The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-23
II Pelican Panic,
Or the Appalling UppiShneSS of Billy.


and timid brothers demonstrated with
him he tainted them with being tied to
their mothers apron strings-Or some
thing to that effect-and went off as fast
as his little legs could carry him.
When the mother pelican came home
there was a dreadful time, as you may
imagine. When she found out the facts
OF the case she flew here and there utter
ing hoarse cries of distress. She hurried
all around the little island, but in vain;
he was not to be seen. Then, charging
the others to remain where they were,
she FASTENED to the old trysting place,
where she felt sure of finding her mate
enjoying a quiet visit with his crOnies
As Il happened, he was alone, stretched
comfortably upon the green sward, tax
ing IN the peaceful beauty of the
scene.
DrOwsy as he was, the distracted ap-
pearance of his mate, as she struggled
breathlessly up the bank, caused him to
open his eyes IN alright
What is il, my dear? What is it?
What has happened?' he asked in sus-
pense, waiting impatiently for hEr'-cU
get her breath.
"Oh, my dear! Our darling, our pre-
ciOus little Billyi" she gasped
You alarm me, she cried. What Is
wrong with Billy? and his anxious face
confirmed her suspicion that Billy was
his faVOrite.
He is gOneT' she exclaimed in a de-
spairing whisper, and 1 can not find
him"
When she had told him all, he said,
soOthingly:
Keep up your courage, my dear, and it
will all be well. We win find him, 1 am
sure, and led her back to the nest, where
he inquired more carefully into the mat
/ ter. The young peicans gave him a true
account of their brothers dOings, with
/ holding none Of his Unhlial speeches.
''UnfratefUl young wretch his father
said, and would have added more in the
same strain had not his mate checked
/ him with an observation, which, translat-
/ ed into English, means:
Boys viii be boys
am not acquainted with the pelican
rendering of the prOverb. She also dark
! " limited that the time was not to far dis
t tant in the past when ne himself had
/ been guilty of as grave If not worse mis-
! demeanOrs, whereUpon he looked very
glum, indeed, and the young pelicans
/ stared as If they could not believe their
/ ears.
1t was getting along toward night and
1 no time was to be lost. They were just
| about starting upon a tour of discovery
! when a familiar, shriil little cry was
/ heard near at hand
'Oh, my darling! my darling There ne
is!'' cried the Overjoyed mother.
Sure enough. Billy, very weary little
! pelican, Waddled haltingly toward them,
glad enough to hide himself under the
mother wings.
/ Come, sir, give an account of yourself
! Where have you beenF' sternly queried
the father.
over there" answered Billy, rather
vaguely
Why didn't you answer when I call
ed ?" asked his mother.
! Guess ] was asleep" answered Billy.
1T was so far 1 got tired. I'm tired
yet"
Co to bed this minute, sir" said the
father pelican, in a tone which made
them all tremble, "and without your sup
per, sir he added.
I'm not hungry said Billy. I found
a lovely green frog IL water hole. 1t
was delicious.
"a frogT' screamed the mother, in hor-
F0r you bad childi You know / never
allow you to eat anything but fish. And
I'm sure, Billy" she added, tearfully
you have always had plenty to eat I've
never neglected my children; no one can
accuse me of that. We pelicans are SAID
to be the most devoted of parents It has
even been said that we feed our children
with the blood from our own breasts.
Times have never been so hard with us
as to make that necessary. but l would do
la great deal for my children and so would
your father. Promise never to be naughty
again. my SON.
Billy readily promised, for he hated ser
mons, and he was very sleepy, and peace
reigned once more in the bosom of that
pelican family