The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-22

! not more patient than the pigeon, and So
sustained and soothed by the unwavering
| affection of Mickey, the days passed too
| quickly to please the boy until the spring
had gone and the warmth of summer
coaxed the cherry trees to blossom and
wooed the fields to robe themselves in
green. And when smiling June came trip
ping over the hills into the little valley,
her warm breath conjured melody In the
threats of birds made the brooks babble,
and the goat frisky. And whisper! the re-
vivifying influence of spring awakened
the dormant maternal instinct in the
breast of the pigeon, and she showed
desire to set" Instead of flying up to
the gable of the shanty and preening her
plumage in the sunlight, as she was wont
to do she remained in the coop sitting In
patient expectation upon two of Mickey
biggest marbles. This mental and physi-
cal attitude of the pigeon caused Mickey
much annoyance; for while The bro evil
IDENTIFY supposed she was procreating mar
bles she repulsed caresses and refused 10
eat the daintes shook from the Finn ia
BILE cloth. In his distress Mickey went to
his mother for advice. In justice to the
maternal Finn 1t is necessary TO stare
that 'swintelm ntalism" was not one OF
her weaknesses. She regarded her boys
pet purely from a pigeon-pot-pie stand
D -int and this economic view colored her
remarks when she said:
Lave her set me boy Sure you can
play wild the goat while she's raisin
childre. But there's no use for her to
be wastin' her time on marbles. Now,
as you have no pigeons eggs faith twill
do no lharrum to put a hin's egg under
her She'll niver know the difference
and her mindll be aisy There's two
cents. Go down to Brady's and get an
egg out of the barrel and mind you don't
get wan o thin eggs that's made by
macheenery."
| Mickey was delighted with the idea
and, running down to the grocery, he
bought an egg and placed II beneath the
pigeon. The egg was one OF unusual size
and Mrs. Finn was doubtful II the
warmth OF the pigeons small body would
be sufficient to hatch it out. But in or
der to aid the pigeon in her maternal
endeavor Mickey and his mother stuffed
an old tin wash basin with soft woods and
hannels taken from the ragbag. In this
homey incubator the pigeon was INSTALL
ed 1t was two days before the pigeon
could fl her small, warm body, TO the big
hens egg, but after much querulous COO
Ping, twisting and turning, she settled
down to business and started TO become
foster mother in earnest.
And now that the pigeon had gone into
temporary seclsuion, the goat took Mickey
back into his confidence again and permit
ted his head to be scratched, while the
| crow perched upon the shoulder lately
usurped by the pigeon, and all went mar-
| rlly as a fairy dancing upon moonbeam.
The ensuing three weeks were filed with
| interest 10 little Mike. Every afternoon
when he came home from school he lift-
cd the pigeon carefully from the egg. TO
see II the rats had invaded the coop during
| his absence and deyoured the embryo
But each time. as the pigeon cooed n
Suffering protest against the liberty and
readjusted herself, Mickey ran into the
! shanty to carry tho glad tidings OF Sc
cnrity ana serenity 10 his mother.
Meanwhile there was a good deal Of
| speculation In Mickey's mind AZ 20 the
sex. heredity and general character OF
the contents Of the egg she'll; a delicious
mystery A. 10 whothe1 an infant bantam.
bunch Of animated down representing
abe oochin-cbipa breed, or a youthfu