Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1883 — Perry’s “Singing Birds.” [ARTICLE]

Perry’s “Singing Birds.”

Perry was a rich planter in the Patuxent valley, with a broad vein of humor. The broad, deep Patuxent afforded an excellent cruising ground to the British fleet after it had landed the British troops. One day, while the British ships were lying in the river, Perry got a well-filled hornet’s nest, plugged up its openings, put on his working clothes and rowed • up to the flagship. In the uncouth local dialect be offered tho gray ball to the young officers as a nest full of rare singing birds of remarkable voice, of unusual intelligence and warm attachments. The officers clubbed together and offered a guinea for his birds. This ho gratefully accepted and then handed the nest to the unsuspecting young jnen. He suggested to them that it would be well not to open the nest till he got to shore, inasmuch as the affectionate little things might follow their old friend. This was an excellent suggestion. To make sure the officers took the nest into the cabin and shut the doors, leaving a marine on deck to catch Perry’s signal. As soon as Perry felt sure of his retreat on the shore he gave the marine the signal. At the word the officers opened the nest, and, w.thout any unnecessary delay, the cabin door also. With somewhat undignified haste, officers, marines and reamen swarmed to the bulwarks, and fhep ov®r. tho side, in comical confusion ntosely followed by Perry’s affectionate little singing birds. Perry laughed till he cried, as one by one the Britishers sought the cool shelter of “the placid Patuxent. —Washington letter.