Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-02
NO. IA.

our dinner. You are knowing bird, Polly"
''Ha, ha !" with her curious laugh. "Polly
is a clever bird. Polly's a beautiful bird.
What Polly what a-iohdtdful Polly /"
We all laughed heartily, in which che join
ed-Polly loudest Of all.
Mr.. R said "Well done You ought
to be sent to college, to teach the students
elocution."
One of the most singular instances of her
intelligence and great naughtiness was the
following One morning / had gone from
home. young servant went to Pollys cage
and, not knowing that she was very savage,
opened it. Polly flew at her hand. The girl
was frightened, left the door open and ran
away and the window being open, Polly
walked out into the front garden. The cook
saw her and called but the bird would not
come back so thinking it was best to leave
her until my return, cook watched her climb
into a tree.
had had experience Of Polly's perverse
disposition, and knew that only by stratagem
l could manage her. 1 walked down the
path, and carrying favorite cat with me,
sat down near the tree and proceeded 10
stroke Pussy and pet her. Poor Pussy
poor Pussy You shall be my pet now. Polly
has gone away and left me-" I often bought
her a sweet biscuit, and had some with me
which gave to the cat, still stroking her
My ruse had succeeded l had reused her
jealousy heard a rustlng in the branches,
and presently Polly called out, PUSSY is .
wretch"
I did not take any notice but still fondlinR
the cat, l said Come, Pussy. We will go
and see if dinner is ready"
Matters were now progressing. glanced
up, and saw Polly quietly descending the
cried "Polly's out Polly has been a walk"
$50 see, Polly can stop out altogether
now, if she likes
PUSSY is a fool-a horrid fool" Her TEN.
per was thoroughly reused. She came to me,
climbed upon my knee and rubbed her pret.
ty head upon my hand. / had her safely
now. After this, strong paddock was put
upon her cage, to prevent any more tree
escapades,
We had a very handsome peacock, which
Polly could see from her cage when she was
on the lawn. 1t was absurd to see the strut
ting bird, his pride and self-assumption, and
equally amusing to listen to Polly talking to
him. We called him Ralph. Polly then
would say Come here, Ralph-beautiful
Ralph, handsome Ralph! Come, spread your
tail"
The tail would be outsprea1.
ION, you beauty Now, stamp-siamp
your foot good, clever Ralph"
One day while listening to such talk as this,
she turned to me and demurely said What
fool that Ralph is !"
NAY, Polly Ralph is not a fool he Is q
very clever bird, and like him."
Whenever she was not pleased, she shruR.
ged her shoulders, as if in derision. Now,
say Ralph is q fool" Just then the peacock
gave one of those awful cries that peacocks
alone can utter. Polly therefore gave anoth-
er in imitation, and laughing loudly, shrieked:
Ralph is singing-Ralph is singing Oh,
shall die-I shall die of laughing
A remarkable instance of her jealous tenn
per was displayed to parrot which had been
purchased by friend who sent it to stay with
u.s. hoping that it would learn to speak if il
associated with my bird. But Polly conceiv-
ed an inveterate dislike to the interloper,
treating it with contempt calling it all the ILL
names she knew. They were both In the
dining-room one morning. l had trained her
so well to be silent during family worship
that she never disturbed US. The other bird
made various sounds, and very loud but
Polly knew that all noise was wrong. BY
way of chiding her ill-bred companion, she
said in o whisper: Hush, hush Be quiet,
you naughty bird !" When prayer was over,
she burst out: You naughty, wicked bird
you horrid bird, you kitchen bridget out,
get out Away with you !" After this, we
saw it was useless to employ her as an in
tructress, and so sent the despised bird
home.
Nevertheless she had her favorites, and was
very kind to them. She was very fond of the
cat and would call her to the cage. But the
most singular fancy she took was to O little
mouse. The winter was very cold, and as
Polly suffered much from it she was taken
every night to my bedroom, where there was
a fire, and her cage placed on a low stool near
it. One night heard her talking in a low
tone. l listened and heard her say Pretty
little dear-pretty darling. Polly won't hurt
you-Polly won't bite you"
Wondering what she meant, for was sure
that she was not talking to me, 1 got out Of
bed and went to her cage. There, in the
bottom of the cage was little mouse under
meath the wires, feeding quite cOntentedly,
and without any sign of fear often saw the
tiny creature come in and out of Polly's cage,
nor did she ever attempt to injure it or drive
it away. Her speech was very peculiar when
those she did not like were present. She had o.
a great dislike to my husband suppose
from a feeling of jealousy. A few months
after our marriage, we paid a short visit to
my father, and one day when l was alone
with Poll in the diningroom she said TO mo
in her tenderest tones; why did you go
away and get married, dear2 Why did you
go to Scotland and leave your own Pollyf
Polly loves you. Don't go away again and
leave me Ma cried when you left and went
away. Don't leave Polly again !"
He had never heard her speak in such
gentle manner, and before my husband en-
tered the room, he thought was in CONVEX
sation with a friend, and paused outside to
listen. He has never forgotten the impress
sion made upon him by that touching colloquy.
We had to leave Polly behind, under man
mas care, and in writing to me afterward,
she told me that the dear bird would talk
about me continually. One day mamma said
to her Polly, 1 am writing to your mistress
Shall l send your love ?"
80 yes; and here's pretty feather. E.
loves Polly's feathers" It was sent to me,
and have it still. But unfortunately for
Polly's beauty, she bit of nearly all her scar
let feathers to send to me
When revisited my former home, took
my little baby with me. Polly was delighted
1t was something belonging TO her dear mis-
tress, and must be loved. When any one
called, she would say "Have you seen the
baby? Such beauty Give it to me. Pol
y won't bite it Polly will only kiss it,"
had full confidence in her love for me but
need scarcely say never tried her affection
for the little one. She, like other pets, has
passed away, but is not forgotten.