The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-01
The Pink Parrot and the Gray Boy.


Once there was parrot. I knew
him. lie wore pink suit, with pale,
sulphur hued plume in his crested cap.
And there was boy and I knew
him. He wore 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. It was q
great change, J. tell you, from forest
to cage, from choosing his own fruit
and nuts to waiting for them upon the
pleasure OF q boy. The Pink Parrot
judged all boys by the Gray Boy, and he
hated boys. He often sat on his ring,
silent, notionless, 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
ITO 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 hinge, like q
jbox-lid. 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 luscious grape was all
but in his bill, the Gray Boy would go
out of the room carrying the grape with
him q xuO171H WIFI -
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 at
Last.
The Gray Boy had watch lately given
him, lovely-O little darling of
gold watch, that would tick, and need to
'be real truly " wound up at night. It
had fOb-chain and some charms
anchors and bells and bows and arrows,
mimic skates and ball bats-everyth
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 Oath
of December in fact, was to take the
half-past 9 train, all by himself, to join
his papa and mamma at his grand 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 ready to go. 1t had been a
hasty meal, but was there not to be
stuffed turkey and cranberry sauce for
dinner? He had hidden the house
keeper good-morning, and had gone up
stairs for the bunch of dollhouse rose
buds and the Hnrper's Magazine he
was to take out to mamma, and to brush
his coat and put on his watch.
He had left them up there on the sit
ting-room table, in readiness, all to-
.gether, a moment ago. And now, how
could he believe his 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 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 housekeeper
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, there
was a shrill cackle of laughter. The
Gray Boy looked up. He gave ali angry
cry. There, in the ebony ring which
had been attached to the ceiling for his
swing, high out of reach, hung the Pink
Parrot. The gold watch was between
his claws, the again gittering as it hung.
As he met the Gray Boys eyes he
4cackled again and laughed maliciously.
"Wait bit, wait bit !" he shrieked
The Gray Boy danced with rage.
While dancing he heard the whistle of
the half past 9 train. He wildly flew
down to the kitchen. The housekeeper
had not returned. He flew up stairs
again, and, tears running down his
cheeks, he flew out into the street
CIVIL you have it now, or wait until
you can get it,"
This was what the naughty Pink Par
rot shrleked after MIN, cacklng with de-
risive laughter until he nearly fell off the
ring.
Just sobbing with helpless rage the
Gray Boy rushed up the walk toward a
tall man III blue with star OH his breast.
"P'lice | say, p'lice"
The policeman was greatly puzzled
by the queer, misunderstood request
(but he 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 I knew he started,
lodged and tumbled out. of the ring
when they entered; and carefully takine
the watch in his beak he dropped down
to the table with it, and, leaving it
scrambled out of the room as fastas eyel
he could, squealing and cackling like ar
imp.
The Gray Boy had his watch again
unhurt; but the day was spoilt, hi
luscious grape was not brought back