Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-07

preached him and wished him good-morn-
ing. What surprised me most was the
appropriateness of the birds words to the
circumstances. OF course this was the
result of training; but how could bird,
not possessed of reasoning faculty, be
trained to know not only hon to articu-
late certain words, but achen to articulate
thems This was the question which
puzzled me. For example, when the
cups were being filled he looked graveIy
down to the table and asked: care We
wantin' yer tea?" and when we began to
eat he initiated the smacking of lips, and
asked: Is it nice? Is good--very
good?" And after he had partaken of
some dainty which Mrs. Truetitt gave
him he again initiated the smacking of
lips and pronounced it "good, good,
nice, nice, very nice" The fact IF this
appropriateness says much FIR Mrs.
Iruetitt, his sole and exclusive teacher;
but | confess that have always felt a
difficulty about it, We had salmon for
breakfast, and, some one having asked if
~ was SOeu, Oh Sdlu: Inc, une
taste it, taste it," and again initiated the
smacking Of lips, as if he were tasting
it himself. During the half hour or so we
sat at breakfast he seemed to know that
[ was there to hear him and report at
least-whiCh is not usual thing with
him so early in the day-he kept dancing
about the cage, AT firing off such SEN
fences as the following: Mamma,
Polly is going to school. Mamma, he's
going to college to learn to be a doctor
Yes, my pretty bridges" Here he
would pause little, and then start an
other theme. Sometimes he shouted
like mariner: What ship? what ship,
ahoy? Mate, there's man over
board, Of the royal navy" This last
sentence he articulated most admirably.
Then he was a baronet, and a candidate
for the sutfrages of q constituency.
"Vote," he cried, +" for Sir Polly Truefitt
l am member. Maj. Polly Trueftt,
of the British army" And that he was
interested in passing events was evident
from the fact that he asked Mr.. Trueftt
the following question: Peter, have you
seen the great Shah?" Then, as if he
wished me to understand that he was
not altogether ignorant of literature. he
quoted: Lay on, Macduff, and coaoard
be he who first cries, Hold, enough"
" A horse, a horse, my kingdom for
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 q 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 a aooes0me
manner: Poor papa, poor papa; he is
up among the little stars" This he had
picked up after the death of the late Mr..
Trueftt, 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
Butcher, poor Butcher! Blusher is Dead"
then sharply, but Butcher was only
dog" and very proudly, "but Polly is
good, good, good little boy. All, Jock"
this to the new dog-"you are a bad
boy Go to the kitchen, sir. You are
bad boy--yes, yes"
After breakfast | 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, 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 men
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: whats your name, sirs" The
old gentleman literally sank into
chair. My NAME" continued the par
rot, answering his own question:" my
name is pretty Polly Truefitt, seventy
two Princes street" (the number of
previous house, "I'm a Volunteer;
Capt Polly Truefitt, fist 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) Fix bayo-
nets. Rear rank, take open order; right
about face; quick, march! R00rGu, hur-