The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-12-06


guarded moment OF acute grief told how
she had just parted with her bird to some
ono TO whom she owed great deal, and
that she kept this one feather as a me
mortal of her pet.
1.-THE French are nothing IL not senti-
mental" Mrs. E. Platt Clayton smiled
to herself. Aloud she repeated that she
hoped the kerchief would be forthcom-
ing the following evening in time to send
to Or. CrolIs bride elect. and then she
drove home to dress for the dinner and
the ball, carrying Natalie's grieved
mouth with her to be Incorporated in
the Vatican plaque representing Ariadne
deserted.
Now, Mr. Cumbersome Browns neu-
ralgia was worse that night than ever
before. At least SO he said He always
said his present attack surpassed its pre-
decessors and that it would be positively
the last one he could stand
All night long he used strong language
concerning DR.. Jobson, his physician,
and such of his friends as he could think
of at short notice Being bachelor he
had no women folk to make miserable,
for his housekeeper, merely remarlxing
Its half temper went to bed.
In the morning it was no better, and
DIR. Jobson came and made Light of it,
which made it all the worse. And
there was Cachette on the table warbling
fit to break his little throat.
All at once Mr.. Cumbersome Brown
glared at the songster Mrs. JONES'"
said he, with as much dignity as his fan
nels would permit, take that murderous
animal away. Its shrieks win split my
head open" They couldn't split it
shut" thought Mrs. Jones, and she bore
away Cachette, who was thrilling his
high HIS like one possessed She carried
the cage to the kitchen, which was at
the top of the house, in the approved
fashion. But Mr.. Cumbersome Brown
had built the house for somebody else
and not himself, and every sound in the
kitchen Aoated down the dumbwaiter
and spread over the floors below. So he
heard Cachette in the kitchen.
..That French girl shall have warning
Twill do. Icaught this cold standing in
the street while Fanny Ferguson talked
about her Indians and tried to get sub
scription out of me. Fanny shall have
the Bunker girls bird; it viii remind her
of the war yells of the Cherokees in their
wild woods"
He wrote few complimentary words
on a card, pressed the electric button and
had Mrs. jones with him in no time.
'sThis card and that bird for Miss Fer
guson this minute, " he said.
sit couldn't be the other minute ]
suppose" thought Mrs. Jones, and she set
about executing the commission, not
without envy of Cachette's loud voice
and corresponding responsibility.
Miss Ferguson, who still looked almost
young behind a veil and who was ac-
quainted with the size of the bank ac-
counts OF several unmarried men OF
Browns age, was sending out circulars
begging for coal for the Cherokee Nation
when the gift arrived
"My dear Mr. Brown" she wrote on
one of the circulars, your lovely
thought is singing its sweetest while
pen these lines. Interpret its meaning,
do you think? suppose birds have a
meaning, a language, as flowers have.
What is the meaning of a canary bird?
have always been SO practical myself
have given little time to the study Of
poetry. With you it is different; your
houses are frozen music. But come to
me and tell me in person the meaning Of
gift of warbling nature. All, how
| wish my Indians might hear It'll / send
you a circular A few tons of coal
would be warmly appreciated by the
poor, neglected children of the forest
and by yours devotedly, Frances Fergu
son."
She had Cachette one hour Then the
postman came, and he did not bring her
any subscriptions. Loving the Indian
as she did she could not fail to be gifted
with an active imagination, and she
began to think there might be sinister
Interpretation of Browns gift-he sent
her brazen canary instead of offering
himself as golden goose.
Besides, she now recollected that he
had said yesterday when she preached
the subject of coal for the Chrokees,
Whats the matter with the children of
the forest burning wood?" quite in para
phrastic emulation of Marie Antoinette's
wonder concerning the people who were
starving for bread not eating pastry.
Surely Brown meant something subtle,
he had held off so long as it was and not
met her advances with becoming spon-
taneity.
Mary" said she in gratery way to
her maid, that bird is just shoveling
gravel down my back till my spine is
like garden walk. can't go to see old
Mrs. Thumbstall today, I'm too busy.
Garry this bird to her with my compli-
ments and headache that has come on
suddenly. Tell her to give the little
thing away if she doesn't like gravel
down her back"
".
This is what was said by old Mrs.
Thumbstall, who gave large subscrip-
lions to charities in promises for post
mortem carrying out:
MARY, tell dear Miss Ferguson shall
not forget her for this sweet tribute to-
ward Frightening up an old woman's
life. / am not ungrateful, and those
who are kind to me shall--think of.