The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-19

Was Not Returned.
ycs York Ttma.
"Yes," said Major MeRdax, as he
gazod meditatively at his glass filled
with Albions chosen beverage, brandy
and soda, tasto for which he had i'm,
ported to this country with his English
wearing apparel. Eyes, there's no
doubt but that it's good yarn. but it
deals with snakes, Now, snake and
fish stories-l won't say whether Justly
or not-always meet with u certain
meen OF suspicion, and for myself !
must say that story is worth nothing
unless its vOracity is absolutely unim.
peachable1,,yes, sir! absolutely uRim'
peachable,"
Here junior and irreverent club
mate Uttered, The major glared at him,
and after II sip Mt his brandy and soda
to soothe his slightly rutitea temper
went on:
II had no experience with snakes
myself, nor do wish TO have. My OK
perienCeI, however, with beasts and
birds-I might add fishes, but wish to
lull ~ LON VI WINK SOlIOuHhSN WIN
tho ordinary piscatorial liar-are most
remarkable, and, | will make bold to
say, would ill large book. One in
particular occurs to my memory just at
this moment"
Several OF the majors hearers sud-
denly and simultaneously remembered
that they had important appointments.
Major Mendax, however, In addition to
his many military attributes, possesses
the magnetic orb OF that most famous
Of nautical gentlemen and yarn spin
ners. tho ancient mariner, and had no
difficulty in keeping them malcontents
in their seats.
ut happened in the Christmas OF
1887" said tho major, settling himself
in his "rocker." ~ was spending u
few weeks with some relatives in one
OF the southern counties OF England. 1t
was Christmas eve. was dressing for
dinner in my room, the windows OF
which looked out on the old.iashioned
English garden, in summer very
lennysonian idyl OF loveliness, but at
the time bleak waste OF snow.
"My thoughts were wandering, when
tiny tap, tap on my window awoke me
from my revere. Tho tapping contin-
ued. like the patter OF small hail, and l
threw up tho sash to sec what caused
the noise.
an hoped haf-frozen and most
disreputab!e buIlhnch, belated in the
winter weather, and n most miserable
contrast to the plump, rakish, stand.
and.deliver sort OF u figure wellto-do
bulliinCll cuts.
well, played tho good Samaritan
to tho little beggar. thaweI him out,
gave him his grub, and We soon got on
tho heat OF good terms.
"BullllnChes, you know, are birds
that, ut the expense OF good deal OF
time and patience, can DO taught to
whistle correctly various musical airs.
l have heard birds that were ablO to
whistle eight or ten different melodies
with accuracy.
1.-THE winter OF 1887 was long and SO.
we're. My internal rheumatism kept me
in tho house, aud my chief amusement
was acting us music teacher to my little
pet, who stuck staunchly by me. lie
made such progress that, by the time
my stay was over, my vanity as n tutor
and patriotism had tho satisfaction Of
leaving behind in the land of God Save
the Queen little ruddy-breasted rascal
that could pipe up THE Star Spangled
banner with the best of 'em."
Major MendaX paused solemnly and
took long drink, while u look OF sur
prise and rOliet that he had lot them
down so easily crept into the eyes OF
his hearers.
Don't stir, gentleman" proceeded
the major, "the cream OF my story il
yct to come. The Christmas Of 1883
also spent with my English kinsfolk.
On Christmas Eve l was dressing Tor
dinner when there came the same
tapping at my window that l had heard
exactly one year ago, but fur louder
this time. Threw up the sash as be-
forc, and there, gentleman, there on
the sill, on the word OF an officer and u
gentleman, was that identical bulhnch
whose life had saved tho previous
winter with three companions. There
was gratitude for you. and could have
cried, begad cried like child. When
those four bulltinches, standing on the
frosty sill that starry Christmas Eve,
piped as Christmas carol to the bene-
faCter OF one OF their race the The Star
spangled Banner in part song, too,
begad"
And tho major is still indignant be.
cause all his hearers vanished from the
smoking room, directly the story had
| ham fold in Tnnurniul ailnncn