The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-29
THE PARROT NEVER SPOKE.
He Showed Characteristic Abilities,
hut lie Was No ChatterbOx.
NJ. vnrlr Gu,

y woman carrying n cage in which was a
very gorgeous parrot boarded an uptown
train the Sixth-avenue elevated road
few nights since. She sat the cage down
In the seat next 10 her, and presently In
came a man whose nose was the color OF
the parrots neck. The man sat down with
OF the parrot and presently catching sight
OF the bird, launched into language for the
benefit and instruction Of his fellow pas
sengers.
Beautiful bird. the parrot" he observed.
Jus look at his variegated foliage. Op-
serve his magnif cent plum-a-age. JUS as
intelligent as he is han some. too. Used t
have a parrot could sing Yankee Doodle
an whistle 'Star-spangled Banner an crow
this one mine was. Hey, Polly, say some
thing. Give US chune. Polly want g..
cracker2'
The parrot slowly turned his head, cast a
scornful eye at his interlocutor, and kept
his beak closed This didn't please the man
at all.
Amt he dignifed?' he continued. Looks
like he was posing for picture. Wouldn't
think TO look at him he could talk, would
you? Why. say. bet now 4 he wanted to
he could talk pretty near s good $ l can
Couldn't you, Polly?'
This gratuitous insult was received by
the bird in silence. The lecturer took a
Guess he dom feel conversational Been
that way m'self. Kinder mean L disturb
him, but l want him Z say something;
New min. know how to start him. Hey!
Chirp! Chucki Whee-ee-ee-ee! S-s-s-s-s!
Wow! Whirroop'
To this astonishing proposition the par
rot made no reply. He didn't even open his
eyes. That made the man angry.
why don che say something's" he de-
civil. v red-faced. bald-head idiot? r L
owned you I'd put y in 'sylum for weak
minded birds. Wha' che sittin there fer
Oo af fS Skf on wake ely up paa pHS
rate, Shake yer tail feathers n squawk f
y can't do anythin' better"
Tt1aT r.Cf
well, I'm dummedp calculated the man.
Then he sat up very straight and addressed
the bird with great dignity. of y dom
want e be drawn into conversach'n y can
say so like gentleman, but dom sit there
sulk like chicken with tn pip. Who wants
talk t, you. anyway? ! don't. l JUS
] get ii in tn neck for havin' a kind heart
Now. I'm goin t sleep, an If you go maxim
any squawks an interruptin' tn peaceful
dreams Of innocence I'll ring your chrome
colored neck an sling you out tn window.
You're no good. anyway. You're an i'm
belle hunk of fuss an feathers an you
look like a combination of ten-cent tea
store picture an the slush end of mop
on scrub day Nov, dom talk back, for I'm
goin' L sink softly into slumber."
AS he concluded the man leaned his head
back and closed his eyes. The arm nearest
the bird, which had been raised in warning,
dropped until the hand rested on the cage
The parrot suddenly opened his eyes. He
glanced toward the man, then at the hand
There was a sudden jump and fiutter in the
cage, and the next instant the man was do
ing Highland fling with vocal accompani-
ments In the aisle, and swinging about his
head a cage connected with his middle
finger by the firm grip of the birds power
full beak.
"owI WONT Leggo, Leggo. you green
devil. oh. Oo-oo-oo-oo! Lego, I say. Woo
oo-oo! Ouch! You're bitin' my finger off.
Leggo. an I'll never say word any more
Oh! Wow I'm sorry. I didn't mean T. call
you names. Oh! Oo-oo-oo! L was just in
fun. Ouchi Lego, leggo my finger. Whee-
ee-ee-ow! 20
With a violent jerk the man succeeded In
freeing his finger, which was considerably
the worse for wear, and the cage fell back
IN the seat What might have happened
will never be known, for just I'll en- the guard
Bhouted. '"Twarra-tara S'reeH'
That's my street, shouted the man.
'Lemme out" and as he fed with his mutt
lated finger in his mouth the parrot climbed
back on his perch. scratched his head medi-
tatively with his claw, and winked.
But he never spoke a word.