Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-06-07
JUST so.

HarperS Weekly.
hated Aunt Margerv's parrot Its
screaming, croalling Voice, its gurgling
asides crooned rs it sat on It's perch,
stirred up something in me evil and
vindictive. Perhaps | had no natural
inclination to pets. Often when | had
been over-wearied at the Old farm
house, the sight Of mothers hens
scratch-scratching for 4 living had
irritated me with sense of overwork
But they at last came honestly by their
living. | respected them; but this
pampered, overfed thing made my
flesh crawl us it clung ogling to its
perch, or dropped lazily down to pick
up bit OF cracker, nihbing thereat
with an uncannv chatter. No; | did
not like pets. Aunt Margery did. This
ugly foreign favorite had absorbed all
her affections, | thought to myself
bitterly, as | watched it that morning.
She caressed the creature; she spoke TO
it endearingly; but Tor her own kith
and kin she had nothing but everlasting
fault-tinding and ceaseless exactions.
A few tears dropped down upon my
hands us | sat there. The parrot
blinking down upon me, drew up one
skinny claw, scratched his emerald
head, and skreamed, just so "a pet
phrase which served it to express the
most subtle meaning. apparently, and
with which it seemed to ieer at my
emotion.
This was the third morning | had
waited for news of Dck-poor Dick,
lght-heared, high-spirited Dick who
had taken up his cap and left after his
last word-battle with Aunt Margery.
This blow had taken the sunshine too
utterly out of my life, and there, as
sat ut the window, mentally shook my
fist 1T this glibbering thing, 50 sheltered
and favored while he was adrift--where
What would become Of Dick? Oh, what
would become Of Dick? The lad had
always had some business i'll the city
that sat lightly upon him, coming and
going at his leisure; but now for three
whole days his face had not lightened
the gloomy house The longing to
know Of his welfare, the yearning to
see him. had grown intense and intoler-
able. And now, rendered irritable and
distraught by my anxiety. / had quar-
relied with Aunt Margery myself to
whom her invalid state had hitherto
excused so much, who had been her
patient nurse so long, and the acknowl-
edged peace-maker between herself and
the outspoken, impoite Dick. | had
fallen from my high estate; ! was an
outcast from fayor-not worth SO much
in Aunt Margery's eyes is this lecring
old parrot,
Well, | need sacrifice myself no
longer. | was free to 90 away Oh,
how useless, how mean and degrading,
seemed all that had submitted to and
suffered 1t could benefit Dick no
more, and in his absence, dropped its
spledid apparel of self-sacrifce, and re-
yealed itself a heggarly and sordid
tameness of spirit.
Outside of this narrow groove where
had grubbed and vegetated there was
thrilling splendid reality of existence.
A sort of winged feeling took posses
sion of me as | contemplated the posi-
bilities OF the future. The parrot put
up his elfn claw, blinked at me from
the corner of his eye, and cried. Just
50 Y is he Topped back into his open
cage. From the window where that
cage hung | could see the glowing gar
dens and pleasant lawns stretching be
low, and in the wistful hazy distance
the city seemed to shadow through
the bright nusy city, where every one
was astir and at work. Dick was there
too somewhere. Dick did business
easily and irresponsibly as bird Why
should not | do business? | began to
take account Of stock-to make men
tai estimate Of myself 1t is surprising
in this commercial valuation of ones
self, how percentages shrink. A little
hazy knowledge of history, little
nebulous acquaintance with general
literature, a light touch upon the piano
all these things look painfully thread
bare on examination, like stage pro-
perties seen hy daylight. could not
settle upon any specially il which
was pre-e;ninent. | must leave my
future to fate. and did 50 with the de-
lightful insoucianee Of youth.
30 the early dawn found me at the
garden gate, face to face with the kind
ling morning, the garden quiet and
odors. Face to face, also, with old
black Cesar, the superannuated gar
dener who ornamented his profession
in red cap and slippers. His gray
old monkey face. with it seant fringe
of grizzly hair. was never an unwel-
come sight to me before. However
old Cesar kneS AL our troubles. He
had been NY childish coaiidant. a. well
as Dicks a- far baek q. ! could re-
member | s.ennel oa b9iIly.