Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1881-04-16
Grace Before Meat.

That gratitude which consists in a
lively sense Of favors to come is some
times shown by the humblest of Gods
creatures.
An aged maiden lady had parrot,
the sOlacc Of her declining years. She
had trained it piously being Of relig-
ious turn herself, and taught it to say
the most beautiful things out of the BIZ
Bile. The bird was more to her than
wolds can tell she loved it dearly not
because ii looked like her for that she
never knew. but because it was so good
and pure Il bird, 80 ready with com
forting text when she felt sad. 1t never
ate a cracker without Il pious ejaculation
between each bite, nor ever thrust its
head under it, wing without saving its
prayers. But disease is no respecter Of
persons or parrots, and the exemplary
bird fell sick one day.
The doctor was called in, but in all
his experience he said he had seen moth
ing like it. The neighbors were sum-
moned, but none of them appeared to
understand the parrots case. The poor
bird grew worse, and did nothing but to
repeat the book of job At this crisis,
however, the sorrowing maiden, whose
wits were sharpened by the emergency,
remembered an elderly sea captain, who
lived not far away, and who was believ-
ed to know something about parrots.
At her fearful summons he gallantly
came to the rescue, and, after careful
examination of the symptoms, gave it as
his opinion that the bird was lonesome
in short that it was pining for mate
"Not that you amt good enough COM
pany for the parrot, NUM- don't mean
that" said the captain hastily; "but
then you know mum you both being Of
the same sex, num-" he continued, turn
ing very rcd-"gentleman bird that's
what's the matter"
That was horrible suggestion, but
desperate diseases require heroic treat
ment. Had hc bird of that kind?
Well yes, he had And would he bring
il over? Wen, he would; but then he
didn't know as he oughter, being as how
his bird had been raised aboard ship,
and wasn't "A moral bird. from hearing
the sailors talk. Did his bird swear
much? Was it so very wicked? No it
wasn't very heavy on cuss-w s-words-but--
and then the captain explained to the
agitated lady as delicately as he could
that seafaring man long deprived Of fe-
male society, were blunt Of speech, and
that the morals Of the best meaning par
rots in the world were likely to suffer in
consequence.
But even as he spoke the parrot had
another fit, and 1t was determined to at
tempt to save hi. life, at whatever risk
of its morals, SO without delay the nau-
teal bird was brought and placed in the
cage
"Avast there, mate !" said the feath-
cred son of Neptune.
"Thc Lord be praised-for 10! the
bridegroom cometh," feebly responded
the SICK parrot.
"You bet your bottom dollar on thatr'
said the disreputable bird. ''Heave
along side"
"And there were twelve foolish vir.
gins who"-continucd the sufferer still
quoting Scripture.
Virgins be blowed :" replied the an
cient mariner, who had travelled and OBJ
served. That's played out! Open the
hatchway Haul taut the stern sheets!
'Starboard your helm. and Pip
At this moment shrek from the hor-
rified lady who swooned in the captains
arms drowned the remark. What the
ahandoned bird said will never be
known but this was the reply Of the
pious one: ''
"For what we are about to receive,