Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-12-21

threatened to lay the case before the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, So saw that 1t would be
necessary to find some other way out
of the difficulty At noon an mspira-
ton came to me.
Mother called, Z have it! Wen
wrap the parrot up carefully In paper
and send it to Director StregeI- I Will
write note, telling him how honored
I feel at being able to send him a
riHing present, which hope he Will
accept, as the bird is Of rare species
He viii be sure to be fattered by the
little attention, and we shall be able
to get rid of the bird with credit, for
to give, you know, is better than to re-
ceive'
with fearful eyes my wife took
leave of the dear. sweet, little parrot
which had managed to break a vase
before we could capture It I comfort
ed her by saying that she would be
able to see the bird again when she
called On the frau director. Then OUT
maid Bertha set out with it, and half
nice note: My dear sir it ran, the
acceptance OF your kind present, just
received, gives me the greatest pleas
ure. For a long time it has been my
great desire to possess q parrot [ had
not bought one because [ never found
one pretty enough for me. never saw
such = beauty as the one you have so
kindly sent me. for which I hereby
thank you most heartily
So you see, mother I said. what
is an owl to one is a nightingale to
another.
christmas night arrived. It is al
ways such a peculiar time. The older
whether it is going to bring him happi-
ness or misfortune. Mother and I had
exchanged presents and sat hand in
hand in front OF the sparkling Christ
mas fire. Neither Of US spoke: we were
both busy with our thoughts. At such
times one wonders if it will be the
last time that one viii sit so: II not.
perhaps a year later one Or the other
will be resting quietly under the sod.
Our reverie was Interrupted by
sharp ring at the bell, and almost i'm
meClaIeIV the servant entered the
room carrying a very strengthening
parcel and a note.
"'Mr. Ibsen's compliments. He has
sent you Christmas present.
II must confess l am curious to
know what it can be- I said to my wife
who was busy taking the wrappers Off.
Then I opened the note and read:
Dear Ben amin- viii you accept the
accompanying trifing present? After
a great deal OF searching [ finally I'M
earuhed the parrot which am sending
you. The dealer assures me that it
is an exceptionally fine bird. I know
that you are very fond Of parrots, and
hope you will be pleased to have this
one
'Confound it all roared in rage
what the deuce do people mean by
sending me parrots? What can I do
with the bird? I'll tell you what. I'll
send this over to the director just as
it is in the cage. He'll be glad to have
the pair That what III dol"
so again wrote few words. The
dealer from whom T had bought par
rot in the morning had by chance re-
ceived second and similar bird. which
he had at once offered me. It gave me
great pleasure to ask him to accept the
parrot which I was sending him
Bertha went again and returned
with the message that the director was
SO overioyed with the present that he
was absolutely unable to find words
in which to express his thanks. He
would call on me the following morn-
ing to return thanks in person
Then we sat down to the table. I
was so happy and SO merry. The great
est happiness consists in making others
happy. and that joy was mine. And
as Bertha cleared the table she related
again and again, to my great satisfac-
ton, how overcome with joy the di-
rector had seemed
Another hour passed-it must have
been close upon nine-when the door
opened and my friend Ibse1 entered,
with a cage in his hand.
Why, Ibseu,. what makes you call
SO late?' I asked. astonished.
Well said he, after he had greeted
my wife, the fact is, I am sorry to dis
turb you. but the dealer from whom
bought the parrot this morning has
just sent NE a second similar one, and
am so glad to be able to give you
a little pleasant surprise that brought
il myself
Deeply moved, gave him my hand
You are really very kind said How
have I merited such attention.
"'Oh- don't mention It, he said
But let US put both parrots IN the same
cage. I am curious to, see how they
will behave
So am T. I answered, and then. EN-
barrassed, added: You know I have
had a curious experience with the first
parrot you sent me"
why, how SOP asked Ibsen- aston
ished-
Well, { had to make some present
to our director, and I thought you
wouldn't take it amiss, SO sent him
the parrot
'sIbsen was astonished- What con-