Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-10
"Twect" Said The Canary.


who lives at the corner OF Clark and
Henry streets, in Brooklyn, owns q
charming canary bird which, like mo: t
of its race is both little and yellow. Al
precisely five minutes past l o'clock
The other afternoon this amiable bird
cscaped-new the coop, as il Were-and
in moment was breathing the free,
crisp air OF Brooklyn's streets. Ia front
of his masters house stands a tree, The
bare limbs of which invited tie canary
to rest his little wings. The canary ac-
cepted the invitation, and Jhat is where
our story begins.
The man with tne irascible temper
came out of the house with a ladder in
one hand and a broomstick and the
empty cage in the other. He placed
the ladder against the tree and began
to tie the cage - the end of the stick.
Here we have all the clements that are
necessary to attract crowd. In five
minutes half hundred small boys and
bewhskered boys were gathered
around, and women also stopped to see
what was going to happen.
"Tweot Tweet Tweet - said the
bird.
''oh, it a canary !" Look at the
canary !"
Say, mister, is he yours ?" 'Wot'll
We give me if ketch i'm fer ye?a
''How'd e get away
"'Get the he'll out of here" said the
joiner of broomstick and cage, ''or Ell
have you arrested"
When he had tied the cage securely
to one end of the stick, he mounted Tie
ladder and climbed up among the
branches. The crowd watched him
breathessly, wondering what lie was
going TO do. When he was within ten
feet of the canary he balanced himself
upon one of the heavier branches and
carefully raised the cage until its open
door was about a foot from the canary.
His idea was that The canary. prompt
ed by old associations, would immedi
ately fly into the cage, wherenpon he
would deity close the door By a quick
turn of the broomstick.
The crowd looked on and waited
"Wheet Wheel Wheel y whistled
the man.
bird.
"Pooty birdy, pooty birdy, pooty
birdy y coaxed the man.
"Tr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r Tweet Tweet Tr-
r-r-r Tweet y carollcd the bird.
The mans arm was growings II from
holding the cage, which was now be
ginning to feel like biz lump o.! lead
constantly growing heavier. The
crowd grew impatient.
"Hold the cage higher" suggested 4
policeman.
brighten him lit!le," put in one
man.
..Shake the tree, said enoshcr.
Put salt Gu his tail, piped little
boy
The man in the tree got so angry
that the branches trembled, ard the
bird flew to higher perch, carolling
blithely. With an explosion OF Ian
suage that would have terrified 4 sonl
less pure that the canary's be climbed
a few branches higher, and, after vio-
lent effort to control his feelings, held
up the cage as before.
This time the bird seemed to see it,
and noppcd toward it slowly and de-
liberately, hop and then long rest
until ii was very near the door. Then
it gave a long, merry Trr-r-r-r-r-r!
Tweet! Tweet y which meant, just US
plainly as words could have said,
'Maybe YOU think I'm going TO hop in,
but / amt" The man held up the
cage as long as he could.
as it he or a she?' asked some
body.
''it's it," said the policeman with
true Brooklyn wit.
The crowd laughed so hard that the
poor bird was frightened, and, with a
shrill ''tweet," flew from the tree and
swept down Henry street. IN an in
slant hundred men and boys
were running at full speed af-
ter him. The canary kept close
to the ground, and did not
hv very fast. Severa! times he darted
to right and to left, but for two blocks
he did not rest. Finally, however, he
settled upon Il doorstep. \ bic man
with red beard, one of those chaps
that always take the lead in great
emergencies, cried to the crowd to hold
back
.Youll scare the canary he said.
Stand back and let me get at him.
He advanced cautiously to 4 point
near the stoop and took oil his over
coat The bird chirruped with slee. The
man raised his overcoat, balanced it for
q moment, and then threw 1t quickly
upon the steps. His aim was good.
The coat spread out, completely cover
ing the spot which he had aimed at,
but the canary was no longer there. 1t
was flying swiftly up the street.
Leaving the born leader to pick up
his overcoat, the crowd pursued the lit
tie bird. At the corner of the street
the canary flew or fell-it seemed 70 be
rather weak-between two barr IS that
Law in front of q grocer's store Two
little BOYS who were in the van of the
crowd were the first 10 reach he spot.
There was a momentary struggle as
they stopped between the barrels An
instant later dirty little fis. holding
a fiuttering yellow thing, was held up
and an ear-piercing voice shrieked
sI've got 'im IN. ]. Sun.