But alas for Teddy Roosevelt! The very first night he was
ignominiously whipped by the spiteful occupant of the cage, who
resented having these country visitors thrust into his house without
his leave. Poor Teddy died the next day. Admiral Dewey stood the
battle better than his unfortunate friend, but he too was pecked at in
a way so threatening that the groceryman concluded it would be wise to
get rid of him immediately. Because the admiral had not defended
himself better from his pet's attack, the grocer regarded him with some
disgust.
"Being as there was two of you and only one of the sparrow, 'pears as
if you hadn't much grit," he said. "I would better take your
high-soundin' name away from you and call you something else besides
Dewey, if you can't fight."
For all the man's censure, the redbird knew that if Teddy Roosevelt had
killed the sparrow instead of being killed by it, the grocer would have
been much more grieved at the loss, for he had heard him say the
sparrow was like one of his family. The man forgot that the result
might have been different if the redbirds had been older.
Having decided to dispose of the admiral, the grocer, who had an errand
in the city the next day, carried the bird with him. He knew of a
probable customer for it in a gentleman named Morris, who had been
advertising in the papers for a redbird.
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