The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-07-03
A CANARY WITH TALENT
HE GREW UP AMONG FOUR GOOD
NATuREO BACHELORS.

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m.g -
ne ''''" '"N "" ivy
"a"s aus '"'" wa" ''""'
taohed TO 'ha birh' ana when rhey
Disagreed One of Them Stole Him,
T., o,,do5 o,oa in tha ton flat % a
a, ~. o,-.o,,.l -. /.
o'S n'"s0 :" ,''''
httie pail OF yeiiow ieathers that is car'u
Tor as tenderly as any bapy IN the lana'
1t is only very tiny canary bird, with
the unpretentious name Of Dick, but in
spite of its size and its name 1t is the
master OF great wealth OF music.
Dick never knew the pleasures OF hb-
erty, having been born OF captive pm
rents in another gilded cage IN another
time when he was o months old he
never did anything that was worthy of
especial attention. Then he was re-
moved from the parental cage and prl-
vate cage was bought for him, and he
was sent down town under the charge
of harum scarum boy rs a present to
four young men who lived in fiat in
Ninth street.
He was accepted as matter OF cour-
tesy, and the cage which imprisoned him
was hung on,a string in rear window,
and the servant was instructed to feed
him whenever it became necessary. The
young aen were free and easy, and it
was their habit to lean out of this win
dow In their idle moments and whistle
at Blind Tom, who used to exercise on
the rear piazza of house on Eighth
street, and at other times to whistle at
the neighbors' daughters in the nearby
buildings, 80,
BIND Tom responded with whri-
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-
slonaIly played ON tin flute, while an
other whlstled an accompaniment.
DICK BEGINS TO SING.
Nobody PAID any attention to Dick
until one morning when the sun shone
on MIN, making his yellow feathers glow
IKE FURNISHED lump OF Soid, he trllled
IL bar or Two sweet enough to attract the
young mems attention. one OF them
whlstlea, ana he instantly caught the
reffalh ana turned IL promptly. Moth
ing more was needed 10 make MN
great favorlte, ana one OF the young men
poked finger at nm playfully. DICK
did not tlutter away IN fear, but hoped
toward the finger, and with outstretched
wings, picked at 1t hercely, and at the
same time pecked his way into the hearts
OF all the occupants OF the fiat
After that incident 1t was wonder
that Dicks health and morals were not
ruined, for the young men insisted
on feeding INN all sorts OF stuff and
whlstled all the vulgar airs of the day.
But no matter what KIND OF food was
oHered 10 MN, he ate III promptly and
seemed to thrive, and no matter how
vulgar the ar that was whistled, he re-
peated 1t 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 a great expression OF
wonder III his little bead like eyes. Then
he plped forth few low strains, flew to
the table, and began to peck loaf OF
:. bread. =.
\ Il wish he was bigger, so could pet
nm, SAID one OF the Dig men.
Every morning afterward Dick mad
Dreakfast with the young men. lie
would hop on the table, sampllng every
thing he came across, and bathing fire.
quently IN the soplets OF Ice water.
BREAKFAST over, DICK would ny Dack 10
MS cage, ana gettlnS INTO the nttle swing
at the top OF 1t, would sway madly to
and fro, and sing everything he knew.
That was regarded as an offering OF
praise, and quiet relgned during the per-
formance.
DICKS PRESENT HOME.
The trlal came, when the young men
failed to agree, and 1t 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 a moment, and the young
men kept together for month longer
than they intended in order not to be
separated from their pet.
Finally one of the young men DELHI
erately carried Dick away and kept him
in hiding for several months, and guard
ed him as carefully as a miser watches
over his money. Then he rented the fiat
in Sixteenth street, and few nights age
invited his former companions to see