The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-15
The History of One Day in a Bad Parrots

The truth compels me to say that Miss
Nancy. our parrot IS not a model bird, being
given TO naughty tricks. @ habit Of violently
coptradictiug and impertlnent speeches;
These defects in a character otherwise good
are not the fault Of the family-Of which
! am one-that has had the rearing OF her.
They have endeavored 10 show her tho error
OF her ways. but she is incOrrigible on these
points and admOnitlOn seems only 70 provoke
her TO more impairment speeches.
She is rather a disreputaDle-lOoking parrot
too for though nature has gwen her piumage
of beautiful green and RED which would be rs
glossy and smooth as satin were she 20 keept
so. she is generally in much berniiied and
ragged condition owing to Il daily encounter
she has with Peter the cat and feud raging
between her and the hens But IN spite or
her moral imperfectiOns and her lack OF
beauty she is the delight not only of the fam
lily but of the neighbOrhood. being parrotot
excellent understanding and an intelligence
so remarkable that the old Scotchman that
lives next door says 1t Is "uncanny."
TO give YOU some idea of the accomplish
ments and wit of Miss Nancy. ! cannot do
better than recite to YOU the history Of one
day of her life. This day was spent recently.
Awake at FIRST cock-crow, Miss Nancy deity
lifted the latch of her habltatlon AID lot her
solf out then descending to the Kitchen
she can 60 up or down STAIRS as Wen as L
can-she spent half an hour or so biting the
buttons .off the house girls shoes which she
found under the range. This accomplished
~ her satisfaction. she turned over the
marched conee and the milk-can and walked
through plate OF apple butter, alter which
she amused herself by throwing the knives
and forks and spoons off the table.
Finding herself rather lonely, she decided
20 rouse the household, which she did by
hanging TO the balustrade of the staircase,
head downward, and screaming Justify
Yankee doodle" with original variations,
both of words and melody. for instance, re-
porting that famous character as coming to
town upon a little macaroni"
This song proving efectual in routing
slumher from all eyes, Miss Nancy departed
for fayorte perch on the back veranda,
from which secure platform she haraneued
the hens. dropping occasionally into insult
ing language This Is thing she delights
in but sometimes. growing excited, she so
far forgets herself as to let go her hold, when
the exasperated biddes fall upon her and
her shrill screams OF murder murder !"
warn US that If not promptly rescued our
pets career will be ended. II has always
happened thus far that she has been heard,
but some day,
On the day | speak Of, though. she re-
NAMED cool enough to retain her perch. and
was presently carried IN 10 breakfast. OF
which she partskes from n saucer placed close
10 her dOting masters elbow. ana during the
meal she behaves herself III a most exem-
banished promptly should she fan III ETH
Quetie.
Having eaten ner own breakfast she wan
dered out 20 the yard, where Peter was eat
ing his. Now Peter is the mildest OF cats and
has steadfastlv cultivated a contempt SO pro-
found TOR his tormentor that it will not let
him notice her. she laws hold of the very
morsel he is about TO realize on, when he
raises one paw and, with sheathed claws,
gently knocks Miss Nancy over repeating
this as often as she.trles to rob him. till from
these rolls in the dust she Is converted into a
very tousied. gray and angry fowl. which it
would puzzle an ornithoioglst TO name at
FIRST sight.
This was her condition on the day men,
toned which she preserved until she reached
my room, where was engaged IN cleaning a
delicate silk. With many grunts of indigna-
ton and reiterations of the statement that
she was Captain Jinks. of the Horse Ma
rines, she swung herself up on a chair, thence
10 the bed on which the dress WAS spread,
and then. and not TIL then. shook herself free
IRON the dust with which she was covered
and which showered over me and my unfor-
tunate silk
Being forcibly and ANONYMOUSLY elected
from the room she betook herself on in high
dudgeon 10 the old Scotchman mentioned
before. She made her way into his apart
ment by means Of tue lightning rod and the
shutter. and startled the old gentleman out
OF his afternoon nap by suddenly croaking
under his chair, and in a most sepulchraI
voice demanding. What is home without O
mother -
Mr. McIyor is very much afraid of her. and
Miss Nancy knows II. and takes the most out
rageous liberties with his belongings. On
this occasion she contented herself with tsst
ing his toilet soap, chasing his canary all
over ITS cage by climbing on the outside and
tweaking out tail feather when opportunity
offered. and with making vicious darts al his
sippered feet when the Old gentleman, feebIv
Mapping newspaper at her endeayorod to
drive her from the field.
AT last he borrowed broom. and. coaxinr
her to the broad end bore her home and ds,
Ayered.her, with more care than she deserved.
10 her mistress, who was guilty OF the weak
ness OF welcoming her.
Not at all repentant or subdued Miss
Nan Nancy spent the rest Of the day psrchsd on