The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-08-06
! Aunt Rivera'S Parrots.
Blu 6. F. FRAZER.

-N~-~
a fascinating Marmoset monkey, Sue
and her long-haired Angora cat were IN
separablc, and | was the proud posses
sor of the very sweetest pug that New
York city could boast.
As was to be expected in such house
hold there were moments of turmoil
as. for instance, when the cat, urged on
by the monkeys teasing, would frlght-
en- the canaries, whose shrill, ear-splt-
ting shrieks successfully rivaled the
sharp barks Of the pug. But a1ter
Aunt Rivers came to us we realized that'
comparatively speaking, we had been
living in peace and harmony.
Aunt Rivers was somewhat peculiar.
Her hobbies changed from week to
week, and she was rich enough to graft
fy every passing fancy. Her collection
OF antique china turned the heads OF
half the pottery hunters in the city.
When she came to us she demanded the
two largest rooms of our rather con-
tracted domicile. In one the cabinet
of precious Sevres and Crown Derby
were set up; in the other she deposited
her troublesome but precious self. This
arrangement was by no means agree
able to US, but then, Aunt Rivers was
wealthy, and we were-well, in circum-
stances that were rendered more COM
Portable by her promptly paid board
bill. Besides this, we were her nearest
relatives, and presumably her heirs, I'M
less, indeed, as was not unlikely, she
chose to endow her pet institution, the
Home for Half Orphans.
However, to do us justice, it was
quite as much kindness of heart as an
eye to future gains that made us put up
with her peccadilloes.
1t was the third morning of her stay
with us. We were yawning furtively
around the breakfast room, for Aunt
Rivers was addicted to very early rising,
and the whole family suffered in conse-
quence. She had taken possession of
mothers easy chair in the sunny bay
window, full of gay geraniums and
glossy ivies. The marmoset, intent on
mischief, was swinging from picture
cord overhead. A flower in aunt's cap
tempted him. In trice he swung
down the ivy stem, grabbed the white
cap, and also, unfortunate for Bob,
aunt's false front" The more angry
aunt grew at this onslaught, the more
did Jacko grin and chatter over his
luck. shall never forget how he looked
perched on the top of the window case
ment co1nbing with his long fingers
those rows of stiff curls.
Then mothers canaries began to take
their morning baths and to splash water
and birdseed about. This untidy prac-
.tice gave aunt second grievance, and
poor mother was soon in disgrace, while
Sue and l inwardly wondered if the An
CORA or the pug would be the next to
misbehave, to the affection of it's de-
voted owner.
THE disgusting Gagged creatures"
said Aunt Rivers, glowering at the ca
naries and brushing heap of sand and
cracked seed from her trim silk apron.
How you allow such nuisance, Maria,
passes my understanding"
Gagged creatures!" The idea struck
both mother and Bob, who had guile
lessly wandered back to the scene of
his discontinue. Perhaps a parrot,
trained one that could be allowed the
liberty of the house, might soothe Aunt
Rivers ruff1ed feelings.
An hour later when mother came in
from market, her usually placid face
was purple with modification, while
shrill screams issued from the inno-
cent-loolIing basket which she carried.
Our dear, staid mother. We had never
seen her in such a state before. She
undid the basket cover hastily, and
with wild war whoop out popped an
indignant parrot. He had been hooting
in the same style for blocks and blocks.
He was a beautiful bird, though his
plumage of vivid green but half con-
cealed the changing under tints of yell
low and scarlet, and after his presenta-
ton to aunt, mother again arose in
favor, for the knowing bird curbed his
wrath and greeted his new owner with
rapturous: "Good-morning, ma'am."
The storm was averted. Aunt with
drew her threat of seeking home else
where, and Sue and I were detailed to
continue the work of unpacking and
classifying her collections of china.
Presently from the corner window we
espied Bob coming home for luncheon.
Behind him came q small colored boy
bearing a cage.
Another parrot, Sue," 1 laughed,
and we both crept downstairs to see the
fun.
Bob's offering was a gayly feathered
native OF Bengal, said to converse in
three languages. Perhaps he did so!
Certainly some of his English roper
toire might have been improved upon.
AS an initiatory exercise he cooked his
head aside, scrutinized mothers pur-
chase saucily, and gave derisive shout
Of: You old devil!'
Poor Bob! He looked ready to sink
through the floor with chagrin, but
aunt, whose whims were past finding
out, was decidedly pleased. She an
nounced that she had often wished to
found a home for the improvement of
English-speaking parrots, and that
these two birds should form the nucleus
of the institution.
That was Aunt Rivers right over
again. She was happy only in her col
lectlons, were they mummy cloths, an
tque china or lame dogs. An object
has no value to her except as an in
tegral part of a collection.
So it came about that our house be-
came home for parrots. Sue and
dubbed our scanty resources and pro-
cured Cuban infant of nine months.
whose remarks were confined to such