A CLEVER STEATAGEM. 837 



Thrusli stepi^ed up in a cool and dignified manner, and carried tlie grape off ; dropped it 

 in the shade, and deliberately drawing up one foot among 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 very act of pecking the grape when it was so unceremoniously 

 withdrawn ; he drew himself up on tiptoe fairly with astonishment, his eye seemed to 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 scalp ; he stood a moment or two, and then with a loud ' mew ' darted forward to 

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

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

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



We were astoniriied. Was Bern 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 ? 

 We shook our heads ; if Bem does that, we shall withdraw his laurels. But see ! he 

 comes cautiously about the Thrush — 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 appropriate his treasure. 



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

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

 wandered about the room, feasting in the most provokiugly cool way in both cages, and 

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

 the purpose 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, Bem had 

 alighted on the centre of the bed — the only place in the room where the Thrush 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, the poor fellow knew as well as 

 we, that we were bidding him adieu. He pecked our fingers in great 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 frequently inquiring of Bem, and many an injunction 

 to him, to live and die, if need be, the same brave general we 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 should be remembered. "Wliat 

 w^as 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 

 which had haunted us so long, greeting us again. Our happiness was real ; and when we 

 offered him the white 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 w^aywardness. Now, he became a privileged character ; 

 my paint box w^as his especial admiration — he treated it with great veneration, having 

 discovered 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 that particular piece became a treasure — its value so great to him, that, 

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

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

 search the room over for this indispensable colour. 



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

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

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