The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-19
PEGGOTTY.
The True Story of a Little
MOcking Bird.
BY BELLE MOSES.

by BELLE MUSES..
Peggotty was delighted with the new
house! 1t was large and airy. with
broad pillared verandas and odd pro-
jecting windows, and shadowy caves;
just the kind that Peggotty preferred
for his own use, when he was not hop
ping about, upon his one leg, in and
out of the many hooks and corners,
into which he was continually poking
his inquisitive bill; hitherto he had led
very lonely life, in the beautiful
quiet country, so that the unusual stir
of building naturally reused his curlos-
ity.
When tiny fellow he had fallen out
of the family nest, manning his foot
so badly that he always held 1t screwed
up in the tuft of feathers from which
ii seemed to have taken root; but he
got along very well. on his remaining
leg, and when the time came for flying
he could use his wings as well as the
best, but he only took short flights,
and made his headquarters in one of
the fine old trees which guarded the
new house. He was very tame. and
grew quite friendly with the workmen,
Il "
him bits of their dinner each day.
Presently there came a change; all
the wood and shingles we're moved
away, and Peggotty woke one morn
ing from his early nap in the treetop
to hear girlish voices and laughter
from the big veranda; II was sweet
er sound than the buzz of the saw and
the knocking OF the hammer, and he
flew down to Investigate. As he trip
nn 81 l. te. 4. 4 Il
on one side, and his bright eyes talk
ing in the new scene, he was greeted
with little ripples of delight, and four
sunny-hair girls said, "O!" and
All" in chorus. in a way he had never
heard before, Then there was a cry
for Nanny Dick" and comedy coll
ored woman put her head out of an
upper window.
Come down." they called. Here's
/ a dear little lame mockngbird, and we
want you to catch him for u.s."
Peggotty had no wish to be caught,
and fiuttered around in great distress.
but Nanny Dick threw her apron over
him and there he wasi poor little
frightened thing, held gently in her
hand, while the girls stroked him and
kissed the top of his little velvet head.
Then they put him in a cage and he
was perfectly miserable for days. until
haired girls, persuaded the others TO
set him free, and o. what joy 1t was to
get back to his tree, and how he loved
Marjorie! He used to perch on her
window sill, and sometimes he even
hoped down into her room, and.
strange to say, Marjorie was always
expecting such company, for she kept
dish of water and one of seed right
on the ledge where Peggotty could
acftx al L.
piece of apple or a lettuce leaf, or a
bit of hard-boiled egg; he was never
disappointed, no matter what the
weather, and he used to chirp with de-
light when he heard the others call
him "Marjorie's Peggotty."
He grew very fond of them all and
very friendly, and they soon began 70
treat him like one of the family. When
the winter came Peggotty felt it
keenly; the branches of his pet tree
were icy and slippery, and one morn
ing the snow fell and Peggotty was
frightened, because he had never seen
snow. He flew down to Marjories win
dow, for he was cold and hungry 1t
was open and she had put his break
fast on the floor in her room. How
nice and warm and sunny it WAS Peg
gotty staid there for three days, hop
ping about contentedly sleeping on
MdTJoFleS plncuSniOn, or, better still,
high up, on top of her bookcase,
perched on the head of tiny bust OF
Sir Walter Scott. something like Poe's
ancient Raven" but Peggotty did-no
croaking. being a cheerful little soul.
~ wonder If he can sing" said one
of the girls.
He's almost too young" said mama.
Wait till the spring" added papa;
"then wen see"
Peggotty cooked that wise little head
of his. but kept his secret, until one
day when the sun shone warm on the
budding tree tops; then he flew straight
to Marjorie's window, and BURST forth
into such a flood of joyous song that
the four girls hushed their lively talk
and listened.
That's Peggotty," they said, and
stole softly up to Marjorie's room.
where they found him singing his heart
out i'm the glad sunshine.
Peggotty has a pretty wife now, and
nestlings, too, in the old tree-top. and
Marjorie never forgets him, but he
pays his debts i'm his birdlike way, and
always dedicates his first spring song to
his little mistress.