The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-02
Tie Pink Parrot and the Gray Boy.

Tie Pink Parrot and the Gray Boy.
Once there was q parrot. / knew
him. He wore pink suit, with pale,
sulphur hue9 plume in his crested cap.
And there was q boy and L knew
him. He wore a gray suit. There was
a shiny silver buckle on his cap.
The Gray Boy owned the Pink Parrot.
The Pink Parrot owned nothing-noth-
ing now, not even himself. 1t was a
great change, tell you, from forest
to cage, FROM choosing his own fruit
and nuts to waiting for them upon the
pleasure of boy. The Pink Parrot
Judged all boys by the Gray Boy, and he
hated boys. He often sat on his ring,
silent, motionless, 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. bit 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 a hinge, like a
pox-hd. Did you know it,
The Gray Boy would stand before the
Pink Parrot, and draw his chin in to
look like the hooked 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 Gray Boy would go
out of the room carrying the grape with
To hox
now, or wait till you can get it," May
be he would come back, and maybe he
wouldn't.
But the Pink Parrots day came Of
last.
The Gray Boy had watch lately given
him, a lovely-O little darling of O
gold watch, that would tick, and need to
be real truly wound up at night. 1t
had a fob-chain and some charms
anchors and bells and bows and arrows,
mimic skates and ball bats-evorything
in fact, that would interest boy, and
render his life perfectly delightful, was
attached to the Gray Boys fob-chain.
The Gray Boy, one morning, the 24tl
of December in fact, was to take the
half-past 8 train, all by himself, to join
his papa and mamma at his grandpa's
in the country. He had been left il
town, with the housekeeper, until school,
should close.
The Gray Boy had had breakfast, and
was now ready to go. 1t had been 6
hasty meal, but was there not to be
stuffed turkey and cranberry sauce fol-
dinner He had hidden the house
keeper good-morning, and had gone up
stairs for the bunch of hot-house rose
buds and the Harper's Magazine h.
was to take out to mamma, and to brusl
his coat and put on his watch.
He had lett them up there on the sit
ting-room table, in readiness, all to
gether, moment ago. And now, how
could he believe his eyes, that his watcl
was not on the table The Gray Boz
was in double dismay. 1t was neal
train time, and then the idea that /,
sneak thief had been in the house III,
ran up to his room to see if he coult
have left the watch in its case he raj
down, calling aloud TO the housekeepe,
as he went. But she had stepped out
He ran back again, and stood still, look
ing blankly at the table.
All at once, high over his head, Their,
was shrill cackle of laughter. TIL,
Gray Boy looked up. He gave ali angr,
cry. There, in the ebony ring which
had been attached to the ceiling for hi
swing, high out of reach, hung the Pinl
Parrot. The gold watch was between
his claws, the again glittering as it hung
As he met the Gray Boys eyes h.
.cackled again and laughed maliciously.
"Wait bit, wait a bit ! i" he shrieked
The Gray Boy danced with rage
While dancing he heard the whistle O
the half post train. He wildly flew
down to the kitchen. The housekeepe
had not returned. He flew up stair
again, and, tears running down hi
cheeks, he flew out into the street.
"Will you have il now, or wait unit
YOU can get ita"
This was what the naughty Pink Par
rot shrieked after him, cackiing with de
risive laughter until he nearlyfell off til
ring.
Just sobbing with helpless rage tn
Gray Boy rushed up the walk toward
tall man In blue with star on his breas
"P'lice / say, p'lice!"
The policeman was greatly puzzle
10y the queer, misunderstood reques
but he went into the house. An
whether the Pink Parrot had been use
to seeing policemen in the green forest
of Australia and knew him of once,
cannot say; but / knew he starte,
lodged and tumbled out of the rim
when they entered; and carefully takir
the watch in his beak he dropped dow
to the table with it, and, leaving
scrambled out of the room as fast as ev
he could, squealing and cackling like q
imp. 49,,
unhurt; but the day was spoilt, b
luscious grape was not brought bac
The train was gone, and he had to st,