The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-10-05
A CLEVER RULLTINCH.

Don was very unhappy when | was
out Of sight. His cage was hung at
frs, In Il glass conservatory. where lie
had sunshine. flowers aud two cannry
birds for company. But lie did not care
for them. lie wanted something else.
lie was silent aud moplng. So the
loving little bird was made happy by
being placed IN my room upstairs.
IL was wonderful how soon lie
learned TO distinguish my step. Often
his clear. sweet tone could he heard
pouring from his dainty throat. or
perhaps lie was silent. II was all the
same. The instant my step sounded
in the hall below or on the stairs, the
whistle ceased, or the silence was brok-
en-. Come hc'crc. come hc'ere, come
he'crcl" was the eager cry. OF course.
I always did "come he'ere." And then
the delight of the dear little fellow was
touching. Down he jumped to the
door of his cage post haste. Then,
puffcd up like II ball. he bowed right
and left, dancing 10 and fro as II
wound up to run for hours. And such
n sweet piping as there was, too.
Rut he never played about the room
when | was away. He was too sorrow
ful for that. His favoritc haunt, next
10 my head or shoulders, was my bu-
renu. lie loved to hop all over 1t; but
he loved best Of all to mount the big,
fat pincushion. II was such fine fun
to pull out all the pins and drop them
on the bureau scarf. Sometimes he
carried them 10 the edge of the bureau
and dropped them on the floor.
One day bent the point of large
pin and twisted II well into the cush-
ion. 1t was rather naughty, to be sure,
but | wished to see what Don would
do about II. The other pins came out
and were dropped ms usual. Then came
the tug of war. The poor little bird
pulled and pulled and tugged and
tugged. The big pin moved, but did
not come out. lie put his head on one
side and eyed 1t severely. lie was not
| one of the "Hveup" sort. He had made
up his mind to conquer that pin. lie
worked very hard for ut least ten
minutes. Then the plaintive Come
| he'ere, come he-ere, come he-ere" rang
| out.
| waited to see what he would do
next. And what do you think? He
thought little. then mounted the cush'
ion again. and whlstled and danced to
that obstinate pin. But 1t stayed right
where 1t was. Then lie seized 1t once
more, and tugged so hard that his tiny
feet slipped and he sat right down
| Ncxt he got up and stared at 1t, then
hopped TO the edge of the bureau and
called again, "Come he'ere. come
heere."
could not tease him any longer and
went TO the rescue. The moment that
pin was loose. Don seized 1t with a
happy chuckle. Hopping to the back
part of the bureau, hG dropped the pin
down between 1t and the wall. IL was
in disgrace, you know.
One day the dear little fellow had
been very busy indeed. The cushion
had been freshly filed with pins. That
gave him a great deal of work 10 90
of course. The pins had all to be car
rled 10 the edge of the bureau and
dropped overheard. That task mn
ished. he went into his house to gel
his dinner.
/ went to work to pick up the pins
telling Don that he was a naughty
bird TO make me so much trouble. II
seemed as IL he understood every WORD
At once he stopped eating his SEEDS
came out and peeped at me over th'
edge of the bureau. Then down ht
came. making steps on my head, shoui
der and arm until he reached the moor
And there the dear little bird hurried
around with all his might, picking vi
the pins. He flew up to the cushion
laid them down and came back foi
more. until they were all gathered up
Then he sat on my chair, whistled hi
tune and finally went TO sleep.-HeleI
Harcourt's "Stories of My Pets" In st
Nicholas.