The record-union., 1895-06-07
STORIES OF PARROTS,
One Bird Belonged to Queen Elizabeth
and Lived High,


and Lived High.
The very oldest parrot story on record
comes down from Queen Elizabeth's
day. She owned fine talking bird,
gifted with so much wit and good sense
her majesty was far fOnder OF him than OF
her hawks and greyhounds. He wore
ruff OF bright ribbons about his neck,
little gold bells OIL his feet, and, sitting
on his royal mistress shoulders. would
give saucy answers to the noble ladies
and gentlemen 10 whom her majesty gave
audience.
one day, when the Queen went on a
water party III tie royal barge. whether
in iun or 1rolic, Polly. who had been
proving about the boat. fell plump into
the river. A ferryman boldly jumped III
and rescued the frig htened bird. Then
dispute arose az 10 how much the man
should be paid.
LET us leave it TO the parrot" said the
Queen. Polly. who had sat silently
preening his bedraggled feathers, looked
up, winked his round, red eyes. and said
in graf voice: 80, give the knave
groat!' and that put all end TO the dis
pute.
The cleyerest parrot ever known was
the properly OF poor actor named
O'keoie. The bird not only talked clev-
erly, but sang sweetly in tenor voice.
his fayorite song was God Save the
kingu but not a sound would the parrot
make on Sunday.
He enjoyed clurch-gOing, and sat SOL
EMMY on the back OF a paw, paying the
most respectful attention to all that was
said.
One day, when the sermon proved very
long and. tiresone, the good clergyman
arrived at an impressive pause, just 10
give weight to his words, and the sober
sided parrot screamed out, Amen.
amen! now let us be OFT ~ and scuddled
out the door, near which bis master sat,
leaving the weary congregation, and alter
bit the good-natured Clergyman. too.
laughed heartily.
The fame of The parrots achievements
reached the royal palace, whereupon
King George commanded him to sing be-
fore the court.
When Polly entered the royal presence
and was ordered TO sing GOD Save the
King" not u sound would the bird make.
Then his majesty. put i'll quite a rage by.
this obstinate discourtesy, stalked out of
the room.
Hardly had the door closed, however,
when the parrot broke gayly into the
anthem, in a voice so line that the King
delightedly re-entered the room and
offered O'keefe a princely sum for SO
gifted bird.
" hGelo lON6u l5dtuoISu lTlclu tOO
dearly. to part with him, and, tucking
Polly close to his breast, under his shabby
coat begged his ma esty's leave to keep
him.
When the parrot died the British Mu-
scum bought the skin and stuffed it, and
to-day Polly is to be seen III the museum
at oxford.
A learned Philadelphia Polly sang
charmingly both in German anu Eng
liph ~ to cir 1r,r,t hon
window and toss seeds and crumbs to
hungry city sparrows; not only were his
feelings hurt, but he would scream and
scold unless permitted to bless all the
family good night and good morning.
He enjoyed the companlonship of
mate which laid several eggs. but could
never hatch them, SO in despair they set
out to adopt some children.
Poking about the room one day they
CHANGED upon box in which were three
tiny gray kittens. with which the mother
parrot WIS delighted.
Though The kittens struggled, she gath
cred them under her wings, and after a
while The cat gave her babies entirely
into the BIRDS care.
The parrots learned to drink milk at
the same saucer with their adopted chill
dren. and the kittens trotted contentedly
about at their foster parents heels, and
had rough-and-tumbleg games together on
sunny back porch.
1t has hitherto been customary to fritz
ter away the intellectual force OF parrots
by merely teaching them 10 say: Pretty
PolP' and things of that sort, but the
municipal authorities of French town
have instituted what it is to be hoped will
become general reform.
The poor box at the town hall, il seems,
had for a long time been in a condition
discreditable to the more prosperous of
the inhabitants. To remind them of
their duty toward their poorer neighborsa
parrot was purchased, which was installed
close to the box and trained to cry: For
the poor, Ii you pieasev'
The result, it appears, has been highly
satisfactory, pence and silver coins hav-
ing been freely given in response 70 the
birds appeal.
The IDEA is capable of being applied in
variety of ways. Parrots might be
used, for example, to warn passers-by of
the proximity OF wet paint on fences or
shop fronts, or To remind people on enter
ing house 10 wipe their feet.
In fact, parrots might be made really
useful members OF society.