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ment. He was not again allowed the full with piqued interest. He sped quickly 



liberty of the house. to her side, she retreating farther and far- 



My pet grew large and strong during ther away across the orchard to the place 



the fall and winter -and I spent many where the other lover was watching and 



pleasant moments watching his mis- waiting for the rival who had gained 



chievous pranks and quaint actions. favor in her eyes. Bob and his rival met 



Spring came at last, and the summer face to face in the dusty wagon road near 



songsters were arriving, treating us to the spot where my pet's early life was 



many a happy anthem. The blue bird spent. Then there was a duel for love, 



flitted by unnoticed. The robins were with the little modest brown lady-bird as 



building their nests, and that gaudy sum- umpire and prize. 



mer visitor, the red-breasted grosbeak, The rivals chased each other up and 



had arrived in the gorgeous splendor of his down the dusty lane. At last Bob was 



spring plumage, when far away across the victorious, and his rival quickly took 



sweetly scented meadows echoed the bob wing, followed by the angry victor. Pres- 



white of my little pet's relatives. Bob ently Bob returned alone, and approached 



would listen with head alert to this call, his bride. She had laid a scheme to test 



and then he would pace up and down his his love, and was now ready to abide by 



box just as you have seen wild animals the result of the conflict, 

 do in a zoological garden. With all my My little pet led his mate away through 



kindness I had failed to deaden his love the wavy grasses, a victor and a king over 



for the wild life of his kind. One day, the heart of his loved one. Several weeks 



when Bob was perched upon my window later, after a nest had been built and a 



sill, there came from across the orchard downy brood hatched, I came upon my 



a sharp and clear bob white ! This was old pet. It was a sunny day, and while 



more than my little friend could with- strolling down an orchard path, Bob flew 



stand. He walked up and down, seeking down in front of me, where he stood, 



vainly for a way to escape. In his sturdy trembling and terrified. Thinking to help 



body the varied emotions of a captive my old friend in his distress, I put forth 



were contending. There was anxiety and my hand to take him up. I should have 



hope, anger and fear, love and hate, com- known him better. In an instant he was 



mingled in his every motion. changed. He eyed me with that old keen, 



Moved by my pet's desire for freedom, distrustful glance, rose quickly from my 



I threw open the sash. Out he flew, with feet, and flew rapidly away. Hardly had 



a joyous whirr of his wings, and alight- he gone fifty yards when a pigeon hawk 



ing upon the garden fence, with his char- that had been waiting and watching, dart- 



acteristic energy, he uttered his first bob ed forth, and swooped down upon poor 



white ! clear and strong. Bob while in mid-air. A loud snap as the 



He remained near home, giving me a hawk struck, a sharp cry from the bonny 



good opportunity to watch his habits, victim, and a few feathers floating slowly 



He daily came to the house for food, and down told too pathetically of Bob's aw- 



never was he disappointed, as I regular- ful fate. I gathered up the scattered 



ly placed a handful of wheat where he plumage, a memorial of the little wayward 



could reach it. quail I had fed and reared to maturity. 



One day a great happiness entered the Bob seemed quite a patriot to me, as I 

 life of my little friend. He was uttering reflected upon his decision when he elud- 

 his call with the sweet tremulous notes of ed my hand that final time. "Liberty or 

 a love-sick life. Borne from the upper death," he seemed to say, as he flew rap- 

 orchard there came an answering call idly away. He exhibited that trait, in his 

 from another lover in search of a bride, bird-like way, by which great men have 

 Bob's head went up higher and higher ; won fame and renown, so he, too, is 

 he hurried along on an old rail fence, worthy of having his story related and his 

 sending his challenge for combat across life immortalized. 



to his rival, for lurking near was a little Charles Thompson, 



brown form watching Bob's sturdy mien 



