The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-03-19

repeated MS Excellency.
~ NOW what does that
mean-eh? and what's a
gular. anywaysg'
"A gular," replied the Squatter in
structively, ''is gray parrot with pink
trimmings-it is a clever bird and
thinks lot" His Excel1ency 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. 'Pelham's had reputa-
tion for it, he said, mildly; eff 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
a very tender heart; and the suffering
among the conYicts appealed to him
perpetually. L often wondered what
induced him to take to law. but being
the fifth son of a 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, a strict and
impartial judge, with a 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-
tyated the crime for which he was be-
'lng 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.
So 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 a
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.
"Pclham's sister kept house for him.
Miss Pelham was rs much liked as her
brother, and, besides. being n great
belle, was devoted TO good works and
the care of Pelham and his menagerics
people were always giving him crea-
lures Of sorts. The gular must. have
thought himself in his native wiIds
when he got home. He was highly
educated bird. could give out tags OF
Latin with the. air Of bishop. and
discourscd fuently in English, while
his language III French was ANYTHING
hut fit for the pretty pink ears of Miss
Pelham. He whistled, too. every thing
he heard, and could initiate anything,
from the crcaking of Miss Pelhanl's
guinea fowl to the Judges rendering of
The Message He quite took Pelham
under his wing, used to greet him in
the morning with-'Hallo, Judgel late
again! What1I you have for break
fast?' and when he saw the Judges
horse climbing up the hill to the house
in the afternoon he would yell out to
Miss Pelham, Halo, Fanny! here's the
old man: get tea Pelham was very
absentmindcd, foo and the gular sd ved
his sister lot OF trouble by remind
ing him that If he went out with his
head uncovered he'd get sunstroke.
Don't be foolish said the gular: go
and get hat There were a hundred
other things, but forget them. Pei
ham was powerfully pious, and the
Eular used to join in the family devo-
tions, till one wondered if it could pos
Sibly be the same bird one heard box
ing the compass in such a beautiful
French accent at other times. Though.
10 do it Justice, it was never. very
loud. unless 1t heard the flying foxes
an the peach trees. when It made Miss
Pelham thankful there was a convent
across the road; It gave her sense of
security to- know 1t wars there. as O scrf
of countcrbIast to tie guIar.
III those days the Thursday Island
fisheries were unknown, and one OF the
discharged convicts. who owed the
Pclnams lot, went up there BIZ
chance and got tremendous haul OF
Enc pearls and travelled back to pre-
sent them to tire Judges sister Meth
or of them had theFIeast idea OF the
value Of the string till Miss Pelham
wore them at ball given by the Gov
criior, and then some expert saw them
and fairly electrified the Judge by say.
zng tue centre pearl aIane-it was con