The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-27
does not propose that anybody shall
fail to know that he knows 1t.

On the Saturday in question old
Red-Spot had been gurglng to him
self in a cedar. He was still the only
Jay in sight and he was getting ready
to cuss out the chorus or the singing
birds. Suddenly the air was full of
Jays about him, cIrcling, cursng, ex-
poStulating. Mrs. Red-Spot, by rea-
SCil OF her relationship, was permitted
the first word. She screamed:
Yak, Yak. you speckled headed,
drab-talled. green-eyed, moth-eating,
drunk OF q Jay-bird, where were you
yesterday? Hey, where were you yes
terday? Mrs. Jay circled and fell
upon the head of her spouse whence
drifted a puff of blue feathers.
Red-Spot was indignant. The long
feather at the back of his neck s.-od
straight and quivering. Yet 10 a de-
gree he held his dignity. His scream
was short and TO the point, mildly con-
clIatory while independent.
I'm He'll" he replied briefly
where yere you?
somersault: You lie, you blank,
blank. blank" she cried. I'll get a
divorce, you intidel. I'll sue you for
non-support; LII report you to the
Devil; Ill, 1'lI---''
The other Jays broke in, and the
air was quivering with the clamor.
Cries of xiii him." pull out his
taIl!'' Tear off his top-knot!" Make
him stay in He'll" Keep him out of
He'll" ragged about him in fury.
Rcd-Spot fought his way through a
ball of blue Teathers to the topmost
branch. There he eXpostula ted
Il tell you | was in He'll! Why the
Devil nInIse!f, he says to mo"
Il was asking the Devil where you
were" broke in the indignant wife,
and he said he didn't know-and ne
never lies to us!'
There were more cries from the con-
gress: Listen at the She Devil!'
She'll get a divorce! the bankty,
blanked old Sparrow-hawk!' Grass
Jay!' Widow .Jackdaw!" Lucky
Red-Spot-Go it, Red-Spot!'
Mrs. Red-Spot screamed: Hes
been drunk on poke-berrieS again, Oh!
Oh! Oh I'll have divorce, I'll have
divorce! Out of hell on Friday
And my husband"
The enormity of the charge silenced
even the Jays for a moment They are
not moral race, but there are limita-
tons to their vices. Evidently Rcd
Spot had committed the objectionable
SIM There WaS a pause and then a
scream in chorus, a kind of popular
realization of vice, common cry OF
horror:
What will the Devil say" And in
the next breath, the wall of Mrs.
Red-Spot who evidently still loved her
husband, though mis-treated: And
the Devil knows"
Suddenly Red-Spot fell from his
perch to the ground, whence he look
ed up at his chattering brethren. All
his indignation was gone. In its place
was a deep fear. He gursled the ques-
ton in his throat:
What what's today?" he falter-
ed. "What'd you say about Friday
Saturday." they screamed together.
what was yesterday"
''Friday!!!'
"Was that where-did you ALL
went to He'll as we GU >lt to-"
screamed The crew.
He'll" exclaimed Red-Spot in
mixture of misery and disgust,
Go there quick or you'll catch
the devil" screamed his wife.
BEG his pardon in a hurry or he'll
SINCE your top-knot!"
Hurry up, or he'll never let you
in again.
Red-Spot rose into the air with q
monstrous fiutter:
'Those poke berries!" he screamed
as he tapped heavily towards the
South They made me clean forget
The Devil himself planted 'em!"
Go to Hell-get move onn' squall-
ed the congress with an encourage
ment that one felt held out little hope
for the culprit.
For the Devil is hard master.