The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-02-07
THE LAST OF THE TEN.
BY BOHEMIAN.

were down at the river WaSnlnS; llJtle
|Paola was in the field watching the
single peacock, all that remained of the
gallant and strutting ten that had once
been his especial charge. The grand
mas heart was sad, for it was eight
wears since her son had been outlawed
and had gone to hide in the mountains
that overlooked the blue Mediterran-
can. The mother was pensive because
she knew not when she would hear the
crv: "He is taken! he is taken" The
little daughter was sorrowful because
she had to kneel there by the river on
Christmas, for they were too poor to
remain idle even on holiday. Paola
was discontented: his beautiful flock
of proud peacocks had been stolen;
only one had been left by the brigands
when they made their last descent from
the mountains. Their goat, too, had
disappeared. In the solitude of the
mountain side near the shores of the
Elovely sea the lad reclined in the sun
shine with his one peacock ambling
haughtily around him like some prince
ly dame with profound disbelief in the
saying about fine feathers. How grand
she was, this splendid creature, with
bier feathers like rainbows in color and
her tread that of an overconscious
queen! The boy bent in alteration
before her. GLOW splendid you are!"
be said.
Yes; it was true. Little Paola adored
This, the last of his pets. The loss OF
the others had made it more dear to
him. They had once had two or three
goats and he had little hut all to HIM
self overlooking the sea. Here he slept
in storm and sunshine. A peacock
may seem an odd sort of pet, but it is
none the less true that species of de
Fotion existed between the disdainful
bird and the peasant lad. The latter
was the admirer; the former looked
npon him with superior condescension.
When it rained the boy took the last
of the flock to his hut, where there was
barely room for both of them within.
The lad, it should be said, had once been
levoted to a little, lazy, unfortunate
donkey, but it was nothing compared
to this affection. A donkey, he told
himself, was well enough in it's way,
with it's red tassels and bright harness,
but it was not to be mentioned in the
same category with this gorgeous and
overwhelming creature whose attire
was so bright and glowing that no
princess in the world would compare
with it. He guarded it as the apple of
his eye, and granny said he had rather
live with his gay and disdainful friend
than with them, which probably was
true. Granny was very discerning
old lady, but she was mournful COM
gpanion, for she often rocked to and fro
and lamented their hard lot. Such be-
gwailings were not cheering, and Paola
spreferred the mountain side, the shade
of the olive trees, the beach running
down to the caressing sea, the blue sky
that changed at sunset and-above all
the last of the ten.
But OH that day when granny sat
spinning and the mother and daughter
were washing, a misfortune befell
Poala. A priest who passed him called
out:
"Paola, are you not coming to
church,"
81 cannot" was the reply. cit would
run away" ct" was the last of the
flock
81 wonder why peacocks don't go
to church," thought the lad. ''Such
magnificent beings must have a soul,
IF l have, who am ugly, ragged, dirty
and and-hungry."
This problem occupied his atten-
|tion for some time and he glanced with
|commiseration at his gorgeous COM
'panion whose feathers just then had as
|sumed their most imposing appear
|ance. 1t was a new aspect of their
Relationship. Heretofore he had been
the humble one, mutely adoring; now
q sense of superiority swept over him
'nnd he pityingly surveyedhis feathered
Friend. But the latter was as dis
{lainful as ever. 1t seemed a hardened
sinner who cared not whether or no
1T Haunted its gaudy feathers through
the golden gates. Don't pity me; I'll
have good time while I'm here" it
seemed to say. "Just watch me strut
round and admire myself" And the
boy grieved greatly. But it's exulta-
ION was of brief endurance. A shad-
ow fell upon them and harsh voice
vas heard:
Hello, boy!"
The lad looked up and saw fierce
bewhiskered man whose aspect would
ave terrified almost anyone.
'How do you do, SIR" said Paola,
politely. you're a brigand, aren't
4ou?
~, =,
you've guessed it. Now don't cry
ent, yOungster. If you do, I'll wiring
our neck. Besides, it would do you
20 good for this is lonesome spot"
what do you want?"
For answer the man seized the pea
eek, killed it and strobe off with it,
Ieaving the lad weeping as if his heart
Mould break. He was alone in the
#prld, for after all his home was no
Eome, and he preferred his hut of
shes to the tiny, stuffy house of
ono, where grandam was always
Epmbling. Sadly the sea moaned at
- feet. 1t seemed to say: "You have
81 your last friend, little boy; first
|''ey took your donkey, then your
at and now the last of your beautiful
81" The world little knows how
<Ne heart of a lad may be bound up in
pet. When he grows up stronger
sion may consume him, but not
III or sweeter than this devotion for
#nmb creature. 1t is, often, the ideal
tonic devotion. He shields and