The Colfax chronicle., 1890-12-27


wonderful birds performances that
Tanky confided to me. He rejoiced in
the name of Pete and soon grew quite
tame. He would hop all about the
room, perch on Tanky's head or shoul-
der, and back to his cage in the window.
she told me, much to the delight of his
dusky owner.
Well, the winter passed and Tanky
was always in her place at school, ex-
cept when the little old shoes ''dun had
to git mended-"
When spring came there was freshet
and the ''basin" where the tenement
people lived was overflowed. The peo-
pie were rowe6 from their poor shelters
in boats and on RATS. Then the water
partially subsidized and they went back
to their damp houses. The result was
of course much sickness and suffering.
One morning, in looking over my
flock that had just gathered after the
spring vacation I felt that some face
and bit of color was strangely lacking
gone. inquired OF the children but no
one seemed to know. Then noticed
Syila Pearl was gone, too
One afternoon soon afterward Sylla
Pearl came in, and without a word hand
ed me crumpled piece Of paper. and
stood stolidly waiting for me to read 1t.
/ unfolded it, and found scrawled in
lead pencil the following words: ''tech-
nh tanky's dun mighty bad pears like
she reckuns you's comm mos all de
ime misus lily livingstun." / did not
wait an instant, but FASTENED after
Sylla Pearl. At last was going to see
Tanky, but l turned my face toward the
tenement district with foreboding
heart. felt stricken, that l had in a
few busy days so forgotten my faithful
little Tanky. And had heard of tho
fever, too!
Sylla Pearl silently led the way.
Finally we came to what i recognized
as lyon house wild dab chimbley," and
was shown into room by Sylla Pearl.
There. on bed in the corner. lay Tan
ky. saw she was dying! The thin,
emaciated face. with it's dusky halo
above it. pressed against the white pill
low, the mournful, dark eyes, now un-
naturally large, the little hands NOV
ing to and fro, grasping the empty air,
and the head restlessly turing from
side to side-made a sad sight. Her
mother, looking thin and anxious, bent
over the bed lovingly and said, in low,
sweet-toned voice wonderfully like
Tanky's):
"Tanky, honey, techuh's dun come TO
see you. Oh, look up, honey, blessed
chiler'
At the sound OF her mothers voice
Tanky paused in her restless moving,
and turning her eyes full upon me, she
seemed to smile family, and then NUT.
tered, slowly and uncertainty:
''Techuh-dun-did- come to-ouh-
festibull."
Then her eyes closed wearily. The
only sound was the loud ticking of the
clock on the wooden shelf. Beside the
clock my eyes silently noted the pa
tient gilt eagle lying among Tanky's
ribbons. Little Pete, in the stiffness,
had tucked his head under his wing.
Suddenly the sun came forth from be-
hind q cloud. 1t shone in at the little
window near the foot of the bed. Tanky
opened her eyes. Her face lit up st the
golden spiendor of color. She feebly
stretched out both her dusky arms to-
ward the yellow light and slowly
beckoned the golden sunbeams toward
her. Then the light faded from her
face-the arms dropped hfeless, the
mournful, dark eyes closed, and little
Tanky was dead. The faithful eagle
was on guard no longer. Yellow Pete
could sleep on in his cage He need
sing no more gay welcomes for Tanky's
ears.
And yet, let us think happy little
Tsnky'-Jerqy FairmsR Smith. IN Sun