Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1904-11-04
SALADIN AND
THE CHERUB.
pY Isle AMEs. JR.

When Thomas Frederick Mas
aers arrived at HubbeIrs ostrich,
ranch and asked for work, big,
bullying Scoville, the overseer, be
gan by hooting al llim, aud ended
by giving him a job. AT the same
time he assured the "Cherub," as
the boy came to be called for oh.
vious reasons, that hc did so only
because he was very short OF
hands. He had never met man
wearing pink checks aud yellow
hair that was ~ useful as a prai-
rie-dog. He added, with some un-
necessary profanity that it did
not matter much, anyway, Prob
ably Saladin or Trumpeter would
rid the ranch Of the newcomer in
a week or so.
The Chcrub had smiled back al
him steadily. and, although mel
thcr of them realized it. il was the
smile that had turned the scales,
II was shortly after the rainy
season. The cocks in the large
corral were just beginning to
choose their mates. AZ fast as
the yarious pairs Came to Il mutu'
al understanding. they were re
moved 10 smaller pens, where
they might go to housekeeping un
disturbed.
Saladin was one OF the last to
make his selection He was the
biggest cock on he farm. Eight
fceI in height and weighing more
than three hundred pounds. he
was Il magnificent specimen of
strnthian strength His great
booj shaped body jrt-hiack save
whcrr1ailand wing tips curled like
foam. was supported on broad.
bare thighs of livid gray His
eyes were unusually large aud
brilliant, but there was nothing
soft i'm their light. lie looked on
keeper and fellow ostrich alil>"
with diSdain, and lac was always
ready-to defend his dignity with !
swift blow of his dangerous foo1.
Saladin'S corral was a quarter
of an acre in extent. For two
days he tr0tted around il with Il
dainty, almost mincing stride. un
til he knew every inch of the new
home. On che lthird day he held a
short consultation with the hen.
The meek creature evidently ac-
cepted his suggestions without
comment. for the pair immediate.
~ began TO build their nest.
> At was nothing bur a saucer
shaped depression, Il yard wide ,
and foot deep, Scraped in the
sandy lOam. Saladiu did most OF
the work. lying on his hrcast-b0ne
and revolving slowly while h"'
kicked Il, 3 " a.. ga undcr
him.
Tie Cherub, lrauing over the
rail, greatly admired this demon /
NJ hushandly feeling. II !
seemed as if domestic life might /
exert sOftcning influence upon !
The big cock. He made few ad. ,
vances with some appetizing su. F.,
gar bpets. hut SaIadin refused |
them all with contcnptuous
misses.
When the first egg came. the
Cherub was as excited rs the pros
Inctiyc parents Every other dan !
thc hen laid another, I'm
oil 1hrrr were ii huge. three
pound eggs IN the nest Then thr
brooding began, and Saladin's
temper bccamr morc violent than
ever.
From nine o'ciork in the morn
ing until four ip The afternoon the
hen crouchpd OF lhr nest. her long
neck outStrrfchrd in the sand,
her body rs quiet aud unobtrusiYe
as some gray Sdgc.bush. When
she approached or let her eggs /
she went through variety Of
cunning maneuyers, calculated TO
deceive IA possible watcher. All Il
this she did because her Wild an
res tOrs had done it, while the
Chernb's friendly grin secuted TOT
rebuke her instincts.
Every day al four O'Clock The
hen left The nest, and SaIadin took !,
her place. There he would remain
all night. his black bulk invisible