The Dickinson press., 1891-07-04

1t IS only very tiny canary bird, with
The unpretentious name of Dick, but in
spite of its size and its name it is the
master of IL great wealth of music
Dick never knew the pleasures of lib
erty, having been born of captive pa
rents i'll another gildcd cage i'll another
big flat farther up town. Up to the
time when he was months old he
never did anything that was worthy of
especial attention. Then he was re-
moved from the parental cage and u pri-
vate cage was bought for him, and he
was sent down town under the charge
of IL harum scarum boy as II present to
four young men who lived in a flat in
Ninth street.
He was accepted as Il matter of cour-
tcsy and the cage which imprisoned him
was hung on Il string i'll Il rear window,
and tho servant was instructed to feed
him whenever it became necessary. The
young men were free and easy, and it
was their habit to lean out of this win
dow i'll their idle moments and whistle
mt Blind Tom, who used to exercise on
the rear piazza of house on Eighth
street, and at other times to whistle at
the ncighbors' daughters in tho nearby
buildings.
Blind Tom responded with a whirl-
wind of music ON the piano, and the
neighbors' daughters frequently showed
their appreciation of the attention be-
slowed on them by the young men by
singing. One of the young men occa-
sionally played on a tin flute, while an
other wlistled an ;lccompaniment.
DICK BEGINS TO SING.
Nobody paid any attention to Dick
until ono morning when the sun shone
on him, making his yellow feathers glow
like a FURNISHED lump of gold, he trilled
II bar or two sweet enough to attract the
young mems attention. One of them
whistled, and he instantly caught the
refrain and turned it promptly. Moth
ing more was needed to make him Il
great favorite, and one of the young men
polled IL finger at him pl;lyfully. Dick
did not flutter away in fear, but hoped
toward the finger, and with outstretched
wings, picked at it tiercely. and at the
same time pecked his way into the hearts
of all the occupants of the flat.
After that incident it was n wonder
that Dicks health and morals were not
ruined, for the young men insisted
on feeding him all sorts of stuff and
whistled all the vulgar airs of the day.
But no matter what kind of food was
offered to him, he ate it promptly and
seemed to thrive, and no matter how
vulgar the air that was wlistled, he re-
peated it with sweetness and clearness
that would have filled the authors soul
with delight.
One morning the door of Dicks cage
was opened, and he came out and looked
about him with IL great expression of
wonder i'll his little bead like eyes. Then
lie piped forth Il few low strains, flew to
the table, and began to peck u loaf of
bread.
II wish he was bigger, so l could pet
him." said one of the big men.
Every morning afterward Dick had
breakfast with the young men. He
would hop Oh the table, sanlpling every
thing he came across, and bathing fire.
quently in the goblets of ice water.
Breakfast over, Dick would fly back to
his cage, and getting into the little swing
at the top of it, would sway 1nadly to
and fro, and sing everything he knew.
That was regarded as al Offering of
praise, and quiet reigned during the per-
formance.
DICKS PRESENT HOME.
The trial came, when the young men
failed to agree, and it was resolved to
sever the family. Each of them was
willing that the other should take every
thing else i'll the flat if they would give
Dick to him. But that was not to be
thought Of for u moment, and the young
men kept together for a month longer
than they intended in order not to be
separated from their pet.
Finally one of the young men delib-
erately carried Dick away and kept him
in hiding for several months, and guard
ed him as carefully as miser watches
over his money. Then he rented the fiat
in Sixteenth street, and u few nights ago
invited his former companions to see
Dick. AS he ushered his guests into the
hall they were greeted with burst of
music. They recognized the voice of
Dick. The moment they entered the
room where the little songster was he
flew as near them as he could and cooed
softly and ruftled his feathers gently.
There may be persons in the world
who would scout the suggestion of a
bird remembering faces for so long {
time, but there is not the slightest doubt
that Dick remembered the young mel
and that he was welcoming them will
all his heart. During all the time they
were in the flat Dick sang all the OLE
tunes. He stopped only when one o1
them spoke to him, and then he would
be silent and cock his little head on on
side and peep intelligently.
The young men readily accepted al
invitation to remain all night, and tn
next morning before they were out Q
bed they heard the magic music of tn
little songster. At breakfast he hoppe
ON the table and topped in all thei
glasses of water in order to let them Sc
that all were dear to him. Before tn
three visitors left the man who had stole
Dick from them made each one prolnis
that he would not attempt to steal tn
bird.-New York Sun.
Not q Theory.
"Do you believe man sprang from tn
ape?'
"No; but l believe woman spring
from the 1no1lse-in fact, I've seen he
do t."-Harpex's Bazar.
Although cookery is proverbially
French art, Paris had no school Of cool
cry worthy the name until very recen
ly. Lectures are now given in the RI
Bonaparte, with practical dcmonstr;