The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-04
zENO,S CAPERS.
A Texas Prrrot That WAS Exceptionally
lively md Sagncious.

A Texas Pnrrot That Was Exceptionally
Lively and Sagacious.
Zeno was an inmate of our house for
many years, says u Houston (Tcx.) cor
respondent of the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat, and during that timo seemed
TO become almost member of tho
family, SO peculiar was his character
nnd so marked his individuality. He was
pretty parrot, with such lovely
shades mingled with tho green on his
shoulders and such brilliant rcd on his
wings, thut VIC children thought him
the very paragon of parrots. How
many times have seen him sidlo ND to
mother when she would be little pale
and still, and, climbing up to tho back
of her chair, lean over her shoulder and
peer into her face, asking sympathetic
ally: whats the matter? Got n
headachc?" My sister Nell was little
fond of standing before the glass, and
whenever Zeno caught her there he
never failed to climb to the bureau and
strut back and forth before the mirror,
exclaiming: Just sec usl Ant we
pretty?" until Nell was fairly driven
away.
Zeno always noticed strangers very
NAAsASoAty olti gill Guilty W buy CilQG TIC
got into the habit of making remarks
about them. A very elegant young
gentleman called on sister Nell ono
evening, md wo didn't know that
parrot was in the room until suddenly
there he was, out in the middle of tho
floor, promcnnding back and forth In
front of the young man, twisting his
head about and crying: "Oh. my! Just
look at usI Ant we fnc!" Sister
Neil got the broom and swept Zeno
out, and he shouted "Murdcri Oh, nv.
But ant VIC fine!" oil tho way to the
kitchen The young man was very
much offended, though, as he thought
we had put Zeno up to it, and he never
came back any more
One of Zcno's chief anusements was
worrying the chickens. Ho would spend
hours in the poultry-yarl, and would
slowly slip up behind hen that was
scratching or wns taking dustbath.
and would tweal1 her feathers unmcrci-
fully, sometimes pulling them out, and
tho hens would run caclsling and
squnwking away, whilo the parrot
would walk up md down and chucklc,
as nearly as parrot can In few mo-
ments the hens would forget the Incl
dent, and Zcno would select another
victim and begin to sidlo around to sur
prise her In turn
On one occasion, however, Zcno made
slight miscalculation. lie succeeded
In slipping up on the hen he had Sc
lected, and twealling her feathers with
great vigor prepared to step back md
enjoy his usual chucklc; but tho hen
proved to be new game rooster which
brother John had brought home that
morning. Mother heard n wild Tapping
of wings, cackling and screaming, but
did not hurry to see what was tho mat
ter, rs zeno was always creating dis
turbanco among the fowls When she
went mt last, she met Zeno coming in at
the back door. his head covered with
blood, and every feather rumplcd,
draggled and dirty.
"Why, poor Zcno! What has hap
Pened%' cried mother in dismay, bu,
Zeno wnddled past her, exclalming:
'Nevcr mind mel Go and tend to tho
hcni"
lie had bitten the ROSTERS bill Off
and Johns prize had to be killed, but
Zeno never had any taste after that fol-
slipping up on unwary hens.