A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



compelled attention. During the days of 

 ugliness and uncertainty of sex, innumerable 

 uncomplimentary names suggested by ap- 

 pearance or oddities were bestowed on the 

 poor creature, who eventually shamed per- 

 spicacity by developing into a beautiful white 

 gander, and became known to our friends 

 as Launcelot Gobbo the Wonderful the ap- 

 pendix being earned through his capacity for 

 developing and acquiring tricks. 



First of these was to knock at the back 

 door punctually at seven o'clock each morn- 

 ing for his breakfast. On being admitted 

 he would march to a side table where he had 

 been fed when a baby, climb on to a chair 

 which stood by it, and sit solemnly with his 

 beak on the edge of the table for a few 

 seconds, softly muttering as if saying grace, 

 then stretch up his neck and caw for his 

 oatmeal, which had to be sweetened and 

 creamed as for our own eating. Launcelot 

 seemed to comprehend that eating with the 

 family necessitated a nicety of deportment; 



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