The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-02

he alive and kicking he would renew
his oft repeated protestations-
81 married her, by guml and, by
gum, l ought 70 have her!''
The Pink Parrot and tho Gray Boy.
Once there was parrot. knew
him. He wore pink Suit, with pale,
sulphur-hued plume in his crested cap.
And there was boy; and knew him.
He wore gray suit. There was .
shiny silver buckle on his cap. The
Gray Boy owned the Pink Parrot. The
Pink Parrot owned nothing-nothing
now, not even himself. 1t was . great
change, 1 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, moti~nless, 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! wnit-a-bit' And the
Pink Parrot would wait, and while he
waited the Gray Boy made faces. In
deed, the Pink Parrot was never GER
tain Of his breakfast. 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. He
would say, "Will you have it now, or
wait until you can get FTP" Maybe 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. 1t had fob-chain end some
charms-anchors and bells, and bows
and arrows, mimic skates and balls,
bats-every thing, in fact, that would
interest boy, and render his life per-
fectly delightful, was attached to the
Gray Boys fob-chain. The Gray Boy,
one morning, the Path Of December in
fact, was 70 take the half-past 8 train,
all by himself, TO join his papa and his
mamma at his grandpa's in the country.
He had gone up stairs to brush his coat
and put ON his watch. He had left
them up there on the sitting-room ia.
BILE, moment ago. And now, could
he believe his eyes, that his watch was
not on the table2 The Gray Boy ran
up to his room, to see IL he could have
lef the watch in its case; he ran down,
calling aloud to the housekeeper as he
went. But she had stepped out. lie
ran back again, and stood still, looking
blankly at the table.
All at once, high over his head, there
was shrill cacklc Of laughter. The
Gray boy looked up. He gave an an
CRY 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 gold watch was
between his claws, the chain glittcring
as it hung. As he met the Gray Boys
eyes, he cackled again and laughed
maliciously.
"Wait-a.ba. rdit-a-bitt" he shrieked.
The Gray Boy danced with rage.
While he was dancing he heard the
whistle Of the half-past9 train. He
wildly flew down to the kitchen. The
housekeeper had not returned. Tie
dew upstairs again, and, tears running
down his cheeks, he flew out into the
street.
/" WI you hare u non, or scait until
you can get ~"
This was what the Pink Parrot
shrieked after him, cackling with de-
risive laughter until he nearly fell of
the ring. just sobbing with helpless
rage, the Gray Boy rushed up the walk
toward tall man in blue with . star
on his breast. "P'licel say price!''
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 see
ing policemen In the green forests Of
Australia, and knew him at once, can
not say; but know he started, lodged,
and nearly tumbled out Of the ring
when they entered; and carefully TAX
ing the watch in his bcak he dropped
down to the table with 1t, and leaving
il, scrambled out Of the room as fast rs
ever he could, squealing and cackllng
like nm imp. The Gray Boy had his
watch again, unhurt; but the day was
spoilt, his luscious grape was not
brought back. The train was gone, and
he had to stay In town all through q
lonely Christmas Day, and eat com.
monplace dinner with the housekeeper
And the Pink Parrot laughed.-Eiid
Fdundn, in Wide A,cdkc