Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-09
Political Parrot.

was on the "shilling side Of Broadway" Il
don. know the origin of this derogatOry designa-
tom, one bot morning. when the metropolitan
disposition 10 ice cream impelled me into a con
fectiOner's shop. The back parlor of former
aristocratic dwelling was the refreshment room.
It's large windows looked towards the east. and
the room Was flooded with sugshiue-such as
Londoner Is never blessed or blinded vith, for
there are two sides even to the subject OF sun
shine. In the warm heat of the light there was
brilliant green parrot, fastened by silver
chain 70 perch. where she seemed to rest from
pure choice. She singing as / never heard
parrot sing-with human naturalness and roll
licking joyousness. The song. an ancient favor
tie with certain class in the land of its birth,
bad met a favor with all classes in the land Of
its adoption:
"0h, It's my delight on s shiny night" etc
She sung il all without once stopping or
breaking down.
The waiter who wiped the small table where
had seated myself, aud handed me the daily pa
per fastened in machine lest il should run
away, remarked. Twenty years old. if she's a
day"
gave my order, and then listened to the song
until il was finished, respectful audience
should, DOT interruptipg to applaud. Then
said. Bravo. Pollyw
The parrot turned her head and looking at
me sharply. said, rapidly, What's your name
What do you wantf Can YOU whistle,"
Whats your namei" l replied in Yankee
fashion. answering one question, or three, with
another.
Pretty Poll, pretty Poll. poor POLL Polly
wants q cracker Polly Brown. Polly Brown
Capt John Browns bird. ship Midas. Bought
Of niger king on the gold coast, for pair of
red breeches and roasting pig. Brought TO
Philadelphia in eighteen hundred and forty.
Don't you know the devils dead2 Choked to
death with Quaker's head Captain Browns
bird Captain Browns a whig; wears clean
shirt.
This sent the parrots association to sea. and
she proceeded TO heave anchor with will,
changing merr'ly to sailor songs till an magma
~ storm came on Then she gave orders thro'
a speaking trumpet. proving that she had been
forgotten and left on deck during a squall, and
that she had been so much frightened as to in
terrupt the progress of her education. When
the storm was over she took 10 the pump and
sang with tenderness and fair leather after n
storm sweetness:
Rock and roll me ever one more dsy
One more day, my darling,
on, rock and roll me over
One more day"
The parrots usual sharp, barking inhumanIty
OF voice was not presented in this specimen. She
epohc huQ sauR ike music loving negro OF IN
telligence and European training Doubtless her
first lessons had been given BY such master.
/ am sorry to be Obliged 10 record that presently
Captain Browns bird began running fire Of
very naughty words. AS the Yankees say, ut
would be pretty TO repeat this portion of the
birds performance Like good artist. she did
not allow her audience to tire from the length of
the entertainment She came by sudden transi-
ton TO the rehearsal OF political contests. She
elected General Harrison to the presidency Of the
United States, With great eeiat, singing.
"Hsve you heard the great eommotion,
Motion, notion
The country through
IL 70 the ball rolling on,
For nppeeanos and Tyler too,
And with them wen beat little yan
Van. Van, Is used up man"
The nsxt presidential campaign" rehearsed
by the bird was that in which Mr. Henry Clay
failed to be elected The refrain of one of the
songs was sung 20 the tune of Old Dan Tucker:
- Get out ofthe way, yon're all unlucby,
Clear the way for Old Kentucky
Millions of men. north. south. cas-, and west.
had sung the same doggerel TO the same negro
music, with the same hos, of torchght process
sions and tar barrel bonfres that the parrot was
now singing in the soft sunshine OF early spring.
IN the metropolis of the great republic.
Capt. Browns bird vas a living history of
much that had not found record elsewhere.
When at last she ceased to eng. turned To the
table. 10 End a melted ice cream and an iced
cherry cobbler awaiting my leisure paid prop
er attention 10 the legitimate fud, aud was pay
ing my score. when young girl. as pretty as
young American girls often are. brushed past
me. and pat her faded and attentive mother, who
sat at the receipt of cash evidently going to
school. for she bad book and porcelain slate in
her hand The parrot cried out briskly. Mag
gle. have you got your geography She re-
piled. Yes. have" and went her way.
The feminine cashier assured me that the par
rot knew the meaning of jail she said, and OF all
that was said 10 her. The proprietress believed
in her rational powers as fully os the negroes be
lieve in those of the monkey. Il only wish. .
said she, chat she would not say so many things
that are not pretty"
Should the age of the parrot be correctly esti
mated by naturslists. this same bird may live to
celebrate dozen more presidential elections. or
perhaps the Inauguration of an elective mon
srchy.-Aiithe Year Round.