Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-22

mean-eh? and what's a
gular, anyways?'
"a gular," replied the Squatter in
structively, SIS gray parrot with pink
trimmings-it is a clever bird and
thinks a lot" His EXcellency looked
grateful, but seemed to expect more.
"And as to his wisdom?" he inquired.
blandly. "Why don't they get into
Parliament-eh?"
The Squatter ignored the jeer-he
was, perhaps, as wise as the gular
in question. "Peham's had reputa-
ton for it," he said mildly; "if you
like I'll tell you how he acquired it."
His Excellency nodded and resumed
his lemon and soda.
''It happened in the early days"
he began, when the home government
sent out the judges along with the
rest of the administration-and Pelham
was the first. He was in my day, but
belonged to the period before it-a dear
old soul he was. and magnificent
specimen of the English gentleman, as
they used to make 'em When he sat
in the seat of justice he had really
hard time, for he was afflicted with
very tender heart; and the suffering
among the convicts appealed to him
perpetually 1 often wondered what
induced him to take to law, but being
the fifth son of poor peer suppose it
was the best thing he could do. He
was an immense favorite with all
classes, and the prisoners fairly adored
him. He was however, n strict and
Impartial judge, with down on cir
cumstantial evidence. He had once
been concerned in the hanging OF a
man for murder Everything pointed
so clearly to the man having perpe-
trated the crime for which he was be-
Ing tried that no one had any doubt
on the subject, yet the real murderer
confessed afterward. and that gave
Pelham such fits of continual remorse
that he would never admit purely cir
cumstantial evidence again.
$50 much so that when an old French
Johnnie was brought before him for
balling up the gold escort he paid my
father to defend him, and the old chan
got off. He was tremendously CRATE
full, and presented my father with
splendid cats eye, all the worldly
wealth he had, and gave the Judge his
gular-a bird everybody was convinced
was his familiar spirit. Then he went
into hospital and died, and the Judge
went South with the gular.
"Pelham's sister kept house for him.
Miss Pelham was as much liked as her
brother, and, besides, being great
belle, was devoted to good works and
the care of Pelham and his menageries
people We're always giving him crca-
lures of sorts. The gular must have
thought himself in his native wilds
when he got home. He was n highly
educated bird. could give out tags of
Latin with the air of bishop. and
discoursed fiuently in English, while
his language in French was anything
but fit for the pretty pink ears of Miss
Pelham. He whistled, too, everything
he heard, and could initiate anything.
from the creaking of Miss Pelham $
guinea fowl to the Judges rendering OF
THE Message He quite took Pelham
under his wing. used to greet him in
the morning wlth-'Haiio, Judge. late
again! Whatu you have for break
fastF and when he saw the judges
horse climbing up the hill to the house
in the afternoon he would veil out to
Miss Pelham, Halo, Fanny here's the
old man: get tea Pelham was very
absentminded, too. and the cular saved
his sister lot of trouble by remind
ing him that il he went out with his
head uncovered he'd get sunstroke.
Don't be foolish said the gular: go
and get hat There were hundred
other things, but l forget them. Pei
ham was powerfully pious, and The
gular used to Join in the family devo-
tions, till one wondered if it could DOS
sibly be the same bird one heard box.
ing the compass in such beautiful
French accent ut other times. Though
to do it justice, it was never very
loud, unless it heard the flying foxes
in the peach trees, when it made Miss
across the road; it gave her sense OF
security TO know 1t was there, as a sor
of counterblast to the gular.
'In those days the Thursday Islant
fisheries were unknown, and one of til,
discharged couvicts, who owed tn,
Pelhams n lot, went up there b!
chance and got tremendous haul o
fine pearls and Travelled back to pre-
sent them to the Judges sister. Neith
er Of them had the least idea of tn
value of the string till Miss Pelham
wore them at ball given by the Gov
ernor. and then some expert saw ther
and fairly electrified the Judge by say
ing the centre pearl alone-it was COZ