The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-09
COLES DRAKE.
A Patriotic Bird That Celebrated
the Glorious Fourth.

1t was the anniversary Of the declaration
of independence and in the morning at
that Poultry fancier Jake Cole sat in
slippered feet on the north side of his house
in the Aitamont Addition reading the
Realty Review.
There was a smile of contentment on Mr.
Coles face as he looked up in perusing the
paper and surveyed his possessions. In
front of him were many valuable 25-foot
town lots and large apricot orchard, from
which Mr.. Cole derived handsome income
this year. About his chair were fine speci-
mems of MiDorca and Andalusian breeds OF
poultry. There were also Leghorns, Ply
mouth Rocks, Cochins, Brahmas and even
a Gulnea-fowl was wallowing, under
Monterey cypress near by.
"Quack, quaek, quackl" and mon
strouS 1mperial Pekin drake came around
the house and proceeded TO drive the Guinea
from its retreat.
Hardly was this accomplished when Oscar
Cole. bright little fellow, came bounding
out of the house with several packages OF
frecrackers and lighted punk.
BE careful, said the fancier, land
do not set anything atire. What foolish
thing fre-crackers are. but then | like to see
the boys enjoy themselves. Why. when L
was boy back in Missouri l used to long
and long for the Fourth of July to come SO
could make noise. Now, Oscar, he care
full"
The little boy lighted "lady" cracker
and threw it down on hard beaten path.
There was a look of joyous expectancy on
his lace as the fuse of the cracker sZzled
and sputtered. But he was doomed to dis
appointment.
The cracker hadn't been on the path but
two seconds when the drake saw it. With
a low ''quack!" he made a rush for the ex-
plOsive; extended his neck, gave one
"gulp,' and it was gone. The cracker ex-
pl0ded in his throat with stitied report.
The drake shook his head while tears stood
in his eyes.
Jake dropped the Realty Review. placed
his elbow on his knees and his head on his
hands and eyed the drake closely.
Papa" said the boy anxiously, will the
Pekin catch fire?'
Il don't know. Give him another
cracker"
Oscar lighted common-size cracker and
threw 1t down in the path. The drake eyed
1t suspclOuSly for moment, gave quack
and gulp and it was gone.
The cracker might have been seen max
ing lis passage down the neck of the duck.
On reaching the craw 1t went off, for that
portion Of the body here the craw is was
very much extended for the moment, and
there was dull report. the Pekin was
thrown on his back. but he recovered
quickly, got up, poised his body in the air
and Topped his wings.
Give him one of your big ones, Oscar"
said his father.
An enormous red-head cracker was
lighted 1t was as large as Seyen-year-
old girls wrist.
No sooner had the red-head reached the
path than the drake went for it. lie had
great difficulty in getting it into his mouth.
but succeeded after one or TWO vain and
prolonged efforts
The drake rushed for the pond-for Mr..
Cole has one in his yard-and dove into the
water. He disappeared entirely. a sec
Ond alter his disappearance the surface OF
the water was.greatly agitated. Monstrous
bubbles came to the top to burst and
dense volume of smoke Il second later ap-
peared.
Finally the pond became tranquil when
Jake Coles drake came to the surface,
crawled out on the bank and spit out the
burning wrapper Of the red-head.
The drake, Mr.. Cole says, he procured
from V. b. Cobb, the well-known San Joa-
quin rancher.-Fresno Expostor, July 18th.