The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
MRS. BEN WAH WANTS A PARROT.
Curious Wish of an Old Indian Wom-
an in the New York Slums.

Jacob A RiiS, in New York Evening Sun
Old Mrs. Ben Wah is sick and she wants
a parrot. If there seems to be anything in
congruous in the two things, put it down
to old age, if you like. They are the poig-
rant facts of her lonely life. and likely the
much longer. She is very old and very
lcnely@and she wants a parrot. Who will
give her one?. Whoever will need be quick
ing a n%eighbor make out her last paper"
which is a notice to everybody to keep
away W. when It the Ell Erea ant change bar f has come ne and and
Charity Organization Society, Mrs. Nc
Cutcheon and the others, have been sent
for.
Them Board Of Health fellows" she
says. with the least touch of resentment in
her gentle voice, they might take and sell
my things to buy cigars to smoke"
Ben Wah is not the old lady's name,
though it sounds like that. Neither am /
to give her address, for she wants one par
rot, not a whole lot. She wants peace even
send 9 stream of curious people to worry
her Is farthest from my mind. Let it be
enough to say that she occupies an attic in
one of the old downtown buildings that
once harbored the wealth and fashion Of
New York and are now given over to the
crowd. The attic is much better than a
sweltering tenement room. In spite of the
neighboring skyscrapers the wind blows
through, and of the fire-escape the old lady
has made both farm and garden. A potato
plant in a box represents the farm. The
crop from the ore vine would keep the old
lazy a week. 1t is all dead against the or
diIances that forbid numbering up the fire.
escapes, but the ordinances may go to grass.
Mrs. Ben Wal is not to be mOlested on any
occount.
Indian, believed by her neighbors in the
old house to have been a mighty chief in
his day. He died much more than a genera
TO sell beads. She travelled far and wide,
and 1t was during those days of lonesome
Journeyings that she once saw the parrot
lInnn which hnr Wind narrv IurA1- T.. ~
end she was stranded in this city and here
some years ago Mrs. McCutcheon found her
in dire straits. Since then she has had a
friend, and she has returned the friendship.
They have not forgotten the Christmas, up
In the Charities building, when the old lady
came hobbling up the stairs with a bundle
under her arm. 1t was for those who were
poorer than she," she explained. In Ii they
found a lot of blankets and woollens from
better days made over by the old widow into
children's. garments after the primitive
fashion Of her day. She cast her mite into
the treasury. A few days later when 1 Wis
tied her in her garrett l found her sitting
by the window and watching the sur sinking
In the west with a look of real grief on her
honest face. Her tobacco had run out, and
she had not money enough to buy a paper
gift as / did buying her a paper of smoking
tobacco, and l don't believe she ever en-
joyed receiving one as much. Perfect con-
eminent sat upon her face as she stuffed
her clay pipe and said with a little smile:
1T is no disgrace to be poor, but 1t is
sometimes very lncOnVenlent.'
And now Mrs. Ben Wah's days are nearly
numbered. The doctors say they are, and
she is setting her house to rights by slow
degrees. Death has no terror for her,
though the board of health fellow has. Her
memories have long been the biggest part
of her life. She canno weave her mats any
more. and the hours are dragging slowly.
All the loneliness of her dreary life is pent
up in the desire for a companion to share
them, something living. with a voice, and
that will not come in and go away again
and leave her. So, when / asked her what
/ should bring her back from a vacation
trip, she said 1t bashfully ~enough-a parrot.
A green, or a red and white, it didn't mat
ter, so long as it was a parrot.
l have not got a parrot, and l do not
know where TO get one. But / have no
doubt there are plenty of people who would
be glad to do this kindness for the old
widow whose whole life was kindness to
others. So, If anyone has a parrot, green,
or white and red, and will send it to Mrs,
McCutcheon, of the Charity Organization
Society, Twenty-second street and Fourth
avenue, he will sweeten Mrs. Ben Wah's
last hours 1t would be absolutely impos-
sible to put a parrot to better use.