Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-12-21
Uncle Ben jamin's Parrot

It was getting late in the evening Of
the third day before Christmas when
there came a violent pull at our front
CoorbeIl, 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. be pufed and gaSped-
as he kicked Oft his wet overshoes and
recklessiy scattered the snow from his
overcoat on the clothes which were
hanging IN the hall 81 should so Ike a
cup OF coffee. It wouIdn't disturb you
,co much to make it, would i19'''
OF course it didn't disturb US. no
more did Uncle Benjamin, who was
soon snugiy installed in a comfortable
seat by the stove
oh uncle, shut your eyes, crie.: my
wife, suddenly. Your Christmas pres
ent is lying there On the table near you
Eow could I be SO careless: Please don't
look that way
He did as requested shut his kindly
Little eyes and waited patiently until
my wife said: wow, al right
How kind OF you to think OF d pres
ent for me- he said "One good turn
deserves another, and I want to give
you something, too, but I'll be hanged
If know what
For short time be sat with his mead
il his hands looking f1edly 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
right"
"Parrot?'' asked, asponizhed.
what parrot"
Uncle Benjamin looked at me jov!a1y.
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 well-read man, nephew. SO
you ought to know there is nothing like
a good cup Of coffee and good lunch
con to get man talking
When the beverage was ready and
Uncle Benjamin mad thoroughly tasted
it by several hearty draughts, and had
then expressed his satisfaction, he be-
gan his story:
1T happened several years ago. After
much hoping and waiting Christmas
day had finally arrived. For several
days before continual stream OF pres
ents from relatives and friends had
been steadily flowing in, while On
Christmas morning quite number OF
folks to whom I had scarcely given
thought sent me kindly remembra1ces,
SO that I felt proud and happy, and I
said to myself: benjamin, my boy,
you muat be rather a nice sort OF fell
low after all, il these people are SO
proud Of you as to send you Christmas
presents had arranged with mother
(for she was living then) how we would
pile up all the presents under the Christ
mas tree in the eveniug-you know all
reasonable people become children at
Chrstmas-when another present was
brought IN. 1t was from a man whom
I had not seen for years. and whom I
had thought OF very seldom
friend Karl Nerbaum, who was in
America, What IN the world prompted
him to send me any thing could not for
the Life OF me imagine; still less how a
mau who was In general SO reason-
able: should send me parrot, the ugi-
est bird In creation The one which [
got was the ugliest of its kind, and was.
In addition, an uI-tsmprred, 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 hirds-except those
which are roasted. OF course; then Z
Exc them well enough, when the gravy
IS all right Well, how could I he e1-
pecfed to- fall In love with that hateful
specimen which screeched the sharpest
words and behaved Like a pagan2 Ny
wife naturally thought tt a dear title
thing and would have been Delighted
tE have had it In the Bedroom, just like
children with their Christmastoys. But
Z insisted that the parrot should either
be taken fntB the cellar, CT else chained
In the dag KENNEL In the latter place
10 might at least have served to- warniitE
lord and master Of approaching danger
- like the geese of the capitol MYwiffe
0hieeted that the parrot would freeze
and that 1t wuuld be brutal tocanses tine
death CT the pGor,, harmless creature.
That finally admit tired BUT II "a iineI
that IL should not, be housed In the bed
r0<1l. So Isl.
Eeils saiid mE wife. fnaII what
small no dol