The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-10-02

thev talked bost when alone-and
heard his bird sing the first lines %
the favorite song: Pretty pretty
Polly-Hop-k ins. How do you do-oo
how do you--doP
To which, with great care. - q the
lesson were rather new, Polly King
sang in reply the next two lines:
II am pretty well-I thank-you-
How are you-oo-how are-youP
Then Jocko said. ~ had often been
"Kiss me. Polly, pretty Poll!''
And the other bird replied with the
funny cork-drawing noise that he had
learned from Jocko. and which was
called in the family kiss
1t was all very amusing, ana Jon9
laughed, heartily. Suddenly he clappeG
his hands together and said:
wonder Il those birds would real
" kiss each other II / let them out TO-
gether on the table!'
Then he remembered that papa had
forbidden that, and his face fell
But the little tcmpter who is not far
away from us when we want TO have
our own way whispered in his ear:
ssYour father won't care he;
thought they would hurt each other.l
and you - they are the best OF
| friendA"
"Of course they arer' answered
John, ont loud. THAT'S just what
papa meant and now, - long ~ 4
know they won't hurt each other, he
will not care" And, without stopping
| to let his conscience answer, he walked
| into the room, took down the cages
| from their hooks. set them on the big
table, and opened each wire door.
| For . few moments neither bird
after little they swung themselves
down by their beaks. stepped out, and
began. to side toward each other.
John was delighted. ''Oh, good!'
he shouted. ''They are going to kiss
| each otherg'
But alas! there came . sudden whir
of wings, and Polly King darted at
poor Jocko like . little fury. Their
beaks met in the ''kiss" for which
John had been 30 anxious, and the
next instant Jocko stood as II stunned,
with the blood dripping from his
tongue. Polly had bitten it almost
through, and now stood with raised
crest and Tutoring wings, as II trying
to say: LET me do it again.
John was dreadfully frightened, but,
at the risk Of . bite, he seized his
grandmother's bird and put him back
in the cage; then turned to poor Jocko.
who was now screaming with pain,
and fairly dancing on the table.
BY this time mamma had heard the
noise, and ran downstairs to see what
it all meant
Get . glass of water. John" she
said ct once, and John went sorry and
ashamed at the result of his disobedi-
ence.
When the water was brought, Jocko
put his bleeding tongue IN 1t and held
Il there until the blood had ceased TO
drip from it.
Jas sinsible - . Christian, mumr'
said the cook, who stood in the door
way. watching him.
Then he submitted to be put back in
his cage. and what do you think he did
| to cure his woundf He plucked out Of
| his own breast the soft little down that
| grows underneath the feathers, and
fairly plastered his tongue with it, and
for three days he sat very still and quiet
on his perch, eating nothing. but
drinking . good deal, - If he were
feverish. His tongue was swollen. and
hung from his beak. but he kept it con-
stantly covered with down, which acted
- lint would on . wounded man. Who
do you think taught him that secretr
We allfeared he would die. and John,
who had confessed his own part in the
little tragedy to his father. was pun
ished enough ct the thought of losing
his pet through his wrong doing.
But Jocko did not die. He got well.
and we called him ''Dr. Jocko." and
laughed at his treating his own case 20
successfully.
The lesson was good one for John,
and as for Polly King, he was newer
let out Of his cage again during the
visit and / think he felt he vas IN dis
grace, and did not like his punishment
= Gess II Underwood. n Cbvistios
Union.