Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-05-12
A Wonderful Parrat.

some years ago, but within the memory
OF man, parrots cage hung in a baker 3
shop in the good old town of Salem. The
parrot was a handsome one, with gay
plumage, and being given to saying very
sharp and witty things by accident or uther-
wise, was quite the pride and attraction of
the shop.
But Poll, unfortunately, although bird,
had some human weakness, and the baker
being only human, it sometimes fell ont
hat they got into difficulty; quareled,
you might even say, if the truth were to be
told.
Though as Poll had, for her own part, q
iorgiying disposition, and used, at such
times, after keeping discreetly quiet foi a
while, to come out suddenly with some
very wise or droll remark, that set all the
| shop laughing these troubles ordinarily
blew over before long.
1t happened one day that the city weigh
er came in, according to custom, to exam
inc the bakers stock of bread, and ascer-
tain whether it agreed with the weight pre-
scribed by law. Everything was found to
be right, and the weigher was Just about
to leave the shop, when Poll, who had been
narrowly watching proceedings from be-
/ tween her bars, called ont:
"Light bread under the bed Light
bread under the bed /"
The weigher, taking the hint turned and
passing into back room he found con-
cealed large number of loaves of light
weight, which he Immediately seized, i'm
posing, also, heavy fine on the shop.
He was no sooner gone than the baker, in
a rage, seized a dipper of hot water and
threw it over the parrots cage. Fortunately,
he was too hot himself 70 aim very we'll,
and only q small part of it reached the luck
less Poll. That, however, fell upon her
guilty head, and took OFF ali its brilliant
req feathers, her especial pride.
They did not grow again for long time,
and then only III a ragged, miserable way,
and poor Poll seemed to carry the scar OF
her disgrace in her very heart. She droop-
ed and hung her head and seldom spoke,
unless at twilight when she seemed to feel
that kindly veil was thrown over her de-
formity.
Things had been in this way for year or
more, when one day gentleman came into
the shop who had lost almost all his hair,
presenting round shiny pate, with only
very narrow rim Of curls around the back
and temples.
Poll looked earnestly at him, turning her
head from side to side, and winked know
ngly through her bars until he turned to
60, when she croaked out in sympathiz.
ing tone:
'Been saying light bread? been saying
light bread"
| Not long after this it fell out that Poll
was guilty of some misdemeanor which Sc
entirely exhaust ID her masters patience,
that Selling her by the head he wrung hen
neck, and threw her into the gutter FOL
dead.
But Poll had no idea Of giving up fol-
such trihe; she lay quite still for an hour
or two, until her injured feelings had some.
what recovered, when, getting slowly and
sorely upon her ugly feet, she began look
it in the shape of some corn, which had
been spilled near by, and was comfortably
picking it up, when lank, wicked looking
cat got sight of her, and planneda new and
last calamity.
Poll saw her draw nearer and nearer, one
noseless step at a time, but went quietly on
with her corn, keeping a sharp lookout,
however, until just as the cat was drawing
itself for spring. Then, ruffling up hel
feathers with frightful puff, and making
dart toward the cat with her beak, she
cried out in terrible voice:
"Scat, you BEAST"
With one terrified turn, and a dash round
the corner, such as only a cat can make,
Tabby disappeared forever, and the baker,
who had watched the proceedings, was SC
irresistibly amused that he laughed him.
self into good humor and bringing Poll in,
hung her up in her cage once more, where
she finished her days without further seri.
| ous misfortune