Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-05-21
MISCELLANY A N Y
A Pigeon Turned Parrot.

A fashionable lady,of the very hgneSt clrcies'
adores birds.
She owns host of rare and brilliant kinds
and keeps them in one compartment OF little
CITY hot-house, where Spring takes refuge all
the Winter and which seems, speaking ornltho-
logically, like small corner OF Brazil transpor-
ted to our toggy and chilly region. The other
dsy, after breakfast, she was taking some OF her
friends in to look at her little guests, whose pu-
mage seemed to radiate with all the vivid hues
and changes of the most beautiful jewels. One
of the visitors noticed in nook of the spacious
aviary pure white pigeon, nesting asleep en-
tirely by itself Thinking that this peculiar at
titude of the bird was occasioned by some spe-
cial cause,not apparent to ounsccustomed eyes, she
asked the lady of the house to explain, which
she did in the following style:
ssThat pigeon said she, lis curiosity, not
on account offs species but its great age. The
care have bestowed upon it for ten years past
was but reparation for the manner in which |
treated it when was child | was very cru
el to it then-and now, am trying to make up
for my faults"
what to the pigeon?" asked some onein the
company. >,
have made whole play out of it. But don't be
alarmed I'll not make my narrative quite SO
long. This pigeon was once in cage IN the
country, with two other birds Of his own spe-
cies. The party evidently consisted of two gem
tlemen and lady pigeon. This is one Of the
gentlemen. Well, as l devoted q good deal of
time to my pets, in those days, it was not long
before observed that the lady, like human
doves of her sex, had her preferences, and paid
this beau certain marked attentions, to the great
discontinue and detriment Of his rival. The
! = ,,,l,~ f,
deavored TO obtain from the naughty beauty
some explanation of her cruel conduct, far from
being listened to, became the object of the fury
of the two lovers, who would dash at
him and tear him with their beaks and claws
until they made his feathers fly in every direction.
Such sight filled me with pity, and | deter
mined to effect separation. But there was
not room enough just then, and had to give up
that design. hit upon another device, howev-
er, which was this: took the favored rival"
THAT one there?" ''Yes, the same-I could
paint. and had some water colors at hand. So |
bedaubed the white pigeon until he was of fine
green color then painted his head crimson,
and the tips of his wings yellow-in short, |
disguised him as a parrot. When | had dried
him in the sun, replaced him in his cage-tot the
great terror OF his two companions, who now,
for the fast time, crowded together, trembling
in one corner of their abode. The parrot exam
ined himself turned his red head in amazement
over his green back, plucked at his feathers and
seemed utterly at loss to make out who he
was. 1t took whole day to get reconciled to
the change-a day of protracted fasting, for, un-
able to make out what was the matter with
him, the parrot pigeon did not think of eating
and this only increased the terror Of his neigh
bors, who gazed with intense suspicion at the
tank in which their strange visitor crouched in
silent revery
By the next day each of the three seemed to
have made up its mind, and the gentleman in
disguise began to tlirt again with his late inamo-
rata But the latter repulsed him with indigna-
ton, and summoned her new friend to her de-
fence A victim up to that time the discomtit-
ted rival now became the vanquisher, and in
their new alliance the two reconciled lovers both
flew ut the green stranger and tasted the flavor
of his water-colors ThraS, led almost to death,
the poor wretch cut such ridiculous figure that
would have given my prettlest BIRD to know
what could be passing in his battered pate. To
behold himself thus, Of pea green color, and
utterly despised and far worse, even mangled, he,
rhe pigeon, so lately master of chat proud beau
ty and the conquerer of his rival, was enough to
drive mad that elegant red head of his so fla
mngy tiuged with carm:ne Thus | had
brought vengeance ON the o;pressur.
Some days elapsed; water was put in the tank
and the parrot bathed and pucked himself 50
assiduousy that, little by little, he became, once
more, pigeon. But he never could regain the
lost favor of her who at the sight of his strange
plunage had become insensible TO his winning
WAYS. The fair one remained faithful to her
unfuithfulness; and, one day, when we were
lo,,,;n,, tha coIlntry | SET the twO oyarS fraa
keeping only the ex-parrot who. since his hap
less masquerade, has remained dreamer, asyou
see him now. | vowed to take particular care
of him all my life, rather all of his, and make
re,mration to him by dint of Seed fresh water
and hanging out MS cage in the sunshine. l
have Kept my word; and there you see him, the
only one of his kind among all these rare and
curious species.
Now, only substitute men and women for my
pigeons in this little ornthologcal story, ndyou
have fine drama for the Saint Martin!