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regular larder under some leaves in a clump of 

 trees, so he was never at a loss for food. 

 Once the old dandie Roddy found this hoard 

 of food and devoured it. When Jacob dis- 

 covered his loss he gave a furious croak, and 

 came out of the clump like a demon possessed, 

 and literally rolled over and over on the ground in 

 helpless rage. Many a nip did Roddy get to his tail 

 to punish him for his theft. Jacob was a rare 

 rogue, and led the gardeners a dance by pulling 

 up any plant he saw them put into the ground. 

 He had to be locked up during the bedding-out 

 season. He would stand at a respectful distance 

 with his head demurely on one side, watching 

 their operations, but no sooner had they gone 

 off to dinner than every plant was quickly 

 plucked up and laid on its side, and Jacob back 

 again on his bough, pruning his glossy blue 

 feathers as if nothing had happened. 



Jacob's death was a terrible tragedy. He 

 liked to go out shooting with his master, and 

 one day, accompanied him to a covert two 

 miles off. There, towards evening, he was 

 lost, and did not return that night. Next day 

 he went into a village, and seeing a woman 

 in the road, hopped up, and began to pull 

 at her dress, as was his custom when 

 asking for food at Mottisfont. She said she 



