The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-21
A WONDERFUL PARROT.
tChamb bers' Journal.l

|
a parrot, employed a connoisseur {.
make the purchase. It was fine younI
gray bird, with scarlet tail. When sh,
came to me the bird had never spoken
and it was some weeks before she did.
took great pains with her. When she be
gan to speak / taught her to do SO dis
tinctly, and Poll soon caught the tone
of my voice, though l never anticipated
that she would become the clever, intel
ligent bird she did. Her speaking pow
ers were wonderful-not as q simple i'm
itation Of words, but like a reasoning
thinking creature. Poll was excessively
proud and sensitive. Sometimes my
brother teased her, and spoke in a con.
temptuOus manner, when she would
only shrug her shoulders and relapse
into silence. as if he were quite beneath
her contempt. . a.
There were two dear friends who at
that time were constant visitors. Polly
was great favorite with them, and a
source of much amusement to both. One
day while we were sitting in the diping-
room she observed them coming across
| the field at short distance, and called
to me: "Here's W and R. COM
ing; they will want their dinner. Won't
Lizzy be in rage! All! ali! won't she,
that's ALL"
Nonsense, Polly" I said. ''Don't
tell stories. They are not coming; and
If they were you could not see them %
not supposing her sight was 30 keen.
"Well, you'll see," replied Polly.
| In few moments the bell rang, and
Mr.. W and Mr.. R appeared.
Nothing could quiet the bird. She
seemed in an ecstacy of fun and mischief,
and had to be carried away into the
kitchen to the cook, who, to her no little
annoyance, had to prepare an improptu
dinner. The dinner was served, and
Polly returned to her own place. BY
this time she was thoroughly excited,
and began praising herself and her dear
mistress. Mr.. R., who thoroughly ad-
mired the bird, led the conversation.
First she looked at her foot. "What
beautiful foot! What tail, and red
one, tooW
eyes, Polly, you are beautiful bird,
and clever one as we'll. You saw us
coming across the field, and knew we had
not had our dinner. You are knowing
bird, Polly"
ala, hap with her curious laugh.
"Polly is a clever bird, Polly's a beau
tiful bird. What Polly! What "a
what beautiful PollyW
We all laughed heartily, in which she
joined-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. A young servant
went to Polly's 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 tree.
had had experience of Polly's preverse
position, and knew that only by strata
gem I could manage her. I walked
down the path, and carrying favorite
cat with me, sat down near the tree and
proceeded to stroke Pussy and pet her.
"Poor Pussy! poor Pussy! You shall be
my pet now. Polly has gone away and
left me-" ! often bought her a sweet
biscuit, and l had some with me, which
l gave to the cat, still stroking her. My
ruse had succeeded: / had aroused her
jealousy. 1 heard a rustling in the
branches, and presently "Polly is a
wretch"
did not take any notice; but still
fondling the cat, said: "Come, Pussy.
We will 60 and see if dinner is ready"
Matters were now progressing. ]
glanced up, and saw Polly quietly de-
seending the tree; and when she came
to the bottom, cried: "Polly's out;
Polly has been walk"
$50 / see. Polly can stop out alto
gether now, if she likes"
"Pussy is fool--a horrid fool" Hel
temper was thoroughly reused. She
came to me, climbed upon my knee, and
rubbed her pretty head upon my hand
bad her safely now. After this strong
paddock was put on 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 alb
surd to see the strutting bird, his pride
and self-assumption, and equally anus
ing to listen to Polly talking to him. W.
called him Ralph. Polly then woult
say: "Come here, Ralph-beautiful Ralph
handsome Ralph! Come, spread YOU
tail"
The tail would be outspread.
"Oh, you beauty! Now, stamp
stamp your foot, good, clever Ralph"
One day while listening to such tall
as this, she turned to me and demurely
said: "What fool that Ralph Isl"
"Nay, Polly; Ralph is not fool; HI
is very clever bird, and like him."
! Whenever she was not pleased sh,
shrugged her shoulders, as if in derision
"Now, | say Ralph is fool" just thet