The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-09

| at me, and after two 1neHectual az
tempts succeeded in flying into my
lap. There she sat as if exhausted,
sleepily watching me shell peas, until,
that task accomplished, lifted her
tenderly and carried her to her little
house. 1t was comfort to her friends
that her last sickness was short. A
sad faced, fearful family gathered
around the breakfast table this morn
ing, for after only one days illness
little Polly was found, cold and life
less in one corner of the pretty cage
that had been her home SO many
years. In spite of some cranky ways
she had won place in their hearts
out of all proportion to her size.
One day, years ago, she was miss
ing from the cage and the house. An
xious search was at once instituted for
a bird alone on the wide plains was
dreadful to think of! Soon she was
heard calling out of doors, and when
found she quietly hoped on the ex-
tended finger, reached toward her,
and allowed herself to be returned to
captivity.
Within her cage Polly knew no
fear. and resented vigorously any in
trusion on her preserves. She even
scolded at the hand that brought her
food, while eagerly taking the prof
fered treat. And many chubby
baby finger has been suddenly with
drawn from between the bars, in ter
ror at her fierce onset with outspread
wings, open mouth and harsh cutlery.
The only exception to this fearless
ness was when anyone approached
her with a hat on. Perhaps this ex-
ception was only seeming. Her wild
Autterings at such an apparition may
have been only a misunderstood at
tempt to enforce an observance of
ettiquet, and maintain her queenly
dignity. However that may be, the
result was the same. Every hat was
dotted before her, and everyone, man
or woman stood uncovered in her
presence, or retired.
Little Polly was not, as might be
supposed, devoid of natural affection.
The manifestation of love which she
refused to her own species she be-
stopped upon her human friends, fit
fully it is true, and usually charity.
But there was no installing the de-
licious twitter and the culver of the
little body with which she sometimes
responded to their attempts at bird
talk. The question has been asked
whether birds know any difference
between people. The questioner did
not know our Polly. Strangers were
nothing to her. Even one member of
our family was utterly unsuccessful
in ever winning from her any loving
response. His coaxing would be re-
warded by the sharp pulling of
whisker, if he got near enough.
Upon another, boy, she lavished
such a wealth of loving arts as be-
came an embarrassment to him at
times. She has been known to begin
her coaxing twitter on seeing him
through the window, or even on hear
ing his step at the head of the stairs,
and keep it up until he would come
and give her some recognition that
he had heard her declarations of love.
The complaint was sometimes made
that she was not very discriminating
in her attentions. This favorite did
nothing at all for her, while all the
rest, including the one who gave her
daily care, had to beg for her favors.
A kiss upon the lips was reserved for
one only, and was given-when she
felt like it-and never with the bait
of seed just out of sight between
the lips.
The reader will readily understand
why we cannot commit the beautiful
little thing to the taxidermist's art,
and per.h in our home the irrespon-
sive semblance of our loving little
Polly. A tiny golden quill laid away
in book, the tip of a fairy-like wing
boarded among ones treasures, are
enough for memory. In the bosom
of mother earth. under a shadowing
maple in the garden, lies all that is
left of Little Polly, aged 10."-The
Advance.
THE MAKING OF A GENTLEMAN