Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-23
PRETTY POLLY.
Story of Two Parrots Which Johns
Father Brought from Africa.

Johns hands, almost the first thing he
said to his delighted little master was:
81 am Polly-Jocko; who are your
Some OF the sailors had taught him
this greeting, and also to call himself
"Polly-Jocko," which he generally
did.
John had seen several grown par
rots, but none like his new pet, who
was of u beautiful gray color, with a
bright red tail, and some soft, pinkish
feathers far down on his breast. This
is called an AFRICAN gray" parrot.
and is usually a fine talker.
You may be sure that Jocko and
John soon became fast friends, and the
parrot would let John do almost any
thing he pleased with him. At Johns
order he would lie on the floor on his
back. with his feet in the air, pretend
ing to be dead. l must confess he
sometimes grew tired of keeping his
eyes shut, and slyly pecped. Or he
would let his master take him up and
cuddle him in his neck, as YOU would
Il pet kitten, and when John said:
Kiss me, Polly-Jocko!" the bird
would put his beak close to the boys
cheek, and, touching it with his funny
black tongue, would make g noise like
drawing a cork out of a bottle, which
was his kiss.
The gate at the entrance to the front
yard had a long iron chain, and one of
Jocko's principal amusements was to
cling to this chain while John swung
it violently back and forth. Sometimes
the chain would force the bird to make
Il real somersault, and then he would
scream with delight and shout: ..Hur-
rah, boys! Hurrah!' as he lad learned
it from John.
He liked a tall wicker rocking-chair
that stood by the library window better
than any other playground. and Johns
father used to say it was because the
cane seat and bamboo back reminded
him of his native land.
Whatever the reason was Polly dear
ly loved to get out of his cage, Chamber
on the back of that chair, and look out
OF the window. He soon learned to
know the postman, and when he saw
him coming, would cry: .Postman's
coming! Postman's coming! Eliza!
Eliza!" Eliza being the maid, who al
ways took the letters at the door.
He was such a gentle little creature
that every body loved him. When he
was walking about or the floor, even
a stranger could persuade him to
''come and get his head scratched"
which he enjoyed like Il cat. And he
would ''shake hands, in the most
friendly way with any one who asked
him.
But he was very mischievous. too.
Sometimes when Johns mother had
her w~ork-basket on the table, Jocko
would steal her thread, her thimble, on
even her little scissors, and run off and
hide them. Once the thimble could
not be found. Mamma had looked for
it in every place she could think of,
and at last she said:
"John, that naughty Jocko must
have hidden my thimble. Perhaps ii
you let him out again, and then sit
here quietly with a book, and do not
say any thing to him, he will go and
find it,"
SO the cage door was opened, and
every body left the room but John,
who sat very still with a book in his
hand. Out stepped Master Jocko very
laintily from his house. and began, as
he often did, to talk to himself in a
gentle tone:
Come. Polly! Come. Polly-Jocko!
Come! Come! Gomez"
Two O three times he walked about
the roorn. peering into this and that.
then suddenly, rs if he remembered
something, he started for the hall door.
John followed quietly, and from what
hiding-place do you think that naughty
bird took the lost thimble. as we'll as
Johns slate-pencil and a bit of bread?
Why, from papa's overshoe, which he
had left in the hall that morninoi
They all laughed, and then scolded
Jocko, and after that they said to hin,
so often: "Jocko can find it," that he
learned to put his head wisely on n
side, and say solemn]y y: Its lost.
Jocko can find it."
He could sing ''Prctty, pretty Polly
Hopkins as we'll as John himself. and
'lankee Doodle was one of his fa-
v%oritcs. Often when he was alone in
my, iooii ilc "OuIu lauSn and chuckle
and talk to himself in such a funny
way that l did not wonder when 4 ser.
want in the house-an i%gnorant Girl
said: go
Sure, ma'am, the burrud has an
ayvll sperrlt i'll him!'
After John had been Jocko's master
Tor a few months, his grandmother
came to pay a visit, and brought her
parrot with her.
"Polly King" as he was called
grandmother's name being Kinr-was
not at all like P~olly-Jocko. He was a
fierce. cross bird, who would let no.
body but his mistress touch him. md
though he talked well and learned vcrv
easily, yet he was not Il ]fayorite. Ikc
his gentle comrade. As soon as he az
rived, Johns father gave orders that
me two birds were never to be let ont
OF thelr cages at the same time. When
Jocko took his airing, Polly King must
stay behind the bars; and when Prllv
hihg was out for a walk, Jocko mnst
be a prisoner. "
The two cages hung in the din;no-
room, and sometimes it was very tnnny
10 hear the birds fall. m