Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-02-22
WHOLE NO. 1765.
The Pink Parrot and the Gray Boy

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Once there was a parrot. / knew
him. He wore a pink suit, with q
pale, sulphur hued plume in his crest
ed cap.
And there was boy; and / knew
him. He wore a gray suit. There
was shiny silver buckle on his cap.
The Gray Boy owned the Pink Par
rot. The Pink Parrot owned nothing
nothing now not even himself. 1t
was great change, | tell you, from a
forest to cage, from choosing his
own fruit and nuts to waiting for
them upon the pleasure of Boy. The
Pink Parrot judge all boys by the
Gray Boy, and he mated boys. He
often sat on his ring, silent, motion
less, and hated boys by the hour.
The Gray Boy would bring in
grapes and berries and nuts, and lay
them down in plain sight. but out of
reach, saying to the Pink Parrot.
'Wait a-bit! wait a. bitn' And the
Pink Parrot would wait, and while
he waited, the Gray Boy made faces.
Parrots have hooked bill, and the
upper jaw is hung with hinge, like
box lid. Did you know itP
The Gray Boy would stand before
the Pink Parrot, and draw his chin In
to look like the booked bill; then he
would work his mouth like hinge.
Indeed the Pink Parrot was never
certain of his breakfast, as to time nor
quantity. Ten to one, when a luscious
grape was all but in his bill the Bow
would 90 out of the room carrying the
grape with him. He would say "WilI
you have 1t now or wait until you can
get it? Maybe he would come back
and maybe he wouldn't.
But the Pink Parrots day came at
last.
The Gray Boy had a watch lately
given him, lovely o! little darling
OF gold watch, that would tick, and
need to be real truly" wound up at
night. 1t had fob chain and some
charms anchors and bells and bows
and arrows, mimic skates and ball
6ats,-and render his life perfectly
delightful. was attached to the Gray
Boys fob chain.
The Gray Boy one morning the oath
of December in fact, was to take the
past nine train all by himself, to Join
bis papa and mamma at his grand pa
pas In the country. He had been
left IN town with the housekeeper,
until school should close.
! The Gray Boy had had breakfast
and was now already to go. 1t had
been hasty meal, bat was there not
to be stuffed turkey and cranberry
sauce for dinner? He had hidden the
housekeeper good morning, and had
gone up stairs for the bunch of hot
house rosebuds and the HarperS
magazine he was to take out to man.
ma, and to brush his coat and put on
his watch.
He had left them up there on the
sitting-room table, in readiness all to-
gether, a moment ago. And now how
could he believe bis eyes, that his
watch was not on the table! The Gray
boy was in double dismay. 1t was
near train time, and then the idea
came to him that a sneak thief had
been in the house He ran up to his
room to see if he could have left the
watch in it's case; he ran down, calling
aloud to the housekeper as he went.
but she had stepped out. He ran
back again, and stood still, looking
blankly at the table.
All at once, high over his head,
there was shrill cackle of laughter.
The Gray Boy looked up. He gave
an angry cry. There in the ebony
ring which had been attached to the
ceiling for his swing, high out OF
reach swung the Pink Parrot. The
The gold watch was between his
claws, the chain glittering as it hung.
He met the Gray Boys eyes, he cack-
led again and laughed maiciously.
Wait a but ,0aH a bitl" he shriek-
ed
The Gray Boy danced with rage.
While he was dancing he heard
the whistle of the half past nine train.
He wildly fiew back to the kitchen.
The housekeeper had not returned.
He flew upstairs again, and tears
running down his cheeks, he flow out
into the street
| VIII you haze it no,o, or rat until
you can get it,
This was what the naughty Pink
Parrot shrieked after him, cackling
with derisive laughter until he nearly
fell off the ring.
| Just sobbng with helpless rage the
Gray Boy rushed up the walk toward
tall man in blue with star on his
breast. ''P lice, say p'lice!"
| The policeman was greatly pu2-
zled by the queer, half understood re
quest; but be went into the house.
And whether the Pink Parrot had
been used to seeing policemen in the
green forests of Australia and knew
him at once, cannot say; but | know
he started; lodged, and nearly tum.
bled out ofthe ring when the policeman
entered; and carefully taking the watch
in his beak he dropped down to the
table with it, and, leaving it. scrubbed
out OF the room as fast as ever he
could, squealing and cackIing like an
imp.
The Gray Boy had his watch again
unhurt, but the day was spoilt. His
luscious grape was not brought back.
Train was gone, and he had to stay
in town all through lonely Christ
mas day, and eat commonplace din
ner with the housekeeper- And the
Pink Parrot laughed. .-Elta Farma's,
in February Vide Assake.