The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

was there to hear him and report d,
least-which is not usual thing with
him SO early in the day--he kept dancing
about the cage, al, firing of such sen.
tences as the following: Mamma,
Polly is going to school. Mamma, he's
going to college to learn to be doctor
Yes, my pretty bird-yes.r Here he
would pause little, and then start an
other theme. Sometimes he shouted
like mariner. What shipi what ship,
ahoy! Mate, there's man over
board, of the royal navy" This last
sentence he articulated most admirably.
Then he was baronet, and candidate
for the sufrages of constituency.
"Vote," he cried, for Sir Polly Truefitt.
l am member. Maj. Polly Truefitt,
Of the British army" And that he was
interested in passing events was evident
from the fact that he asked Mr.. Truefitt
the following question: Peter, have you
seen the great Shah?" Then, as if he
wished me to understand that he was
not altogether ignoraat Of literature, he
quoted: Lay on, MacduEp "a sosoard
be he who first cries, Hold, enoughr
:" A horse. horse, my kingdom for a
horse" Richard is himself again.
He repeated several other quotations,
which neglected to take down, but l
remember that at the close he very en-
phatically, and with dash of pride, pro-
nounced the authors name" Shake
speare'-and shook his head, as much as
to say that he knew what he was about.
After little silence he said in u0esome
manner: "Poor papa, poor papa; he is
up among the little stars" This he had
picked up after the death of the late Mr..
Truef1tt, who was very fond Of him. He
repeated this several times; and then,
naming terrier that once belonged to
the family, he said, mournfully, Poor
Blucher, poor Blucher! Blucher is dead !"
then sharply, "but Blucher was only a
dog" and very proudly, "but Polly is a
good, good, good little boy. All, Jock"
this to the new dog-"you are bad
boy Go to the kitchen, sir. You are a
bad boy-yes, yes"
After breakfast I was left alone with
the parrot, but not long An old gen.
tlemen called to see Mr.. Truefitt in his
studio. He had boy with him about
eight years of age, who was put into the
dining room to wait until the old gentle
man came down stairs The boy sat
down on the seat nearest the door, di-
rectly opposite Polls cage. A few mo-
ments of silence occurred, and then
Poll, pulling himself up, addressed the
little stranger thus: John, attend to
your master. John, fetch me cigar.
John, a glass of beer with the chill off.
John, put the horses to the carriage; /;
Polly wants drive In the gardens with
Lady Polly. John, brush my coat; quick,
you rascalr' At the conclusion of this
speech, which was delivered with an
air of authority, the poor little fellow,
whose name happened to be John, was
nearly frightened out Of his wits, and
leaving the room he disappeared up
stairs, screaming, "Grandpa, the bird In
the room has been speaking to me!'
When the old gentleman came down he
would see this wonderful bird; and he
had no sooner made his appearance in
the dining-room than Poll very sharply
asked: What's your name, sir?" The
old gentleman literally oanls into a
chair. My name," continued the par
rot, answering his own question" my
name is pretty Polly Truefitt, seventy
two Princes street" (the number of a
previous house, "Im a Volunteers
Capt. Polly Truefitt, first Highland com
pany. What corps are your Then put
ting himself into the attitude Of drill
sergeant he unburdened himself in the
following manner: Attention! Dress.
Eyes front. Shoulder arms" (The reader
will excuse Polly's order.) Elk bayo-
nets. Rear rank, take open order; right
about face; quick, march! Hoordy, hur-
rah for the Prince of Wales! Sergeant
major, right wheel. Make ready, make
ready-present fire." He then con
tinued for some time shouting toot-oot-
oot," ETC., in imitation Of firing of rifles.
The old gentleman was thunderstruck,
and no wonder, for Polls pronunciation
while delivering himself of these words
of drill, the infection of his voice and
entire attitude are SO perfect that cap
tain of volunteers told me that the first
time he heard him at it he was waiting
for Mr.. Truefitt in the adjoining drawing
room, and could scarcely believe, even
after the truth was made known to him,
but that Mr.. Truefitt, being Volunteer,
had engaged a drill instructor to post
him up for the evening. Indeed" he
added, II never heard a drill-sergeant
whose articulation was to be compared
to that of the parrot" After this effort,
as if conscious of having done good
mornings work, Poll wished us "goOd-
by" and leaping into his ring said No
more until the one o'clock gun, which is
fired from the castle, went off; when,
rousing himself up, he made the room
ring by CRYING, Zone o'clock one
o'clock! Polly wants his dinner. Jeanie,
lay the cloth. Polly wants his dinner,
with glass Of sherry" and ceased not
until the cloth was laid and the dinner
set.
1t will be necessary to pass over the
afternoon performances Of this wonderful
bird, as description of them would take
up too much space. In the evening four
ladies were present, and among them a
clergyman's wife, who was more than
delighted with Polls singing AS if GER
tain that he would be desired to sing, he
made the following request to himself !:
"Poll," he said, Using pretty song to
the ladies' then coughing, like ner-
vous young lady about to entertain a
party, he sang the following verses, Civ
ing to each its appropriate tune:
.Oh, dear! what can the matter be:
Jockey stays long at the fair;
He promised to buy me a bunch Of blue ribbons
To tie up my bonnie brown hair.
"For Polls jolly good fellow,
Polls jolly good fellow,
Polls jolly good fellow,
Which nobody can deny"
"Down among the Goals,
Down among the Goals,
Polly is clever chap,
Down among the Goals"
"I wish / was swell,
A-roving down all-Mall,
Upon the street to spread my feet,
wish was . swell,
Don't I! ratherl''
He sang other verses during theevening,
such as " Charlie is my darling" but, OF
course, substituting Polly for
" Charlie;' up in balloon, boys"