Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-09-18
TWO PET PARROTS

That Rode Horseback-A sad Tale.
Down in the Southern States of
America pet parrots are very common.
Sailing vessels are constantly bringing
them from South and Central America
and from the West Indies.
recall one now that was the happy
owner of when a child in New Orleans.
She was a dark green parrot, with a
black bill and feet; she was very bright
and great favorite with all the chill
dren. She spoke very plainly, and
could laugh and cry quite like human
being; itwas very amusing to hear her.
She was full of mischief. If serv-
ant was called, she would answer
(herself unseen). sharply: WHAT"
and when the servant was reproved for
his lack of respect she would shout with
laughter.
She learned from the newsboys on
the street very naughty words, which
was finally the cause Of our having to
part with her. From her hanging cage
on one Of the front verandas, she would
cry out to passer-by: ''Oh, you ratl"
and when the passer-by would stop to
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and discover the parrot the naughty
bird would only laugh.
Another serious fault was habit of
opening her cage with her bill. She
could do this quite cIeverly when it
was not securely tied. Then she would
come out and walk into pools of water
and mud in the yard. When the
careful laundress had hanged
the clothes-lines full of freshly
washed linen. she would walk
up and down the lines soiling the
clothes with her muddy feet, and cut
ting off all the buttons with her bill.
With all her faults, however, we loved
her dearly, and many tears were shed
when she was finally sent away on ac-
count of her bad language.
Another parrot which lived in a
Southern city was a great favorite in
the family of some friends of mine.
She was quite old-though her exact
age can not now tell. She had lived
in the State of Texas, while it was a
republic belonging to Mexico, and
seemed equally happy in her home
after it became one of the United
States.
She formed great attachment for
horse which the children drove, and the
two became great friends. She would
climb up on fence, the horse would
come along beside it, allow her to get
on her back, and then walk slowly
around while the parrot held piece of
his name with her bill. After she had
ridden as long as she wished she would
climb into the pantry window, and hand
out, with her bill, rolls or cookies, or
any thing she could find, to the horse,
as return for her ride.
In the early morning she would go
up stairs, visit the sleeping rooms of
the children. and call out: Get up,
Charlier' Get up, Frank until she
had aroused them all.
When they set off for school, she
would sit aloft on the cross beam of the
high front gate, and call out as long as
they were in sight: Good bye,
Charlie!' Goodbye. Frank
And here on her favorite perch she
finally met her sad fate.
There were two tame eagles in the
city; they had been caught when young,
tanned and often allowed to fly about
where they liked.
One morning, as Polly sat on the gate
bidding her young friends goodbye,
one of these great birds swooped sud
denly down upon her, and carried her
off in his claws, followed by the frantic
but fruitless shrieks of the children.
So long as she could be seen mere
speck in his claws, as he scared toward
the sky, she was sending back the most
piteous cries of poor Pollyr poor
Polly~-Our Little Men and Women.