Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-06-04
4 DIPLOMATIC PAasHOT.



class the parrots and the beailtiial p.Srss-
kee,s. or all these. the most y,iquai.j lively
ard reliable entertainer was ! certain state
ly old parrot, in handscmc l,,ery Of green
and scarlet-the Secretsry's own particular
pet and gossip,
This remarkable bird was, aid trust is,
though in new home, and under q ew ad-
miniaira;ion. right . merry old SOUL" ap-
proachaLe and coniescendins, social, lo-
quacious, and little liable to the provoking
moods and sulks, the contrarious and can
tan kerous WAYS peculiar 10 his race.
Some time last summer, while the win
dow near which his cage stood was kept
open, the paeros was attracted by the v cal
exercises Of an infant next door, one Of those
cberubic babes that continually do cry;
AID at length he startled the family by an
imitation so ,doiorously perfect that it was
feared sonre poor little cass>away had some
how been sn,uggied into tue house. AT an
other time. b s master WAS afflicted with a
cough, and Immediately his faithful ancient
had symptoms OF bronchitis.
C;.:Ss.: -c:ccs ~ere snre 10 excite his en-.
ufat,en or his antiPathy. Oaone occasion,
VIXEN Senator sum u,er was discussing some
poliiicai question with the Secretary. no, by
any means taking pains to roar him gen
liy." tie Parrot became fearfully excited.
and, was told, act, ally screamed him down
with all sorts Of unparlimeaiary hoetings
and cat, calls. There may have been seme.
thing particularly disturbing TO parrot com.
pacencv in the orotund, antocratica. voice
Of Tie distinguished Senator from Massa,
chuse,ts. provoking that irreveieat fowl to
laugh a, bis Radical pronount ismenios, whis-
lie at his stately periods, and cough in the
midst of Latin Quotation 1t may have
been his private opinion that Senate OF
spirited parrots would long ago have rebelled
against a voice Of that exasperating and
cr-clthefra qua ~.
o. late wears. the politics ~ rhis wonder,
fuI bird have proBabl been Of to-. Conser-
vatise iype, but doubt net be has sowts
his own Mild oats of kadical;sn. doubt
not there was time shen such phrases as
The isrepressible Conflict"--grand words
which came from the lips of the great states
man cra,nmej with prophecy and power
were caught up ay his familiar and vslor>
ous.y reiterated, defying the unbeliei ard
The policy OF the hour. Ard think II very
Ekely there was period, when. sitting nod,
ding on his perch, in the midst OF. confusion
and dread, the birds CHEEKY refarin was
"Nine:y days, ninety days" Perhaps, sill
later he talked persissen,ly and knowingly,
Reconstruct n" Amnesty" "Alabama
claims, = Alaska
Yet affaLle. and communicative as he
seems, there has always been abou, this par
70; a certain air of mystery-a wise, sly
took. keen, cbservsnt. s'cute--a something
reserved, self con,sined, diplomatic. He
was IKE fea'hered despa,chbaa, Secre>
isry's portfolio. actually swelling with State
secrets. feel assured that bis astute mas,
ter must have debarred from his prese.ce
all newspaper reporters, lest, in some un-
guarded moment, hints OF great enterprises
and important treaties should drop uniimelv
from his bill
This clever parrot has fcnal. co,npan.
ion, pretty, amiable>louking bird. whose
cage used to stand close beside his. and
with whom he seemed to be on excellen,
terms, showing her, in bis lofty way, marks
of s'distihgu,shed considerations. = Madam
seldom talks. but she sings finely--is truly
. teathered prima donna Of extraordinary
talent !: yet she seldom sings alone, prefer.
ring to join with her friend in astonishing
musical performances. From the tranquil
character Of the intercourse of this pair.
trcm the fact of her silence, and his politics
ness, infer that their relations are not mat
rimonial. \ Platonic sentiment unites
them in peaceful and phiosophic friend>
ship. Franklin and the widow Of Helvetius
-Chateanbriand, and Madame Recamier.
once took some merry children to see
these marvellous parrots. l; was dreary
winter day, in the fag end OF Johnson's al
miuistraiion, and we found them alone and
quite in the dumps, considering their FREE
dom from cares and perp'exities, domestic
and political. Our coming evidently bright.
ened and inspired them, for they went
through their entire repertoir for our amuse.
meat. NJ. Parrot Laughed, coughed, whis-
tied, cried, and asked repeatedly after our
health. Nine. Parrot listened well pleased.
plumed herself, bastied about, ate the ca he
we offered her, dcank to our health, and grs
eiously informed Us that she was pretty
Polly
The children sung for them verse Of
"Comin' thro' the Rye.n Both paid rapt
attention, and after one repetition, ,reproduc,
the cir with really wonderful accuracy.
Madame, through her manner seemed to say,
by yt ur leave, Monsieur P,' proved hers
self TO be tine best singer BY far, having in
her voice some tones strangely human.
4 cage Of Lowell, South American parra>
keets were brought into the library, and
placed beside them. The parrots regarded
them very complscensly, but on our sppear,
ing too much absorbed by them, showed
signs OF 'mpa,ience and displeAsure, and re
doubled their eHlrts to please and astonish
Us.
While thus on exhibition, one Of these
parrakeets having. it may he, her little head
turi ed BY excitement, was seized 6y sud,
den vertigo or fit, staggered tumbled for.
warss on her beak, then went p'owing over
the carpet, round and round ia = most dis
tressisg wsy. Bur. am sorry 10 say that
those superior creatures, the parrots, showed
no alarm at this sn.aii rpiieptic attack, and
no JOY at the recovery Of the little sufferer.
While it autiered most wildly shout. head
down and tail up. Madame betrayed. per
baps, mild interest, sn, Monsieur Lisilsd
c0e..i 81.
What was Ilecuha to him or be to necuba,
.A9 That he should wcepfor hcry'
The Secretary's parrot, like the SECRETARY
bimself, has wonderful memory. lie has
always been foud Of = cer,aia loyable lady,
with The family, and during .he
earl, part Of the war when he. frequently
heard the .'Song OF John Brown he took
the fancy 10 bail the sight OF hes by inyari>
ably singing out, GLORY, glory, halleiujahr' =
as the only adequate expressions Of his Ger.
vent delights. This lady, after an ahseaee
Of some years lately visited the. Secretary,
and immediately on her sn'ering the library,
hes friend in green and scarlet gave ioy-
Gus laugh, ard shouted out the old greeting:
'Nlory, glory, halkinjah.'1 a "a s,,,,
Ah. what persons and what scenes may
not this strange little creature remember!
Once, when regarding hin, with the peculiar,
curious interest have in this kind, " hike he
sae dor few moments quite sihsut and mo>
,isnless, perhaps dreaming, pon4lering, re-
asked myself such questions
as these. Does be never family recall time
OF hurry and alarm in this honsehsld, whe u
the beloved master was brought home hurt,
and borne apthose stairs? when esery morn
ing he I.issed his great friends kindly salu,
tation as something pleasant taken out Of
his narrow life? Dues NJ recall the ine~ss>
ant coming and going Of aocsors and visit,
ors, for many dsyS2 : Does be remember
one hurried, long, yet weary step in the hall?
one pale, worn, honely face, lonking ii mn
IN hinif enc kindly face, which gsvd him
Jolly Rteetiegs 'now sud then? Is.hs ssver
ysited bysesafused, wemories ef. one dread.
fal night when there came AN awful snbid
den guest, stealing up, and leaping downs
those stairs: when THERE were wild cries