Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14
SIR PETER.
Written for The Star by
CLEMENT CHAPMAN YOUNG.
CHAPTER I.
Yuletide Greetings.

Did1cd IN the open CDiI1uey UrofuS @iiiola
stocking were soon to hang. Without. big
snow fakes fell swiftly and silently, cover
ing the ground, sprinkling the trees. pow
dering the dark evergreens and settling
into every nook and Granny. while the mer-
ry tinkle of sweet-toned bells rang soft
and clear as sleighs loaded with happy
parties passed to and fro.
The postman had come and gone, ieav-
Ing mysterious packages which excited in
tense curiosity as to their contents. then
quickly following, the express man stopped
In front of the gate, his wagon piled high
with boxes and bundles, between which
might be caught glimpses of some of the
wonders Of Santa Ciars' storehouse.
Il was evident that from among its treas
uress something OF more than passing inter-
est must have been taken to account for
the shouts of delight and peals of laughter
in which the children INDUCED. Answering
their excited summons Mrs. Velton found
them dancing in ecstacy around large
hamper, through the burlap covering OK
which the head of tiny bantam rooster
had forced its way The expressman was
laughing as heartily as the rest.
He pecked a hole in the cover, ma am,
and stuck his head through" he explained,
"and he amt bit afraid"
Certainly he was not. for, the bright eyes
wandered from one to another as IL sure Of
approval and the little ROSTERS appear
tance, as he stood partly revealed, yet
wholly at ease. was SO odd and amusing
that one ceased to marvel at tbs noisy wei
come that greeted his arrival.
Pinned to the hamper was letter. II
read:
Dear Tom: Merry Christmas. His name
is Pete, and he's Jim Dandy
Your friend,
LARRY HARMED.
Pete was taken from the basket and car
ried upstafrs where Mrs. Velton found him
standing in the middle of Toms bed very
much at home.
See how tame he is, mother" And Tom
held out a handful OF crumbs, which the
little fellow pecked In perfect friendiines
You know he's the real thing"
''Of course he is real enough laughed
Mrs yetton But she at once discovered
that that was not the meaning Tom wished
to convey for. he pointed to the letter:
Don't you see what 1t says? As II
I.arry's words made the matter quite plain.
"oh, yes, I see," she replied, but what
is a Jim Dandy?'"
Tom regarded her with a look of sur
prise that quickly gave way to one of en-
thusasm.
why, a Jim Dandys the real thing.
Now, mother, you surely know what Jim
Dandy tsp -,
don't believe / do"
well, all roosters are not Jim Dandy's."
explained Tom only few are; It's just
a certain Kind
Il think I understand said his mother.
You mean that peculiar breed of BAN
tams Is so termed
mo. mother; it hasn't anything to do
with the breed; any rooster that isn't afraid
of any other rooster and won't turn tail
and show the white feather and that's al
ways ready"
oh" exclaimed Mrs. Velton. as the
drift of Toms words suddenly dawned upon
her. that's what you cali a Jim Dandy
la5 10. l-,,r IT,, Fa,-
Tom to make. Perhaps that was why his
face grew red when his mother looked in
tently at him; but his anxiety was relieved
when she laughingly said:
What nonsensei Why, 1t is perfectly
absurd that anything SO harmless in looks
should have such reputation"
HE is harmless looking said Tom,
avoiding his mothers eye, land a little bit
Of fellow, that's a fact" as If noticing
for the first time how very small Pete was.
But just feel how solid he Is" Picking
up the rooster he placed IT In Mrs. Velton's
hands. From the first, she had been i'm
pressed by its trim, graceful appearance,
therefore she could not help showing some
surprise at the bantam's weight.
isn't he a pioture?" asked Tom. ad-
mirIngly. And look, mother, look at those
spurs. Aren't they daisies?'
Mrs. Velton was quite carried away by
her sons earnestness and listened with in
terest while he recounted some Of Pete's
projections. AS the rooster stood quietly
beside her, she regarded 1t more critically.
From the top Of the we'll set head down to
the slender sinewy legs. there was sug-
gestion of strength and latent energy. The
potse of its body was so sure, the glance
OF It's eye SO serenely fearless and It's spurs
80 long and sharp. that she partly under
stood why Toms face should be aglow with
happiness and the pride OF possession.
He is very tame" she said. stroklng the
soft and glossy feathers, ''but where do you
expect to keep him?"
In the little room at the top Of the
house, If you don't mind
This arrangement did not seem to please
his mother. for that small apartment held
strange tenants. Tom noticed her hesIta-
ton.
1T will be for short time only" he
pleaded. Just until we can build O. COOP
for him."
Aunt Lucy had been invited up to see the
latest arrival. In her Judgment the use
that was made OF that small room under
ordered establishment; SO, when Tom sug-
gested placing Pete there she could no
longer keep silence:
whats de owl an de hawk gwinter
say?" che asked; IAN de crows, an all de
res OBJ de beasts up dar?"
.-Oh, they won't mind said Tom, conf
IDENTIFY They're as tame as can be-
II ain't 'sputin' deys tame. but rs s'pic-
ious bout dat Pete" Eyeing the rooster
with distrugt.
Tom laughed reassuringly. why, look
at him. he's as gentle as kitten"
''Hab 1t yo' own way. Put i'm In de-
m naf're eff ye likes" And with q doubt
full shake OF the head she went down stairs
muttering to herself. What's de use OBJ
jectin'? Dat rooms full of de mos out
landish pets an one mo- won't count Eff
dey raise de roof I Amt 'sponsible." This
showed her submission to a situation over
which there was no control.
So Pete was taken upstairs, but his well
come from the occupants of that snug re-
treat was not cordial. though this may have
been due to the natural reserve of a ia
vored community toward an unknown In
truder
In the middle OF the night Mrs venton
was suddenly aroused to consciousness. The
loud Growing Of rooster, the hoarse cav
ing of crows and the melancholy hooting
of an owl were not the children of her dis
ordered dreams as she at first imagined
but, very real parts of the noises proceed
ing from that small room where Pete was
donficiled. Huriedly throwing on a wrap
per she reached the floor above In time to
form the tail of procession bent upon In
vesdgation Tom and his brother in airy
rainent were closely followed by Aunt
Lucy enveioped In the folds OF many
eolored bed quilt. At the sound of their
approach the clamor ceased. and as the
door was thrown open silence reigned.
al IN ha he if,fre