Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-07-03

truth compels me, in the very teeth Of ro-
nance and tender traditions, TO declare
that he did quite as well afterwards as
could be expected-better. in fact: seem
ing decidedly to enjoy having all the cage
to himself He hoped around livelier
than ever, and paid more attention TO his
dress than formerly. With the water-cup
for 4 mirror, he would prank and prink
himself up Of mornings as though he in
tended making early calls. | have seen
wldowers conducting themselves similarly
before the first grass had sprouted above
the grave Of the . late lamented." etc The
idea that he was hiding his grief by
an outward show OF jollity, and secretly
pinin9 away at heart, does not seem reason
able TO me for atfliction and appetite sell
dom find Judgement in the same breast.
Indeed, | am somewhat suspicious that he
had something to do with the death Of his
spouse, for. under the pretence OF caressing
her. he used TO give her sharp dabs with
his beak, and her feathers were few
when she died | am too familiar with
married life under certain phases and cen
fact are kicks and pinches, and especially
L III not 10 Dc IOOlcu bh DiGu-.
Laurita the old gentleman who
claimed TO know all about birds, and re-
commended olive-oil, so christened the sur
vivor, asserting that ii was the Spanish
name for all paroquets-throve like a
green-bay tree; wild as hawk. and full
of health and strength, he would scream
as he swung on his hoop, and chatter 10
himself all the day and half the night
through, till il seemed that nothing, not
even olive-oil, could shatter so splendid
constitution. And he reached this port III
safety.
1t was May, the middle OF May, the
month when flowers are supposed to be in
blossom and in view of the ethereal mild
ness attributed 10 the season put on thin
clothes and the bird moted We both
caught rheumatism in consequence, and
lay on our backs for fortnight. got up
after while, but there seemed no proba-
bilitv OF the birds recovering. His legs
were doubled up and twisted up like grape
vine tendrils: as he was not able TO sit on
his perch | had bed spread for him of
cottonwood at the bottom Of his cage, aud
there the poor thing lay. incapable Of even
rolling himself over. and | had TO turn
him like a slap-jack But he was a fellow
of exceeding pluck, and seemed resolved
never to say die. Approach him with
your finger, and he would peck at 1t a.
vigorously as ever, rejecting all offers Of
sympathy, and evincine a determination to
20 down, if 90 he must with eolors and
claws defnantly flying.
After trying Mustang Liniment without
| n Il,
hand one day and carried him to a bird
doctor to inquire what could be done for
his restoration. The man shook his head
deprecatingy, and said that nothing could
be done beyond putting the poor thing out
of pain 1t had cramps he explained. and
they were invariably fatal. Paroquetr
were too tender TO endure Il northern eli
mate-even III spring they were sure e
have such attacks, and never recovered
from them And he kindly volunteered tC
kill and stuff my pet for me. at a less price
than | could get good work done AZ any
other establishment in the city.
rejected the proposition with horror
for a. long as there Is life there Is hope
, even for bird and that afternoon
/ started for the country. when | can
think of anything else to do | always star
? for the country.) | had noticed that oi
putting the bird into the cage again h
seemed much better, and legs and fee
were not quite 50 gnarled and tangle,
as before This good result | attribute
: not so much to the beneficial effects Of tn
walk as to the warmth Of my hand, an,
: gathered q hint from il which | atterward
made available
The family at home were Very much in
: terested from the first in this sick strange
e he looked 80 disconSolate, lying on hi
: back, his claws Sticking up III the air lik
D cock-robin's in the picture representative O
4 the murder done on that innocent by I'll
). sparrow besides, he had such foreie
air about him. such a SAVIOR Of travel. tina
d the feminine sympathies were enlisted j
/ his favor At once.
j For some two weeks he had not bee
n able to wash himself and Fanny al one
+ suggested that he must have . bath.
l. bath is her sovereign remedy for all pain
y and aches that come to her pets and sll
: had already drowned one rabbit. two Iii
|. tens and a guinea-pig. | offered no oi
r iections to the proposed practice, and
4 bowl of tepid water was Immediately pr'
Al pared But the paroquet. being part
le more Immediately concerned, did not tax
: things so quietly.
ID 1t will do YOU good, poor Birdy, sal
Is Fanny but Birdy entertained total
/. different opinion. and kicked and peckC
,e and screamed, and was only finally plunge
le head and tail under after a most emphat
of protest.
o. After coming out Of his porcelain tn
N poor Laurita was a sorry-looking obje
II indeed, and of this he seemed consclou,
ul for he dropped his tail and his indigna
m tone, and made no further demonstratiol
50 of pride. After having his feathers te
lie derly dried, he was hung over the kitch'
I stove, from a string used i'll the fall +
e. drying apples, and very soon no traces
ed moisture were visible on his body. /
. seemed to feel better Immediately; h
of black eyes twinkled as they had not do
er for DAYS: and he opened and shut DO
ed them and his claws, though rejoicing
III a new strength.
a. That evening, Fanny was very bu
nd with needle and thread and red fam
ne So many other objects of interest were
ht the carpet that very little attention W
paid to what she was doing; but the ne
he morning the secret was out. She h
10. made pair of red flannel drawers for t
bv paroauet, and they were tried on him
mt fore breakfast. A more astonished bi
he YOU never saw. One would really ha
no thought that he never before had on dra
of ers, the heather. He pecked at the
i