Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-20
Uncle Benjanlin's Parrot

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RGsuA0661>0e2Sx<0 o0>asO0
It was getting late in the evening of
the third day before christmas when
there came u violent pull at our front
doorbell, and on the door being opened
Uncle Benjamin, covered with snow
and out Of breath from fighting against
the wind, entered. ''Oh, what weather.!
What weather." he pulled and gasped,
as he kicked off his wet overshocs and
recklessly scattered the snow from his
overcoat on the clothes which were
hanging in the hall. II should so like
cup of coffee. 1t wouldn't disturb you
too much to make it, would it2"
Of course it didn't disturb US, no
more did Uncle Benjamin, who was
soon snugly installed in comfortable
seat by the stove.
ooh, uncle, shut your eyes!" cried my
wife, suddenly. "Your Christmas pres
ent is lying there on the table near YOU
How could be socareless! Please don't
look that way
He did as requested shut his kindly
little eyes and waited patiently until
my wife said: "Now, all right
slow kind Of you to think Of pres
ent for me-" he said. "One good turn
deserves another, and 1 want to give
you something, too. but I'll be hanged
if know what"
Fora short time he sat with his head
in his hands looking fixedly in front of
him. Then, all at once, bringing his
fist down on the table he said: IF I.
only had that parrot I should be all
light!'
"Parrot?" I asked, astonizhed.
what parrot?"
Uncle Benjamin looked at me jovially.
Don't you know the story? Really?
Well, then, you shall hear it. But, first
OF all, give me another cup of coffee.
You are a wcll-read man, nephew, so
you ought to know there is, nothing like
q good cup OF coffee and good lunch
con to get a man talking
When the beverage was ready and
Uncle Benjamin had thoroughly tasted
it by several hearty draughts, and had
then expressed his satisfaction, he be-
gan his story:
1T happened several yearsago. After
much hoping and waiting Christmas
day had finally arrived. For several
days before a continual stream of pres
ents from relatives and friends had
been steadily flowing in, while on
Christmas morning quite number Of
folks to whom 1 had scarcely given
thought sent me kindly rene mbra.ices.
SO that l felt proud and happy, and I
said to myself: Benjamin, my boy,
You must be rather,a nice sort of fell
low. after all, if these people are so
proud OF you as to sentf sou Christmas
presents I had arranged with mother
for she was living them how we would
pile up all the presents under the Christ
mas tree IN the evening-you know all
reasonable people become children at
Chrlstmas-when another present was
brought in. 1t was from man whom
mad not seen for years, and whom
mad thought of very seldorl-my
friend Karl kicrbaum, who was in
America. What in the world prompted
him to send me anything could not for
the life of me imagine; still less how
man who was in general SO reason
able should send me a parrot, the nsli-
est bird in creation. The one which
got was the ugliest of its kind, and was.
in addition, an ill-tempered, ill-behaved
beast. It began by biting my finger,
and as soon as it was taken out Of the
cage set TO work to destroy the carpet.
You know hate all birds-except those
which are roasted, Of course; then
Ike them well enough, when the gravy
is all right. Well. how could I BE- ex.
pected to fall in love with that ha iefui
specimen which screecfcd the sharpest
words and behaved like a pagan? NV
wife naturally thought it dear little
thing and would have been delighted
TIC have had it in the bedroom, Just like
children with their Christmas toys. But
! Insisted that the parrot should either
De taken into the cellar, or else chained
in She dog kennel. In the latter place
it 1night at least have served to warn it's
lord and master Of approaching danger
like the geese of the capitol. My wife
objected that the parrot would freeze
AMI that it would be brutal to cause the
ceNth of the poor, harmless creature.
TLatI finally admitted, but main tanned
that it should not be housed in he he'd.
rom.
We'll said my wife, finally, what
81 all We do?'