Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-13
An Encounter.

One day a friend who was leaving home
for short time left in our charge favor
tie parrot. The bird, feeling lonely in a
strange house, climbed by the help of its
beak to the top of the perch and sat there
rolling about in a scared way his eyes,
which glittered like gilt nails, and twink
ling over them the white membranes which
served for eyelids. Madame Theophile, the
cat, had never before encountered parrot,
and the novelty awoke in her mind an evil
dent establishment. She sat regarding the
bird with an air of profound meditation and
putting together all the ideas of natural his.
tory which she had been able to collect dur
ing her excursions on the roofs or in the
courtyard and garden. The shadows of her
thoughts fitted across her changeful eyes,
and it was not difficult to read the decision
at which she finally arrived; "This is--de
cidedly-it is-a green chicken" This con-
clusion reached, the cat jumped from the
table which she had chosen as her ohserva-
tory, and crouched in the corner of the room,
her knees bent, her head lowered, her spine
stiffened like that of the black panther in
Gerome's picture as it glares at the gazelles
that are drinking by the lake. The parrot
followed each movement Of the cat with
feverish disquietude. His feathers bristled
and exercised its talons, while he whetted
his beak on the edge of the feeding cup.
Instinct revealed to him that this was an
enemy who was plotting mischief. AS for
the eyes of the cat they were riveted on the
bird with a fascinated intensity, and said
plainly as language could speak, and in
language which the parrot understood only
too well, Green though he be, this chicken
is without doubt good to eat" While we
watched this scene with interest ready to
interfere whenever it seemed necessary,
Madame Theophile was imperceptibly draw
ing nearer to her prey. Her pink nose quiz
cred, her eyes were half shut, her elastic
jaws projected and then disappeared again
in their velvet sheaths, little shivers ran
down her spine; she was like an epicure as
he seats himself at table before dish of
| trussed chicken. Suddenly her back curved
| like bow which is bent, and with one
strong, elastic bound she alighted ON the
perch. The parrot, seeing his danger, re-
marked in a deep voice, low and solemn,
Hast thou breakfasted, Jacquet ?" This
remark created in the mind of the cat an
evident dismay. She took sudden leap
backwa A blast from trumpet, pile
of plates crashing to the floor, pistol shot
close to the ear, could not have inspired more
sudden and giddy terror in an animal of her
race. All her pathological ideas were in
one fell moment overturned "And on
what ? On the roast beef of the king ?"
continued the parrot. The face of the cat
now said as distinctly as words, g. This is
not bird. 1t is a gentleman. He speaks -
when l on wine have toasted free
| The tavern turns around with me-"
sang the bird in tremendous voice, for
| he perceiyed that the alarm caused BY his
words was his readiest means of defense.
The cat cast a questioning glance toward
us, and getting no reinsurance in reply, took
refuge under the bed, from which place of
safety she could not be enticed for the re-
mander of that ay.-Gautier's Household
Pets.