The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-07-09

weakness, partly through passionD fe-
male ducks at that time were not very
closely watched). responded to his So
licitations, and brought forth twelve
unfortunate youngsters that never saw
their father. Such was the sad conse-
qucncc of an ill-matched union! NV
father. one Of these dozen ducklin9s,
was. without contradiction, the clever
est of his family; but, alas! by birth
right he possessed a nature restIt IS,
adventurous, and. if may say so, com
hative also. which, aided by his intel
| lrct, threw him into journalism. In
SO noisy 4 calling manners were not at
that period what they are now: laXity
of moral principles was to certain eX-
tent excused, and, if my father mace
himself Il reputation as Il witty writer,
thanks to the brlliance and the cum
| ming Of his pen, it is very certain also
that he made himself remarked because
of the irreguIaritv of his behavior, to
the end Of his days remaining ignorant
of the most rudimentary family ties.
81 came into the world at random,
so to speak, betwiNt Il couple of with
cred reeds: chance was my father, and
my mother. But away with such
memoir, $! | know nothing whatever
concerning my mother, sir; and, to
make long story short, | was hatched
by a hem"
Calm yourself duck" said |, in a
kindly voice to my companion, whose
own voice began to q:liver with emo
ton; "plcase do calm yoursclf!''
Gazing at me fixedly, he continued
as follows: Il understand you: YOU
have great mind to laugh at the idea
of such thoughts as these agitating 4
duck heart. You are used to regard.
ing us solely from the standpoint OF
your own brutal selfshncss, and the
only question that you put to your
selves when You happen to see one OF
us pass 10y is: Will he be good with
olives, or better with green peas?''
How did YOU learn these things?" |
FASTENED to inquire do not, | be.
secch you. believe that
Il have acquircd," he interrupted
"a sorrowtul experience, sir, and know
much as a result of much observation.
| have hehcld human vanity, uphold
ing itself upon Il pretended royalty
exercise infamous tyranny in the ami
NAL Kingdom
ALLOW me, duck, to say that, fol
my part
''Consider nothing as personal in my
remarks, returned my friend while 4
bitter smile stole over his bill "Men
to excuse their cruelty in their own
eyes, refuse us soul, 4 mind, and q
heart. Fools! Do they themselves
know what they are talking about;
They judge our sensations according
to their own. our lives according tC
their lives; and, because we do not &C
into politics, and because we eat grass
they suppose us to be only half alive
They and we start from absolutely op
positc principles, and it is to be feared
that we shall never understand one an
other They are ignorant of all that
constitutes our pleasures and our pains
We likewise are ignorant of. and lightly
esteem, what causes their Joys and
their sorrows. Last month saw pass
through the meadow the village mavOr
who dwells about two hundred steps
from here. 1t was the day after he
had been decorated; he thought he was
alone, took short steps, and smiled de
lightfnlly when he gazed on his but
ton-holc, wherewith two of his fingers
kept fidyeting. He was having {
glorious time, and, when he drew neal
me, as was doing in the broad sun
shine and having 4 glorious time, ht
looked at me pityingly. and held out
his lannon's ribbon toward me, cXclaim
ing: 'Pohh! He had permitted him
self to believe that red scares all ami
mails SO here we have a man who dc
spiscs me profoundly, because the eros.
of the Legion Of Honor, which makes
him thrill with delight, affords me onl,
4 di>agrecahlc feeling. But could no
| rcproach him for his ignorance of TIL,
delights of Il stroll amid the gras; ant
Il nap in the sun. Of whole world {
things, i'll fact, whcrcwi.h | am thor
oughly acquainted! 1t is likely
should make poor enough mayor,
my friend added, with a somewhat gut
tnral laugh; but Mr.. Mayor yondcr
vou will agree, would make Il most de
plorah!e duck, and be the laughing
stoc.> Of the whole brook
SO, then, YOU do not desire his re,
ribbon, my lricnd!"
"Ah, allow me, on the contrary. tt
say that want it very badly, so as t.
attract the frogs, of which | am eX
/ trcmely fond
! We laughed full minute heartily
enough over the idea; and, surely, my
duck 5 mirth was not without reason
Presently he waddIed down to til,
brooksidc, which, just in that spot, i.
carpetcd with fine sand; advancing i'll
to the water and protruding his neck
he bent his hill down and drank nnisily