lightning in his eye. Only from the almanac do we know that this is the day
of all days on which he disports himself. He was a small bird when born,
more than a hundred years ago, but has grown lively till his wings reach
from ocean to ocean, and it only requires a little faith to see him stretch
himself clear over the Western Hemisphere and the adjacent islands. Other
birds despised him on the first great Fourth, but these birds of prey,
vultures, condors and such like, with crows, as well as the smaller
Republican eagles born since, are humble enough to him now. The British
lion himself having been so often scratched and clawed by this fowl, has
learned to shake his mane and wag his tail rather amiably in our eagle's
presence, even if he has to give an occasional growl to keep his hand in.
We are proud of this bird, though we are far from home, and to-day send our
heartiest good wishes across the sea to the land we love the best.


OUTLINE OF A RESPONSE TO THE TOAST, "OUR COUNTRY"

The field here is very wide. All the history of the country is appropriate,
but can only be glanced at, though a good speech might be made by dwelling
at length on some romantic incident in its history. The size and richness
of the country from the green pine forests of Maine to the golden orange
groves of California; or the prophecy of the manifest greatness of coming
destiny. Here the old but laughable story can be brought in easily about
the raw Irishman who saw a pumpkin for the first time, and was told that it
was a mare's egg, and generously given one. He had the misfortune, however,
to drop it out of his cart, when it rolled down-hill, struck a stump, burst
and frightened a rabbit, which bounded away followed by Pat, shouting:
"Shtop my colt; sure and if he is so big and can run so fast now, when just
born, what a rousing horse he will be when grown up!"