The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06
SPARROW JIM.v
Boys Loyalty to Grants Memory
FOrbids His killing the Pests.

Boys Loyalty to Grants Memory
FOrbids His killing the Pests.
'Td be ashamed to shoot sparrows! and
I don't care cent how much you call me
Sparrow Jim. eitheri III bet there isn't
one of this crowd can tell who set the first
English sparrow loose in these grounds!''
That's rich Some fool! Father offers
us 10 cents apiece for all Wen shoot, and
says the man who turned 'em loose in
Washington ought to be hung!'
I'd hate to be so ignorant! Guess you
don't know old Peter who was gardener
at the White House long before Mr.. Lin
coins time. l can introduce you to him
myself"
School was out. A group of boys leaned
on the south fence of the White House
grounds, gossipping.
1t was President Grant himself" de-
clared jim. "He let the little fellows fly
night under these caves, and In these old
trees, and there they are yet. despise a
boy thatn kill EN-
Wei well, Jim, go on; however did
such great man as Grant do such fool
thing?'
one day Peter was working the flowers
and the President said: Peter. come here
w men he got up to the porch he saw a
large champagne basket fun of some
thlng, and the President said: Peter,
some friend has sent us these sparrows
from England: they'll eat the bugs, and
be company for other birds. Take EN-
out on the lawn and let 'em loose
Feter says, I'd much rather wrung their
heeks, and / mentioned to Mr.. Grant,
them burned things Is worse nor no birds
at all They are wurthless in our nice
parks, That's just the way the English
people does, If 1 do say il myself, am a
porn Englishman. too They ups an sends
over to iaGF uyha f ON n
death"
The boys laughed at Jims good imitation
OF Old Peters story.
There was that champagne busket filled
with Them pesky sparrows, a-squakin and
a-gabblin like a Presb'ter'in 'sembiy. 1
thought when 1 left the old country fifty
I'VE years ago I'd seen the last of EN-.
an now they're a follerin' me like a
ehost OF course, 'twant none O. my bus
mess onjectin' When the President Of
'uese United States says thing, it GIN
ny goes thout further concentrations
Lhey're good for nothin' 'cept one thing
mats pot pies, and l said, Jes' you say
Inc word Mr.. President; III have you a
POT pie better'n honey
He laughed a little an said so long
as Ia give him quail he wouldn't kick.
ieaVin me the basket; so l knowed 1t
da then Mr.. Grant went into the house
wa nc no use, for when Ulysses Grant
said thing he meant IL right from the
collar! So | said to Peter: Peter, take
en- m, along an quit fussn.'
Iher' was thirty pairs in that basket
look EN- down on that lawn, an opened
,te door, an they hoeked out in a
pahch, an took to them ellums an ma
PIES like they was born in EN-, an in half
an hour they was all at work buildin
rests! That was in II, an now look at
I'm! pointing to the ivies, roofs and
uSes 'They's Millions Peter sighed.
IN brief Jim told Peters story to the
Joys, who listened attentively.
mat don't change my mind about the
o'ments" said Sam, and I'll bet Grant
IVed yea to see the day he was sorry"
.,,f ~ GU are much mistaken" Jim added
ne very last time he walked through
Nnese grounds Gen. Beale was with him,
oud Gen. Grant said: Our busy little
Sparrows seem 70 be a despised race. Now
IKE theml They do make so much out
~ their small opportunities, and think
me IS worth living under all circuu~
p rather heard him say that, and after
IN. Grant died. father told It at a Grand
G cSainy meeting, and they said: Just like
Zen. Grant"