Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-08-10
AN UNREGEyURATE POLLY.
1t Does Nothing But Swear and Will Not
Learn Good Words.

1t Does Nothing But Swear and Will Not
Learn Good Words
That's the wickedest polly in New
York." said the keeper of Bowarv ORD
store to a New York World reporter,
meanwhile pointing to an old gray parrot
that was sitting in his cage with his head
cooked on one side listening. He blink
ed his eyes Knowingly, and gave the harsh
shrek of his klpk in evident approval
and complete satisfaction of his wicked
NESS. II bought him in saloon on State
street in Chicago and l can't sell him.
You see he don't do any thing but suea :"
As If to sustain his reputation the parrot
burst forth into torrent of the most
vigorous oaths. Then he reIapsed into
profound silence hololng his head on one
side as II waiting for applause.
II sold him TO a Sixth avenue bar
keeper on condition that he could return
him IN week if he did not like him. The
parrot came back next day. JIM call
him swearing Jlm-dIdn't like the place.
SO he sat up all day long damning the
lunch, the whiskey aud the barkeeper.
he sWore at the customers, and kept up
auch storm OF oaths that it sc ired out
all the customers out of the house. Next
sold him on trial to gambler who was
runhlng poker room down town. The
gambler sat IN the game himself that
night and hung Jim's cage up behind
him. The rattle of the chips ANNOYED
Jim, keeping him from sleep, and the
gambler says he never stopped swearing
all night. When Jim gets very mad be
says Blast your heart" He kept
screening that out every minute that
night and between times got IN his reeu,
oaths. The gambler got ratified and lost
$500. He brought Jim back and said he
wouldn't take him as q gift. haven't
sold him again"
During the recital of this story Jim
kept nodding his gray old head and blink
ing his wicked eyes i'll perfect confrma
ton. When his owner ceased talking
JIm made some remarks in general way
about mis- soul and its probable destina-
ton, and then became silent save an oc-
casional noarse screen.
Il believe he's unlucky," the man went
on, and I'm getting afraid of him.
believe sometimes that he is a devil. He
never says good word and | can never
teach him one. But let anyone use a
strange oath in his presence and he cooks
up his head and fires it back at him. A
Spaniard was in here yesterday, and
swore at Jim in Spanish. HIS old eyes
lighted up ana he seemed to know he was
hearing some strange, new wickedness
He just rolled it around in his mouth and
kept repeating it again and again. He
was happy all day. He was happy all
day, and whenever anybody came in, he
would especially delight to swear at them
with his new oath. He likes to startie
ladies. Last week lady got out of her
carriage aud came in TO look at some
canaries. When ladies come in Away
take Jim out, but this morning l forgot
it. When the ladies were looking at the
canaries l suddenly heard volley of
oaths and l looked around. There was
Jim looking like a devil, his neck stretch
ed out and his eyes swapping, swearing
his very worst. He knew the lady wouls
be frightened, and SO she was. She ran
out of the shop and Jim swore till the
carriage drove away. Ny wife is q
church worker and her pastor comes here
to visit very frequently. The sight of a
preacher sets Jim crazy. He almost
trothes at the mouth. We have to hide
him when the preacher comes"