The daily gazette., 1875-11-09
GRACElBEFURE MEAT.

That gratitude which consists in
q lively sense of favors to come Is
sometimes shown by the humblest
of Gods creatures.
An aged lady had parrot, the
solace Of her declining years. She
had trained it piously (being of
religious turn herselO, and taught
it to say most beautiful things out
of the Bible. The bird was more
to her than words could tell she
loved it dearly, not because it look
ed like her, for that she never
knew, but because it was so good
aud pure bird, so ready with a
comforting text when she felt sad.
1t never ate a cracker without a
pious ejaculation before each bite,
nor ever thrust its head under its
wing without saying It's prayers.
But disease is no respector of per-
sons or parrots, and this exemplary
bird fell sick one day.
The doctor was called in, but in
all his experience he said, he had
seen nothing like it The neigh
bors were summoned, but none of
them appeared to understand the
parrots case. The poor bird grew
worse, and did nothing but repeat
the Book Of Job. At this crisis,
however, the surrowing maiden,
whose wit, were sharpened by the
emergency, remembered an elderly
sea captain, who lived not far away
and who was believed to know
something about parro's. At her
fearful summons he gallantly came
to the rescue, and, after carefully
examining tho symptoms, gave it
as His opinion that the bird was
lonesome-in short, it was pining
for mate.
Not that you amt good enough
company for parrot, NUM- don't
mean that" said the Captain hssti-
ly; "but then you know, mum,you
both being of the same sex, num-
he continued, turning very red ;
gentleman bird ; that's what's the
matter
1t was horrible suggestion, but
desperate diseases require heoric
treatment, Had he a bird of that
kind ? Well, yes he had And
would he bring it oyer? Well, he
would ; but then he didn't know as
he had .ughter; being as how his
bird had been raised aboard ship
and wasn't moral bird, from hear
ing the sailors talk. Did his bird
swear much Was it so very
wicked? No; it wasn't very
heavy on the cuss words---but-and
then the Captain explained to the
agitated lady as delicately as he
could that seafaring men. long de-
prlved OF the refining influences of
female society,were blunt ofspeech,
and that the morals of the best
meaning parrots in the world were
likely to suffer in consequence.
but even as be spoke the parrot
mad another fit, and it was deter
mined to attempt to save its life at
whatever risk of its morals; so
without delay the nautical bird was
brought and placed in the cage.
"Ayast there, mate ?" said the
feathered son of Neptune
The Lord be praised-for 10 !
the bridegroom cometh r' feebly
responded the sick parrot.
"You can bet your bottom dollar
on that !" said the disreputable
bird. "Hesve alongside w
And there were II foolish vir-
gins who'-continued the sufferer,
still quoting scripture.
Virgins be blowed - replied
the ancient mariner, who had trav-
eled and observed. "That's played
out! Open the hatchway! Haul
taunt the stern sheets Starboard
your helm, and Pll-'
AT this momeut shrek from the
Mortified lady. who swooned in the
Captains arms, drowned the re-
mark. What the abandoned bird
said will never be known but this
was The reply of the pious one
"For what we are about to re-
ceive, Obi Lord, make us truly
grateful. = Washington Sunday
Herald.