Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-12-23

rot, the ueliest bnd in creation
The one which | got was the ugli-
est Of i's kind and was, in addition
an lll-tcmpered, i'll beh4ved tel>t
It began by biting my
anger, aud as soon as it was taken
out Ut the cage net to WORK TO de.
strov the carpet. You know | hate
all birdS-except thnSe which are
roasted, of cOnrSr; then I like then
we'll enough, when the gravy is al
rIsht. Well, how could be ex.
p-ctrd TO fall in love With that
hateful specimen which screeched
the Sharpest words AMI behaved
like pagan My wife naturally
thought 1t "A dear little thing and
would have been delighted to have
had it in the bedroom, just like
children With their Christmas tOls
But / insisted that the parr
should eitt er be taken into the
cellar, or Else chained in the dog
Kennel. In the latter place it
might at least have served to VAIN
Its lord and master of approaching
dabger-hke the geese of the
capitol. My wife objected that the
parrot would freeze and that it
would lie brutal TO cause the death
of ne poor, harmless creature.
That ] 6Ially admitted, but main
tanned that 1t should not be housed
In the bedroom.
Well said my wife, dua ly
'whst shall We dOi'
'OAn't the bird be roasted ? |
asked.
"UDOn which my dear bett' r
half threatened to lay the case b(.
fore the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty TO Animals, so saw
that it wOnld be necessary to find
some other way ont OF the diff
Guilty. At noon All inspiration came
to me.
Mother | called, have it
Well. wrap the parrot up carefully
IN paper aud send it to Director
Striegel. | Will write note, telling
him how hOnOred l feel at heir z
able TO send him trlaiDg present,
which l hope he Will accept, as the
bird is of a rare species. He will
be sure to be fiattered by the little
attention, and We sbalI be abe TO
get rid of the bird with credit, for
to give, yon know, is better than
to receive
"With fearful eyes my wife took
!eaye of the dear, ,lsweet, little par
rot which had managed TO break
vase before We could capture il.
| comforted her by saying that she
would be able to see the bird again
when she called on the frau direc.
tor. Then our maid Bertha set
out with It, and half an hour later
came back With a very nice note:
MY dear sir it ran, 'the accep
tance of your kind present, just IT
celved, gives me the greatest pleas
ure. For long time IL has been
my great desire to possess par.
rot. | had not bought one be
cause | never found one pretty
enough tor mt. l never saw such
a beauty as the one you have 70
kindly sent me, for hich l hereby
thank YOU most heartily
$50 Won see, mOther,' | said.
what is an owl to one is a night.
ingale TO another
christmas night arrived. 1t is
always such peculiar time. The
older man gets the more uncer-
tam be feels wbel her IT Is gong 10
bring him happiness or misfortune.
Mother aud | had exchanged pre-.
sents and sat haud in hand 10
front of the sparkling Christmas
IRE. Neither of us spoke; we were
both busy with our thoughts. Al
snch times one wonders if it will
be the last time that one will
sit SO; if not perhaps a year later
one or the other will be resting
quietly under the sod.
"Our TeYtIle wac interrupted u,
u sharp ring at the bell, and al
most Immediately the servant en-
tered the room, carrying very
strange looking parcel aud note
"Mr. lbsen'S compliments. Fl,
has sent you Christmas present.
Il must C 'nfess am curious I,
know what it can be- ! said to my
vile, who was busy taking the
wrappers of. Then opened tb,
note and read: Dear Benjamin
Will you accept the accompany inl
tritiing present. After a great dea
of searching | finally uneartheC
the parrot which am sending you
: The dealer assures me that 1t Is al
lpYgAnfiOuQlIV fna bird knnu