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The TruantThe Truant
The Truant
We have had a scene of a petty tribulation in the Alhambra, which has
thrown a cloud over the sunny countenance of Dolores. This little damsel has a
female passion for pets of all kinds, and from the super-abundant kindness of
her disposition one of the ruined courts of the Alhambra is thronged with her
favorites. A stately peacock and his hen seem to hold regal sway here, over
pompous turkeys, querulous guinea-fowls, and a rabble rout of common cocks and
hens. The great delight of Dolores, however, has for some time past been
centred in a youthful pair of pigeons, who have lately entered into the holy
state of wedlock, and even supplanted a tortoise-shell cat and kittens in her
affections.
As a tenement for them wherein to commence housekeeping, she had fitted
up a small chamber adjacent to the kitchen, the window of which looked into
one of the quiet Moorish courts. Here they lived in happy ignorance of any
world beyond the court and its sunny roofs. Never had they aspired to soar
above the battlements, or to mount to the summit of the towers. Their virtuous
union was at length crowned by two spotless and milk-white eggs, to the great
joy of their cherishing little mistress. Nothing could be more praise-worthy
than the conduct of the young married folks on this interesting occasion. They
took turns to sit upon the nest until the eggs were hatched, and while their
callow progeny required warmth and shelter; while one thus stayed at home, the
other foraged abroad for food, and brought home abundant supplies.
This scene of conjugal felicity has suddenly met with a reverse. Early
this morning, as Dolores was feeding the male pigeon, she took a fancy to give
him a peep at the great world. Opening a window, therefore, which looks down
upon the valley of the Darro, she launched him at once beyond the walls of the
Alhambra. For the first time in his life the astonished bird had to try the
full vigor of his wings. He swept down into the valley, and then rising
upwards with a surge, soared almost to the clouds. Never before had he risen
to such a height, or experienced such delight in flying; and, like a young
spendthrift just come to his estate, he seemed giddy with excess of liberty,
and with the boundless field of action suddenly opened to him. For the whole
day he has been circling about in capricious flights, from tower to tower, and
tree to tree. Every attempt has been vain to lure him back by scattering grain
upon the roofs; he seems to have lost all thought of home, of his tender
helpmate, and his callow young. To add to the anxiety of Dolores, he has been
joined by two palomas ladrones, or robber pigeons, whose instinct it is to
entice wandering pigeons to their own dovecotes. The fugitive, like many other
thoughtless youths on their first launching upon the world, seems quite
fascinated with these knowing but graceless companions, who have undertaken to
show him life, and introduce him to society. He has been soaring with them
over all the roofs and steeples of Granada. A thunder-storm has passed over
the city, but he has not sought his home; night has closed in, and still he
comes not. To deepen the pathos of the affair, the female pigeon, after
remaining several hours on the nest without being relieved, at length went
forth to seek her recreant mate; but stayed away so long that the young ones
perished for want of the warmth and shelter of the parent bosom. At a late
hour in the evening, word was brought to Dolores, that the truant bird had
been seen upon the towers of the Generalife. Now it happens that the
Administrador of that ancient palace has likewise a dovecote, among the
inmates of which are said to be two or three of these inveigling birds, the
terror of all neighboring pigeon-fanciers. Dolores immediately concluded, that
the two feathered sharpers who had been seen with her fugitive, were these
bloods of the Generalife. A council of war was forthwith held in the chamber
of Tia Antonia. The Generalife is a distinct jurisdiction from the Alhambra,
and of course some punctilio, if not jealousy, exists between their
custodians. It was determined, therefore, to send Pepe, the stuttering lad of
the gardens, as ambassador to the Administrador, requesting that if such
fugitive should be found in his dominions, he might be given up as a subject
of the Alhambra. Pepe departed accordingly, on his diplomatic expedition,
through the moonlit groves and avenues, but returned in an hour with the
afflicting intelligence that no such bird was to be found in the dovecote of
the Generalife. The Administrador, however, pledged his sovereign word that if
such vagrant should appear there, even at midnight, he should instantly be
arrested, and sent back prisoner to his little black-eyed mistress.
Thus stands the melancholy affair, which has occasioned much distress
throughout the palace, and has sent the inconsolable Dolores to a sleepless
pillow.
"Sorrow endureth for a night," says the proverb, "but joy cometh in the
morning." The first object that met my eyes, on leaving my room this morning,
was Dolores, with the truant pigeon in her hands, and her eyes sparkling with
joy. He had appeared at an early hour on the battlements, hovering shyly about
from roof to roof, but at length entered the window, and surrendered himself
prisoner. He gained little credit, however, by his return; for the ravenous
manner in which he devoured the food set before him showed that, like the
prodigal son, he had been driven home by sheer famine. Dolores upbraided him
for his faithless conduct, calling all manner of vagrant names, though,
woman-like, she fondled him at the same time to her bosom, and covered him
with kisses. I observed, however, that she had taken care to clip his wings to
prevent all future soarings; a precaution which I mention for the benefit of
all those who have truant lovers or wandering husbands. More than one valuable
moral might be drawn from the story of Dolores and her pigeon.
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