Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-27
MY AUNTS COCKATOO.
New Version of the Story of tho
Goose and Golden Egg.

! had been the same in appearance-a
staid old lady, somewhat diminutive in
height. and decidedly of what Scotch
people call 'perjink" manner and APP
pearance. From year to year she scarce
lv ever varied her style of dress in the
slightest particular and rigidly adj
hered to the same mode of doing her
hair as it had been done in the days
of her youth. This consisted of bring
ing her somewhat scanty locks low
down over the forehead, and eliminated
in ''corkscrewy" ringlet dangling at
each cheek, which she often assured me
was without doubt the only sensible
style of coiffure, and in her early days
had been allowed to be specially
adapted to her cast of features, and was
considered 'most killing" Whatever
my own opinion, it was my interest to
agree; so ] never disputed her conten-
tion. may as we'll admit at once that
had very good reasons for keeping on
the best of terms with my aunt. SSe
was possessed of considerable means,
spent little or nothing, and, with the
exception of my cousin, Bob Steele, had
no living relation but myself
My aunt had never been married
not for want Of offers, she frequently
/ Informed me--detested children, and
/ seemed 10 center all her love and affec-
4 ton on an ancient white cockatoo,
which had been in her possession for |
10 not know the number of years, and
was possibly as old as herself. She
positively dotted on the bird; but there
/ was no cause for jealousy on my part, as
The could hardly leave her money to her
pet, and that was the main thing. At
The same time | never could abide the
creature. 1t neither spoke nor whistled,
md with the exception of now and then
INDUCING in most unearthly
'squawk," was totally devoid of vocal
accomplishments. In Aunt Matilda's
Eyes however, 1T was a paragon Of
lense and cleverness There was no
bird in the wide world like "dear
cockie'; and to have limited at the con-
Irary would have been rank heresy, and
demolished all my hopes OF favorable
mention in her last will and testament.
In truth, ! once, when a lad, had mar
.ow escape from such fate. Even then
hated the creature, and never missed
chance of tormenting it when | could
10 so without fear of discovery. One
lay, however, l was fairly caught
caught, In fact, in double sense. While
ndulging in some sly digs at the cock
stoo, he suddenly made grab at my
aand and took piece clean out Of one
Of my fingers. My frantic yells at once
brought my aunt upon the scene, and
lad to confess | had been taking I'M
warrantable liberties with her favorite.
o. course | caught it hot, No anxiety
was shown for me or my lacerated
Anger; all my aunts endearments were
reserved for her pct, and grave fears
expressed lest he should have swallowed
.he piece and it might disagree with
aim. You know" she remarked in
serious tone, you know, Ebenezer,
| 40 has never boon accustomed to eating
4 'aw meat"
1t took some SINE to reinstate mo in
tunt Matilda's good graces, but from
at day / had an almost uncomfortable
lclination to wiring that birds neck.
Some years after this unfortunate
pisode ! really thought We had seen
ahe last of my bate H0ire. One fine morn
ng he somehow or other managed to
got free, and the window boing open,
40 unceremoniously took his departure.
Aunt Matilda was in despair, and | was
Vt once sent for. / found her in q ter
'ible state, perfectly PROSTATE with agi-
tation and grief. Men were dispatched
/ IN all directions, advertisements in
/ serted in tho newspapers and no money
or pains spared to effect tho recovery of
the abscondlng cockatoo. In my heart
/ | fcrvontly prayed the bird would never
be found alive again, but was CON
strained by circumstances to exhibit an
appearance of anxiety and diligence in
she search which | certainly did not
,eel. AS luck would have it, however,
After an absence Of three days the truant
was ignominiously brought home in
soot-bag, having been discovered by a
chimney sweep in disused lue Into
This he had either fallen or had taken
refuge in it from the inclemenoy of the
weather, He was in filthy and rather
emaeiated condition, and it was only
after thorough washing that my aunt
was able to recognize her dear Cookie"
Her joy at his recovery was excessive,
and oven | came In for a share of thanks
tmid the general rejoicing for my
oraiseworthy exertiousi From that
time my aunt seemed to regard me with
altered feelings, and my hopes rose
high as one day SIZE informed me, in
,ontdenoe that she was going to mako
her will and would mot forget" me.
Meantime. the coekatoo's cage had
been found to be defective, and new
one was specially constructed for him.
1t was made according to his mistress
directions, extra precautions being
taken to prevent q second escape. Not
,onteut with this, u silver ring, or col
lar, was also procured with her name
and address engraved upon it. This,
after good deal OF eXpostulation on
the part of the bird, was securely fixed
round his neck, much to his disgust
He spent several days in fruitless efforts
to claw it of with his feet; but in time
got used to it, and his feathers growing
over it, it was scarcely noticeable to a
casual observer,
My cousin, Bob Steele. and often
met at Aunt Matilda's, and to all APP
pearance were on thoroughly friendly
terms, as cousins ought to be. Some
how or other, however, Bob and ] were
never very intimate; and when we left
our aunt's we generally parted at the
FIRST corner. No doubt Bob had Tex
pectations' like myself, and there may
have been little feeling of rivalry be-
tween us; but after my aunts eonhden-
4 20 20 .nr Z I f.att