A CLEVER STEATAGEM. 337 



Tlaiisli stepped up in a cool and dignified manner, and carried the grape off ; dropped it 

 in the sliade, and deliberately drawing up one loot amoBg his feathers, seemed to say, 

 ' I claim the grape as my own ; I stand on the defensive ; come and get it if you dare ! ' 

 so closed the ' off ' eye and looked as if the matter was settled to his entire satisfaction. 



Bern had been in the veiy act of pecking the grape when it was so imceremoniously 

 withdrawn ; he drew himself up on tiptoe fairly with astonishment, his eye seemed to 

 grow larger and rounder, the feathers on his head stood alternately erect and clung close 

 to the scaljj ; he stood a moment or two, and then with a loud ' mew' darted forward to 

 recapture the stolen fruit, but the Thnish coolly and silently met him with open mouth 

 and body thrown forward, yet still covering the grape. Bem's wit returned to him — he 

 quietly turned off, as if it was a small matter anyhow. 



We were astonished. Was Bem a coward after all ? would he permit this bird, even if he 

 was larger, to impose upon him in this fashion, and he able to whip mocking-birds at that? 

 "\\'e shook our heads ; if Bem does that, we shall witlidraw his laurels. But see ! he 

 comes cautiously about the Thrash — what does he mean ? ah, we perceive ; Bem has 

 sagaciously only changed his tactics, we will watch him ; he thinks the Thrush will want 

 some dinner pretty soon, and then, as Bem disdains to be called quarrelsome, he will 

 quietly aj:>propriate his treasure. 



Four hours things retained this position, the Thrush never moving more than six 

 inches from his post, though evidently becoming hungry and weaiy, while Bem silently 

 wanilered about the room, feasting in the most provokingly cool way in Ijoth cages, and 

 continually making inadvertent incursions in the neighbourhood of his enemy, as if for 

 the piirpose of throwing him off his guard. At last, Bem was on the other side of the 

 room. The Thrush had been eyeing a dainty morsel which Bem had dropped about two 

 feet from him. He looked, Bem was too much engaged to notice him, he could easily 

 venture — he would — he did. Bem, whose keen eye had seen all, darted like lightning, 

 and before the Thrush could turn about and seize again the contested treasure, Bern had 

 alighted on the centre of the Ixjd — tlie only place in the room where the Thnash would 

 not follow him — and there quietly tore the grape to pieces and left it. 



But, alas ! we had to send our brave sagacious Bem home again. We were to make a 

 long journey to the South, and he must stay behind. Ah, tlie poor fellow knew as well as 

 we, that we were bidding him adieu. He pecked our fingers in gi'cat distress, and bit our 

 lips till the blood came, in the energy of his farewell — while he uttered such sad low 

 cries as made us mourn for many a day in the remembrance. 



During our absence we wrote fref[uently inquiring of Bem, and many an injunction 

 to him, to live and die, if need be, the same lirave general w-e had known him. AVe never 

 expected to see him again ; but, after a year of wandering, we did return to our old home. 

 At once we went to see the general, little dreaming that we shoidd be remembered. A\Tiat 

 was our surprise then, when we called ' Bem ! Bem ! General Bem ! ' to see our dear 

 friend and pet dart down to us from his hiding-place, and most evidently recognise us — 

 his eye sparkling, his scalp-feathers raised, his wings drooping, and that same low cry 

 wliicli had haunted us so long, greeting us again. Om- happiness was real ; and when we 

 offered him the wliite paper, he instantly darted upon it, and tore it asunder to get the 

 well-remembered treasure he had always found within. 



Again Bem went home with us — this time to fill our hearts with affection by his 

 quaint impish ways and gentle waywardness. Now, he became a privileged character ; 

 my paint box was his especial admiration — he treated it with gi-eat veneration, having 

 <liscovered that birds grew out of the little square pebbles, as he doubtless considered 

 them, until one day he perceived I objected to his lifting from its case a black-looking, 

 ill-shaped piece of paint, that I was even decidedly opposed to his meddling with it ; 

 from that moment tliat particular piece became a treasure — its value so great to him, that, 

 hide where I might, it had ever an invisible glitter, which to his eyes was brighter than 

 any gem ; he would find and hide it from me, and thus I had at least once eveiy day to 

 search the room over for this indispensable colour. 



No matter that I threatened liim, he coolly dressed his feathers and commenced so 

 dreamy a song as to soothe my rage at once. He became my constant companion ; he 

 2. ' z 



