Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-06-20

To others: but are not all noble lives llves
of struocie and self-denial, and devotlon
IN others, and is any life fully crowned be-
fore its close? Youths Companion.
One Parrot.
saw one parrot, because l have the
honor of an acquaintance with only one
bird of that species; and a more WONDER
full and truly cultivated bird, In all the arVS
md graces of polite and cultured lie
can truly aver never saw. She lives IN
one of our pretty cities in the western
part of New York State, and must now oe
sixteen or seventeen years OF age-quHe
a Young lady in fact. She wears re-
marknble pretty green dress, with a little
toucb of cardinal about her head-lust to
be in the fashion, suppose; and disuan-
inc the use of cage except as sleeping
APARTMENT at night, she sits on perch IN
lie middle of a huge tin platform, ana
thinks and probably studies and Turns
thinps over in her mind until she feels
quite competent for conversation with any
one. When first saw her OF course
said well, Pollr or So this is POLL 10
which she instantly responded Why' now
do YOU do?' as if she had been expecting
me for ages and was infinitely relieved 10
find | had made my appearance at last.
of course we were friends from that mo-
ment. She offered her claw and look IL;
she peered right at me out OF one cocheu
up eve, as if she was inwardly taking my
measure, and then, with apparent salts
faction at the result, babe Molly put Inc
kettle on and Wen all have tea, IN the
liveliest manner.
Before the week was out we were the
greatest friends with Polly. The children
would take her out walking or swing her
on the clothes line in the back yard, or get
her 10 play little games with them by the
hour. SHE would not leave her perch un.
less specially invited, as it was the rule oil
the head of the house-a notable mousse
wife-that birds were not allowed to tramp
about the house indiscriminately, like hui
man beings; so Miss Polly wisely allowed
herself to be subject to the higher powers
and kept Quiet except when invited to par
take of any amusement. How much wis
err the parrot can be than some children
we know!
One morning she was taken to the back
yard the children were in earnest con-
clave Prince, the dog, looked mysterious
and did a vast wagging and barking; there
was dragging of chairs on the balcony
and then we were invited to come to the
pIay. The lady of the house walked out
on the piazza with me, there were two
balcony chairs reserved for us, and a
printed programme in each seat, elabor-
ately wrought out on the hy-leaves OF an
unused butcher book, and then the play
began. One of the children took a mar
ket basket, swung it over her arm, and
commenced melancholy cry of Fish for
SALE The other child stopped TO barter
and at in suspicious moment up popped
Pollv's head from under the papers, crying
out Peek u boot Peek boon No one
enjoyed it as much as Polly. She would
cuddle down under the paper very quietly
until the right moment arrived and then
shout out her sentence and 60 oil into
shrieks of laughter over the fun. There
were scores Of other tricks, one Of them
called Rctort,' though what that meant
no one seemed in the least to understand ex-
cept Polly A little wooden triangle was
set up, Polly would climb up the back of
IL chair hand over hand, or claw over claw,
and then kick down the triangle. Again
and again would she climb, but never
would she kick the little wooden triangle
until her Young mistress cried Retort"
1t was altogether most absurd play,
Polly singing several songs, and seeming
to enter into the spirit of the entertainment
with the greatest zest.
In the morning she would awaken us
with the most persistent oulcries for break
fast and coffee. She would shout Good
morning, papa; good morning, mamma,
until she reused them all, and then hoU
she would beg for coffee. Did you ever
see parrots tongue? 1t really looks like
II round black bean fastened in her throat,
and how with such an ugly thick tongue
could she manage to talk and sing was Il
perfect mystery. She would catch tune
very quickly, and after whistling it softly
to herself for some time would try the
words When | was there she was learn
ing Pretty Polly Hopkins but she never
got very much farther than the Hop
there she would stop and laugh until one
got to laughing too from very sympathy.
And what do you suppose they think Of
all the time?-for OF course they must
have Thoughts. Polly one day got ter
rble fright, which shows she must have
had II forethought, if not thought. 1t was
IN intensely hot day in summer, and we
who were gathered on the front piazza
scarcely thought of Polly on her perch,
looking out OF the window and seeing the
big black clouds of a coming shower roll
up the sky. The first thieg we knew a
sudden darkness swept over everything
and a line of vivid light flashed across the
sky. Every one screamed. and each one
thought Of herself, running into the dark
ened parlor and paying no attention to
Polly's cry of Mamma, mamma, I'm
afraid! Pm afraidn We shut the win
dows, lighted the gas, and hudded togeth-
or upon the sofa, but after hearing the pit
iful cries Of I'm afraid, mamma we ran
into the room where Polly's perch STOOD
but no Polly was to be found. Finally we
discovered her at the head of the stairs,
peering down at us through the baluster,
and begging to be Put to bed-she want
ed to go to Sleep The poor creature was
so frightened she shook like leaf, but
when she was put into her cage in dark
ened room she said Good night so
sweetly and happily that every one had IL
good laugh.
The incest thing that l saw about this
bird in my fortnight's acquaintance with
her was that she never said anything
naughty Or wicked Parrots generally
learn great deal that is evil, but this
parrot knew nothing aboutit. l think it
would be wise if some little children that
| know would follow Polls example and
say only pleasant and sweet tempered
things. At all events if bird can 10 it.,
a child can-don't you think so?-Church
Journal.
THE OFFICE OF SoRRow.-Thcre is
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