|27| G || @ kolder Jane @ | | |28| M || @ Barker @ fell @ | If you hav enny doubt about | |29| T || @ down cellar (!) | the propriety ov a thing, you | |30| W || @ now ¶ krak @ | may be pretty certain that the | |31| T || > buttnutts. < | doubt iz right. | +--+---++------------------------+-------------------------------------+ _THE CUCKOO, AND THE JACKDAW._ The cuckoo iz about the size ov four small robins, and iz one ov the fust birds to tell us that spring haz fairly cum. This iz kind in the cuckoo, and they ought to hav a vote ov thanks, and a gold medal besides. Their song iz a good deal like the song ov a tin whissell, all in one key, but enny kind ov a song, from enny living kreature, iz acceptable. These birds hav one spot in their naturs entirely diffrent from enny animate thing I kno ov, they dont seem to possess the least particle ov affeckshun for their little cuckoos. They never bild enny nests, but lay their eggs in other birds nests, and let them do the hatching. This would be called smart in a man, but seems to me, iz darn mean in a bird. I wonder whare they lernt this trick. _THE JACKDAW._ The jackdaw, like the raven, iz born ov blak parents, and iz about one quarter the size ov the common krow. Their food seems to konsist ov enny thing, and their appetights are az klamarous az a distrikt skool just let out to play, at lunch time. They lay two eggs, and both eggs would probberly hatch out if they waz solid, for the Jackdaw iz bound to liv, and prosper. They luv man, and his ways, and are allwuss found az kluss to him az they kan git. _CHIPS._ The best relief for the rumatiz, that haz been diskovered yet, iz to find sum phellow who haz got the gout bad, and then pitty him. * * * * * About the time a man haz got old enuff to travel a good gait on hiz experience, death taps him on the shoulder, and wants him just around the corner. 28 Days. FEBRUARY. 1878. [Illustration] _But he grows like a weed, 'Till he iz four years old, He iz hi headed, and rangey, Flat-footed, and bold._