The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-29
Grace Before Meat.

That gratitude which consists in a
lively sense of favors to come Is some
times shown by the humbleness Of God )
creatures.
An aged maiden lady had a parrot, the
solace of her declining years. She had
trained it piOusly (being Of religious
turn herselG, and taught it to say the
most beautiful things out Of the Bible.
The bird was more to her than words
could tell; she loved it dearly, not be
cause it looked like her, for that she
never knew, but because it was 50 good
and pure a bird, so ready with a comfort
ing text when she felt sad. 1t never ate
a cracker without pious ejaculation
between each bite, nor never thrust ITS
head under its wing without saying Its
prayers. But disease is no respecter OF
persons OF parrots, and this exemplary
bird fell sick one day.
The doctor was called in, but in all
his experience he said he had never seen
nothing like it. The neighbors were
summoned, but none of them appeared
to understand the parrots case. The
poor bird grew worse, and did nothing
but to repeat the book of job. At this
crisis. however,-the sOrrOwing maiden,
whose wits were sharpcned by the emer-
pency. remembered an elderly sea cap
tain. who lived not far away, and who
was believed to know something about
parrots. At her fearful summons he
gallantlv came to the rescue, and, after
careful examination of the symptoms,
gave it as his opinion that the bird was
lonesome-in short that it was pinlng
for a mate.
"Not that you amt good enough COM
Danv for the parrot, NUM- don't mean
that" said the captain hastily; "but
then you know, mum, you both being OF
the sex. num-" he continued, turning
very red-"gentIeman bird that's whats
the matter"
That was a horrible suggestion, but
desperate disease require heroic treat
ment. Had he a bird Of that kind
Well, yes, he had. And would he bring
il over? Well, he would; but then he
didn't know as he Oughter, being as how
his bird was raised aboard ship, and
wasn't moral bird, from hearing the
sailors talk. Did his bird swear much?
Was it 50 very wicked? No, it wasn't
So very wicked on the Cuss wOrd-but-
and then the captain explained to the
agitated lady as delicately as he could
that seafaring men, long deprived Of the
refining influence of female society, were
blunt of speech, and the morals Of the
best meaning parrots in the world were
likely to suffer in consequence.
But even as he spoke the parrot had
another fit, and it was determined to at
tempt to save its life, at whatever risk Of
its morals, 80 without delay, the nautical
bird was brought and placed i'll the cage.
"Avast there, mate - said the tcathered
son of Neptune.
"The Lord be praised-for 10! the
bridegroom cometh," feebly responded
the sick parrot. ID, 80,
"You bet your bottom dollaron that
said the disreputable bird. "Heaye
alongside?' -,
"And there were twelve fool lish virgins
who'-continued the sufferer, still quot
ing Sculpture. -,
2sVirgins be blowed!' replied the an
cient mariner, who had Travelled and OBJ
served, That's played outl Open the
hatchway! Haul taut the sheets ! star
board your helm, and ZIP
At this moment a shrek from the hor-
rified lady, who swooned in the captain 5
arms, drowned the remark. What the
abandoned bird said will never be known
but this was the reply of the pious one:
''FOr what we are about to receive,
Oh! Lord make us truly grateful"