Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-11-25
THE PURE-MINDED PARROT.


TO find a vessel just from the African
coast, hoping that some ofthe crew might
have brought home an innocent. hearted
pure-minded parrot, which might be
purchased at reasonable figure, and
trained mp in the way good parrots should
walk and talk. The vessel was found,
and the sailors had brought back splen-
did specimen of African parrot, and they
didn't want but five dollars for it. The
clergyman admired its pumage, thought
the age was just right, inquired after its
general health, and asked
"Has the bird yet attempted to utter
any words ?''
"Bless your topsails, but she talks as
well as boy ten years DID," replied the
sailor.
"Then ! don't want her. She has
probably caught up great many bad
expressions, and she would not be fit
pet for my household"
"Avast now ~ said Jack. "Do you
suppose that man like me, who reads
the good book twice day, would have
bad bird around him Stand back and
I'll show you what Christian bird I've
made of her."
Giving Polly a rap on the head to wake
her up, the sailor called out:
"Now, Polly, who was the first MANI"
ADAM" was the prompt reply.
"That's so, Polly. And now tell this
good man who was first cast into the
lions den ?"
Daniel" was the answer.
"Did you ever see such bird before?"
asked Jack of the clergyman. "While
other parrots will blast your eyes and
bless your parsnips, this one turns to re-
ligon and keeps her mind on heaven
Now, Polly, who was tucked away in
the bulrushes when he was too small to
carry sail tor himself ?"
"Moses-Moses," quacked the bird.
'Isn't she diamond ?" exclaimed
Jack trying to wink at the minister with
both eyes.
VI must confess she is the best-mind-
ed parrot ever saw or heard Of" re-
piled the clergyman.
"That isn't half she can do, skipper"
continued the sailor. "Now, my dear
Polly, how many commandments are
there ?"
"Ten," screamed Polly.
"That's right, old gal. Now tell the
man which is the first day in the week"
Sunday" was the quiet reply.
81 tell you" remarked Jack, as he
turned to the clergyman. 81 was brought
up right, and I've been trying to bring
that bird up right. She's worth twenty
dollars 20 any man, but seeing you preach
the Gospel, you shall have her for five"
guess I'll take her." replied The min
lister, producing his wallet. "As | said
before the bird is one of ten thousand,
and you deserve credit for the care you
have taken in her teaching"
~ hope l do SIR" was Jacks modest
reply, and then giving Polly rap on
the head, he inquired
"Now, then, get your bearings and tell
me who was going to offer his son as
sacrifice
abraham ~ shouted the bird, shak-
ing its feathers as if greetly pleased.
you'll situp nights to hear that bird
talk, you WILL" said the sailor. "If
hadn't said five dollars to you l should
say fifty to the next man. l never had
time to learn her, but | believe | could
have that bird singing hymns in just one
voyage to Liverpool. She started out to
sing Old Hundred, one day when we
were off St. Helena, and if the captain
hadn't yelled out just then, l believe the
bird would have picked up the whole
tune like whistle"
The clergyman said he would go and
purchase a small cage in which to remove
the bird, and he had started for the rail
when Jack called out /:
"Just hear one more question. want
you to appreciate this bird for what she's
worth"
The clergyman went back TO the cage,
and Jack shook up the bird, and called
out =:
"PolIy, old gal, who did the ravens
feed ? Speak up sharp now."
"Lijah !" shrieked Polly, seeming
greatly angered over the shaking; and
after an interval of few seconds she
continued
"Where in HIS them crackers ?"
Jack and the good man looked at each
other for a moment, and then the minis
ter climbed slowly over the rail, neve. to
return-not even TO get his fve-dollar
bill.
"See what you did % yelled Jack, as
he turned to the bird
And all the answer that Polly made
was to softly say
"Cussum ~
A BLACK EYE.-When a man is split
tinp wood and a stick flies IN and blacks