The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-11-08
A RELIGIOUS PARROT.
Feathered Inmate of Convent Re-
spondse to Prayers and
Litanes.

Down in the French quarter. where
the streets broaden out in many curve
and angle to the woods and lake be-
yond. stands an ancient convent. whose
superioress has had for many years pet
parrot, which the neighbors aver is al
most az much part Of the nunnery aa
though it had pronounced perpetual
vows.
This poll is a rare bird. speaking fn
emily French. Spanish, English and Lat
ID, n,.., Moreover, indirect contradiction IT,
most parrots. who are noted for their
W'ckedness and profane language. lin
which they indulge, this poll is re-
iigious bird. as faithful in sa lying his
morning and evening prayer. and assist.
ing at all the Offices from ma tins to yes,
pers of the religious community as
though. as suggested above, it had taken
the VOWS. Poll has the freedom Of the
entire institution, and is great pet Of
all the nuns: but he il especially devot.
ed to the mother superior. whose special
property he is, and likes nothing better
than to stand on his perch in her room.
overlooking the pretty chapel, where the
nuns assemble for their devotions. and
join in the community prayers. Now
these rcligieuses have a pretty custom of
calling their superioress by the maine VI
"cbere mere or dear mother. No one
ever speaks Of her. from convent pupils
up. except as ''chere mere" Of course,
to Poll she is "chere mere" too. and as
soon as he misses her his voice can DO
'Cbere mere. Chere mere. Where. is
chere mere:' In the quiet evening
light. when the days work is over. tho
sisters gather in The chapel for their yes
per Office. and Poll goes to his perch at
the sound of the vesper bell, and as
every head is bowed. ma king the re-.
sp9nses to pTayers and litanies. Poll calls
Holy Mary. mother of God, pray for IL
sinners. "Ora pro nobis," ''Je vous
sallle. Marie. pleine de grace. until even
the grave nuns are forced to smile in the
| midst of their penitential prayers. AT
the morning service, when the priest ia
Offering the sacrifice of the mass, Poll
| knows the tinkling of the acolyte bell
and comes to the window of the parish
! church. which adioins the convent. and
| often the kneeling congregation is star,
| tied at hearing him say with the priest
"Dominus vobiscum." THE Lord be
with YOU" and then. with the altar hoy
be answers. EFT cum spiritu tue. And
| with thy spirit" He knows the service
well and never makes a mistake, keep
ing silence in the church window. with
becoming gravity and dignity until it Is
| time to ma Ike the responses. AT night,
when the superinress stands at the door
of her room. and the long procession of
black-veiled religieuses file by. Poll again
sits upon his perch. and as each sister
says in turn to the superioress, Good
night. chere mere" and she answers.
''Good night. dear sister," Poll repeats.
''Good night. chere mere. Good night.
dear sister, "Sleep WE'LL and all night
at intervals. when he awakens from
| sleep. he may I've heard saying in a half
| sleepy way: ''G-o-o-d might. c-h-e-r-e
mere till he falls asleep again
But even such well-bred and devout
Polly can take it into his head to go OH
| a spree sometimes. Several weeks ago
| the superiOress of the convent. i'll coll
| formity with her annual custom. went
| around Louisiana and Mississippi. visit
! ing the various houses of the order which
| are under her jurisdiction. Perhaps
| Polly had some acquaintance with the
| the mice will play: or perhaps he was
| growing tired of being so ''goody -gooly."
| However that was. in the afternoon two
very distressed nuns called to SCI me-.
telling me, with tears in their eyes. all
about Polly. who was an old friend of
mine. and how as soon as "Cherr Mere"
went away. Polly had left the convent,
| too: they had searched for two days for
! him without success. For squares and
|
| was, and, oh. what~would "Cherc Mere
say about their carelesSness and neglect
in letting her little pet escape. They
had an advertisement for the Pica!um',
for the Lost and Found column. for
that was the Only way to find Polly.
| Several days afterward who should
| knock at the door of the convent but a
lady bearing Polly i'll her arms. She
| told the nuns how she had seen tn" adj
| vertisement in the PicayuAe. She lived
| near the barracks. Some. days sefor.
this strange but beautiful bird few into
her window. She did not know what to
make of him He was crying out all
day: "Chcre Mere: Chcre Mere" and
saying his prayers and REVEALING Lord
have mercy ON us. He refused all
food. and all night long kept up his pitt
ful cry: Good night; Chere Mere
Good night. dear sisters She did not
| know what to make Of such curious
Polly. but when she saw the advertise
| nent in the Picayune-
But here Polly settled the case of his
identity with the lost parrot The su-
perioress entered the room. He few to
her arms with Il joyous cry. 'Cherr
| Mere" and was nestled to her BOSOM
And now Polls wing is clipped IIt.
has taught the sisters 4 lesson in keep
ing the willful bird at home. He sits
on his perch. saying his litany. a happy
and wiser Polly.-New Orleans Plea