The San Francisco call., 1909-08-14
THE STORY OF A MOCKTNG BIRDS LIFE

IT was warm, sunny day when 1
/ first saw him. He arrived sudden
w. Unexpectedly, just at sundown. He
was the biggest kind of a surprise; in
fact the idea OF a mocklng bird being
anywhere around was the last thought
in my mind when shrill squawk
smote the quiet air-and he was here!
Five minutes ago / had been care
free, listening TO the call of the rob-
ins in the garden. and then-he ar
rived without any warming a present
from a little coiored maid we had with
las. a little maid who had gone back to
school In the south.
/ put my hand into the cage to draw
him out, when suddenly there was a
change. His rufied majesty, Tapping
his two little wings, hoped toward my
hand with his mouth wide open and a
shrek that was a regular carving
knife.
What do mocking birds eat? Surely
not seedi I carried him around to the
kitchen TO consult with our colofsed
cook.
Yes, she knew all about mocking
birds. Thank goodnessi
While he sat on my forefnger with
his claws clasped tightly around II.
he opened his mouth a gain and limited
the most uncommonly. sQuawkingly
hungry.
Mercy
AS fast as possible we stuffed bits Of
strawberry down his gaping throat.
Piece by piece they went down, and
still he cried for more. Then, unexpect-
edly. he refused 10 eat any more. shut
his black eyes and started to take a
nap as unconcernedly as could be.
after dinner the cook and / labored
further in his behalf. and he showed
such great psrtiality for Ida, the cook,
that when he uttered his first little
connding note Of gratitude and recog-
milton to her, I became distinctly
Jealous. 1 confess
put him 10 bed on a bit Of bloom
ing apple bough. and in the darkness
he was quiet.
But bright and early next morning
be began to issue his regal commands.
] rubbed my eyes and sought the gar
den to dig for worms They had to be
dropped adroitly down his throat at
just the proper angle. The process re-
Quired art and a twig The worm, bal
anced on the end of the twig. fell into
the squs viking throat if carefully man
aged. otherwise there was a terrible
hubbub. with much tapping Of wings
Really, I never saw such a greedy.
] think he could have kept Il up for
ever II j hadnt gathered MIN up out
Of the grass and put him back into
his new abode, a large canary cage.
look back with horror at the thought
Of those first days of his advent. He
did make such a racket
II I ventured so much as out Of the
garden gate to the postbox, one squawk
from the cage, one sduawk louder and
dercer than all preceding squawks
that had ever been, sent me scurrying e
home At the rate Of hook and ladder
company on the way to a fire.
Chuck chuck he remarked in a fiat
tering little soft voice. when he saw
me. of course. you will kindly get me
two dozen nice curly little black gar
den worms this Instant"
Oh, dear me. il was terriblei
As those strenuous days wore on we
decided that so marked an individuality
should have a name. All kinds OF
names were suggested. We named him
after the little maid who had sent him;
we named him after her school. He
was called Squawk and other more
hattering names. but suddenly he be-
came known TO every one as Peter Pan,
and Peter Pan he remained.