Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-12-29
\: a GRAY PARROT,
Polly Alfs. ris .Arrpmpllshme n Nat IN
,s'., TIMELY ,Mopfs itS ~ rs fs


~, tmieIy Monte its ',.G f3s
Some years ago, when stationed OF
the coast of West Africa, bought Il
gray parrot which in appearance great
ly surpassed the geaeral run of these
birds both in size and beauty OF plum
age, and which, though paid little or
no attention to his education, turned
out to be remarkably apt scholar
The first indicat tion OF his powers was
perfectly successful attempt to whistle
the revoille, which, of course, lie had
heard on the bugles every mornlng SINCE
his introduction to barracks, AID befor1
long he had mastered pretty nearly
every bugle call known in the British
army. One morning was awakened
by his calling in loud tone and in an
exact imitation of my own voice: "Cof-
fee, Coffee! you imp Of darkness, where
are you? Hurry up and bring my cocoa,
Coffee being little native, as black as
your boot, whom / employed to work
for me. The incident naturally tickled
my risibilities, and laughed immol-
erately, the bril- joining in the cac.
chination and again initiating my
tones exactly. From that time on he
was liable to pick up anything heard
and repeat it at inopp ortune moments,
which was all very we'll in its way, but
which was apt to grow monotonous.
Regularly at 3 "a m, he would start
monologue, interspersed with bagle
calls and diabolical peals of laughter,
which awoke me. | never am very
amiable under circumstances of that
kind, and would heave my shoes or the
first missile that came handy at him.
If happened to go anywhere near the
mark he would calculate, "Poor Polly
poor, poor Polly" in such doleful ac-
cents that my wrath was invariably
converted into laughter, in which the
bird joined with great gusto Some
times would yell to the boy and say,
Coffee, take this internal bird away" P"
and all down the corridor like the very
echo of my voice, would come, ''Take
this Internal bird away, bird away"
"Polly" after awhile became quite a
character and | was offered consider
able sums for him, but decided to take
him home and make him present to
the governor. Of course on ship
board he was among the sailors, and
equally, of course, he learned quite a
number of commands incidental to their
calling, together with less desirable
accompaniment bad language. When
/ got him home the way he would
yell to an imaginary crew to square
away the main BRACE" and perform
various other nautical feats, was n
caution to snakes, accompanying his
commands with a string of profanity
that would have made the toughest old
salt hide his head with shame or envy,
und invariably indulging in thes, tricks
when we had lady callers. The old
man wanted to get rid of him, but
suggested that after awhile, as long as
he heard none, he would discontinue
his bad language, and SO it proved. One
Christmas day we were giving chill
dren's party, and amongst the Other
things provided for their amusement
was an exhibition of conjuriny by onl
of London's experts. In order to view
it, we were all seated at one end OF thC
drawing-room, whilst the knight o.
magic performed at the other Immedi
ately behind the audience was con
servatory connected with the room by
large glass sliding doors, and in thi
conservatory Polly's cage was hung.
The prestidigitateur as is usual witt
this fraternity, before performing one
of his tricks, was giving us long rig.
marole of what he was going to do,
when II shrill voice proceeding from The
aforementioned conservatory, broke
in upon him with:
Its all lies, ladies and gentlemen
it's all lies" followed by a fiendish vel
of laughter,
The con Juror was for a moment non
plused but noticing whence the inter
ruption proceeded, appreciated th'
joke, joined in the general mcrrimcn
which the incident had excited, and ad
mitted with gool grace that sit wa
all lies" On another occasion an aun
of mine was paying us a visit, an
noticing that Polly had splashel hi
bath water over window near whic'
he happened to be, said in a severe tone
Look what ii mess you've made, yo
dirty bird. I've good mind to throy
you out of the window" to which tn
culprit replied in the most contrit
tone: Poor Polly, scratch Polly Blu
a moment afterwards, as the lady an
left the room together, he Kissed ou
in the most vindictive tones imaginable
"You wretch" My aunt returned an
asked him. "What's that you said?'
Poor Polly, poor Polly" came tn
reply humbly and beseechingly fror
this mendacious bird.
When our home was broken up at tn
death of my father | had to part wit
the parrot, but no doubth he is yet alive
and if he still continues to acquir
knowledge at the old rate, must be
veritable mine of amusement Loui
), Globe Democrat.
: Disadvantage of Fast Horses.