Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-10-20
THE BRIDES BATH.

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THE BRIDES BATH.
It was midsummer in Western
Washington and no rain had fallen
in six weeks. Taking compassion
upon my parched garden, went out
into the bright sunshine one noon
to water it, using a finely perforated
round nozzle which threw bush like
spray, writes B. K. Daniels in the
Sunday Magazine.
Almost before the first drops had
reached the ground humming bird
darted out from nearby apple tree,
lowered for a moment In the outskirts
of the shower. its iridescent back
showing doubly beautiful through the
rainbow-tinted mist, and then plung-
ed bodily in, only to be swept away
twenty feet by the force Of the water.
Nothing daunted, however, the little
fellow returned and plunged in again
and again, until, apparently wearied,
he lowered at one side and thrust
out his long, need,elike tongue toward
the cleaning myr.ads of drops.
Forgetting for the moment that the
humming bird is not insectivorous, /
concluded that the tiny creature was
attracted by the brilliant color dis.
play, installing the bright drops for
flies. and when he perchefl on the tin
of an apple tree branch near nv
turned the shower upon him, expect
Ing to see him dart out in pursuit OF
one OF the deceiyins drops. To nv
surprise, however. he .clunp to the
branch, Tapping his tiny wings
spreading and flirting his tail and
preening his feathers In an ecstasy 81
delight. After six weeks Of dry
weather he was evidently feeling the
need Of a bath. and here was an
ideal opportunity to wash and he
clean. Z
Approaching little nearer and
taking better aim. focused srch 4
shower upon him that the branch,
swayed to and fro. but as the water
increased he appeared all the more
delighted, flirting his wings and tail
and ducking and wriggline his head
as IL drunk with low.
Presently turned the shower
aside; but SO absorbed was he IN the
fun that he kept I'm his gymnastics
for some time before he noticed that
the water was gone. Then he darted
out into the midst OF IT. onlvs 70 he
swept ruthlessly away as before. Re.
firing to the tree he hogan To drink
~
one with unerring aim,
Then, as II tempting me, he perched
upon the nearest twig, moving his
faultlessly chiseled head ua and down
with the knowing air Characteristic Of
fummingbildc when a. rest. as much
as to say, Pm ready for some more.''
gave him some more, and for a
time he struggled manfully to flap
his wings and firt his tail as usual;
but the force and volume of the
water proved too great to permit that
phase Of the luxury, SO he kept his
wings and tail close furled and chung
to the twig, the water running in rivu-
lets from his glossy back.
I was beginning to wonder wheth.
er he would be foolish enough to stay
there till he drowned, when he flut-
tered awkwardly away, SO waterlog.
ged that he almost dropped to the
ground, and could not, despite his
best efforts, rice any higher than the
clump Of brakes into which he dis
appeared Newark Call.
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DOG THAT CARRIED A MESSAGE!
"A writer upon the faithfnlness ana
heroism of dogs tells the following
tale Of frozen Alaska.
Upon the desoIate waste of that In.
hospitable glacier, the yaldes. which
has proved a sepulchre to SO MANY
bright homes and earnest asnirat,ons
last winter partv ar nrosnactore
were camped; day after dav had the
men worked their wav daath disnnt.
ing every foot with them Until n
was decided that the main marty re.
main in camp and two az their num.
Der, accompanied by a dog. started
out to flnd a trail which wonld Load
away from a veritable death tran Of
the terrible valdes glacier.
For days did these two wander.
until nature succumbed and thew Law
down weary and exhausted to sleen
the sleep from which there IL NJ
awakening. Their faithful comnan.
ion chung to them. and the warmth
Of his BODY was grateful as thew
crouched low with the bitter ice.laden
wind bowling about them.
Their scanty stock Of ,prov,sions
was well-night exhausted when one
Of them suggested sending the dog
back to the camp. This was a for.
lorn hope, but it was the only chance