A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



for never was he anything but a courteous 

 gentleman during the short visits he elected 

 to pay the house. Outside, he would de- 

 scend to the mischievous, noisy Gobbo of 

 Shakespearian history. 



When he was quite little I used to lay 

 him on his back in my hand, just for the fun 

 of seeing him go to sleep contentedly in such 

 an ungooselike position. As he grew older, 

 he would come on to the piazza, and volun- 

 tarily assume the position on the mat at 

 the dining room door, keeping his eyes 

 open, and cawing the moment any of the 

 family appeared probably realizing that 

 the trick attracted such attention as assured 

 his being stroked and petted. Nothing 

 more ridiculous could be imagined than the 

 big, awkward bird waddling up to the mat, 

 flopping down, and deliberately turning on 

 his back. It was a performance that never 

 failed to astonish and amuse visitors; but 

 when the vacation time brought a juvenile 

 friend of ten years old to stay with us, the 



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