to make himself highly disagreeable when the fancy seized him. These accomplishments he still possesses. He loves to torment the dogs and cats, whose natural enemy he is, by the most provoking barking or mewing. As a song-bird, it must be admitted that "Joe" is a total failure.

When his pranks lead to a well-merited punishment, he assumes an air of injured innocence, and calmly inquires, "What 's the matter?" When hungry, he declares over and over again, "Breakfast ought to be ready!" If thirsty, he cries out, "Joe wants a drink!" And when sick from over

ally taking a sly observation to discover whether he is attracting attention. He knows that this wonderful feat will greatly interest the servant, and, although quite well aware that he is doing wrong, he cannot resist the temptation to have a little lively fun at the expense of somebody else.

When discovered and dragged ignominiously from the scuttle, he is a sorry sight indeed. Going into it a very white bird, he comes out as black and unrecognizable as the hardest-working coal-heaver. Such a feat once performed successfully enables him to remain quietly upon his perch for an hour

eating, as is not unfrequently the case, he says very plaintively, "Poor Joe!" and begs to be coddled.

After he had destroyed a number of cages provided for him he was finally given a standing perch in the kitchen, and there he spends his time inventing all sorts of plans and devices, by which to while away his somewhat monotonous existence.

Cautiously leaving his perch, he scurries away to the coal scuttle, and, clambering up its side, he plunges into it, if he finds it only partially filled; and then he proceeds energetically to unload the coal, throwing it out, to the right and left, occasionVOL. XIII.-4.

or two, apparently lost in thought. Nature, however, has provided the White Cockatoo with a very fine white powder which is plentifully supplied, apparently from some portion of its feathers; so that in an hour after a coal frolic, "Joe" is as cleanly and white as ever.

He is a social bird, and can not bear to be alone. He is fond of being on one's knees. From the chair-back, or your shoulders, he will kiss you, or will whisper pretty nothings in your ear. He is greatly given to whispering, indeed; and he is, after his own fashion, much of a flatterer. Approaching you carefully, saying in a subdued tone,

"Come on, Joe," he loiters around until he has attracted your attention; and at the first encouraging word or glance, he starts up the chair-back, or perhaps climbs upon your knee. If, on the contrary, he is greeted with a testy "Get out!" he does not admit that he is disconcerted by his dismissal. He simply has business elsewhere; his attention is immediately attracted along the floor to minute fragments of nothing, which he proceeds apparently to dine upon with great relish, mean

the cry of "whoop!" when he quickly uncovers his head, only to replunge it out of sight for another trial. An empty paper bag furnishes him with much amusement in this way. It is only fair to observe that his occupancy of the work-basket is generally attended with serious derangement of spools and needles; indeed "Joe" often withdraws the needles and pins from the cushion and sticks them into the carpet, one by one. The strumming of a guitar or piano will set him

while moving gradually toward the door. This once gained, he turns, and, looking up at you, makes two or three bandy-legged bounds, lets fly a little satirical chuckle as if to say, "I have my opinion of you," and, with this Parthian shot, disappears.

Among the accomplishments of this rather remarkable bird may be mentioned "scratch-cradle," dancing, and an insatiable desire to play "Hideand-seek." Concealing his head in a corner, under a newspaper, or in a lady's work-basket,- if one happens to be on the floor,- he will await patiently

wild with glee, and he will dance, after a fashion, which, if not the most graceful in the world, is evidently highly enjoyable to himself. He can waltz, too, and his favorite airs are in 2-4 or polka time. Whatever sport he chooses to engage in, he always obtains his full share of the enjoyment.

"Joe" is not only amusing and ornamental, but he is also an excellent guardian, as he barks loudly at all strangers, and has an instinctive aversion to beggars and tramps. He has his full amount of vanity, too. Decorate him with some pretty little head-gear, and he will permit it to remain, undis

the perch. He has never attempted to reach it or leave it in that way, but invariably climbs up or down by means of his feet and beak.)

And now "Joe's" life began to have a shade of anxiety in it, until at last he became quite unhappy. One memorable day, stealthily descending from aloft, he dashed suddenly into the charmed circle, and seized Mrs. Punch by her wonderful frilled cap. Then, with crest erect and eyes flashing,—his form trembling with rage and excitement, he rushed up the pole, and, once more safely aloft, he tore the offending Judy into pieces, with an energy bordering on insanity. This tremendous effort sufficed

for the remainder of the day, during which he sat upon his perch with his feathers ruffled and trembling.

So, one by one, the members of that unfortunate family fell victims to his hatred. For a long time, he did not dare to attack Punch himself; but he finally mustered courage sufficient to attempt the capture of his arch-enemy, and, a few minutes later, the terrible toy, stripped of his gilt and tinseled bravery, lay hopelessly broken and disfigured, upon the floor. On the wall, at the back of "Joe's" perch, now hang the mangled remains of his victims an eloquent and pathetic proof of his prowess as a fighting cockatoo.

SAUCEBOX, in your hickory high,
What odd fancy, I would know,
As I pass your province by,

Makes you chatter at me so?
One so elegant and spruce,
Should not mean it for abuse
Of a wayworn, sad recluse;

Neither let thy instinct fine
Fear for blunderbuss of mine!
Comrades, rather, let us be,
In these brown woods, gypsy-free!

Would I, too, could leave the fret Wrought of drudgery and debt,

And could say to care farewell! Leaving all the dusty town,

So with you a year to dwell! Not a sunshine-checkered dell, But we'd hunt it up and down! Not a wild-grape tangled nook, Not a hazel-bordered brook

Haunted of the speckled trout,
But we'd know it, in and out!

Under clump of briar and birch,
Slyly, Gray-back, would we search,
Where the partridge loves the best
To conceal her careful nest,
And the berried fruit is seen
Of the fragrant wintergreen!

When November, gray and chill, Lays his hand on field and hill, And the streamlet's song is lost

Under banks of frozen furze,—
And the wedges of the frost
Pry apart the chestnut-burrs,—

Ah, what pleasure should be ours, Hearing wind and woodland battle, While the ripened shagbarks rattle To the ground in ivory showers!

Sometimes, on a floating chip
(Woodsmen say), your breezy tail
Serves you as a kind of sail;
And with this queer sort of ship,
You achieve the dangerous trip,
Reaching safe the farther shore,
Alien kingdoms to explore!

Not more confidently brave
Sailed Columbus o'er the wave-
Buffeted and tempest-blown,
Westward, toward a world unknown

Ah, what joy can mortals feel Who would shut you in a wheel? For what kindness can assuage Captive conscious of his cage?

Something 't is to be a pet, Loved of humankind; but yet, One unpleasant thought intrudes: Were I you, in such a plight, I should lie awake at night, Homesick for the summer woods! --But, as all discourse must end, Fare you well, my little friend; Prythee, comrade, meet me here, When I call again, next year!

CHAPTER XXVII.

LOOKERS-ON-IN-VENICE.

ers.

They seized on everything that they could pull apart. At General Grant's first inauguration, the President had scarcely retired from the grand stand, when a crowd of citizens clambered up the sides from the ground below, and, within a minute, the chair which the Chief Magistrate had occupied was split into a score of fragments,-one man capturing a leg of it, another an arm, another a part of a rung, and all marching away with them as trophies

of the event! After the fun

eral ceremonies over