OF the public admiration which it en-
cites.
When he intended to give his full
programme, he usually began with a
loud screech, which was Il signal for
every one who was within hearing to
come to the basement stairs and listen.
But frequently he practiced only Il
part of his repertoire. He would bark
for fifteen or twenty minutes, until he
was so hoarse he could hardly speak.
Or would hear him rafting around
among his bottles, pulling corks"
and saying. Come on, Jack! come on,
Jack!" with a great variety of inflec-
tions and emphases.
As time went on, Jacks Unborn love
OF mischief made us a great deal of
trouble, though it never for a moment
lost its charm.
1t was no longer safe to leave any
small object lying about, for Jack was
sure to pick it up slyly, and lay it
away % carefully that no one was
likely to see it again.
Yet he had his preferences ever In
thieving. He was specially fond Of
snatching ~lead-pencils. The first thing
he did was to snap off the point, and
then, with two strokes of his power
full bill, he would split it in two. He
was always scolded for this, but it
made no impression upon him.
He would give a few harsh croaks,
and walk off with IN impudent Airt of
his tail; for if he was thoroughly con-
WINGED OF any thing, it was that men
were an Inferior race, existing for the
sole purpose of keeping things com
Portable for crows.
When the spring opened, we turned
him out of doors, and his happiness
was complete. He chose a large pine
tree near the house for his abode, and
though he wandered all over the yard,
this was his place Of refuge. his re-
hearsal hall, his chamber OF sleep and
meditation.
He went wild with glee on the first
s%unshiny days. hanging down from q
high limb with both feet, while he
swayed up and down, and filled the air
with his barking, moving, neighing
and laughing.
Rainy days were a special delight to
him. He went trailing through the
wet grass, shaking his feathers and
croaking to himself, splashing in the
tub set under the wood-house caves
until he was wet to the skin.
Sometimes when | went out to call
on him he was nowhere to be found. |
chirped and whistled and called, but
no Jack. just as | was well out OF
sight on my way back to the house. he
would scream out. probably from the
top Of the tree: Come on Jack, Come
on. Jack! Come on. here, Ha-ha-
ha-a!"
But usually he was delighted to see
me, and vas ready for a game, for he
was a very sociable bird. His ~favorite
game was Catch" He challenged
me by picking up pieces of sticks and
stones and tossing them about.
II ] said. "All right. Jack, catch it!'-
he stood off fifteen or twenty feet and
couUht in HE hill any thino 4 ,brou. ,o