The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-01-06

leave of the dear. sweet, little parrot |
which had managed to break vase
before we could capture it. | comfort |
ed her by saying that she would be |
able to see the bird again when she |
called on the frau director. Then our
maid Bertha set out with it, and half |
an hour later came hack with n very
nice note: My dear sir. il ran. the |
acceptance of your kind present. just !
received gives me the greatest pleas.
ure. For long time it has been my
great desire to possess parrot. Lad
not bought one because never found
one pretty enough for me Inever saw
such i beauty as the one you have so
kindly sent me. for which hereby
thank you most heartily
$50 you see mother said, what
is an owl to one is a nightingale to
another
"Christmas night arrived. 1t is al
ways such a peculiar time. The older
a man gets the more uncertain he feels
whether it is going to bring him happi
ness or misfortune Mother and 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 will sit so; If not,
perhaps year later one or the other
will be resting quietly under the sod.
"Our reverie was interrupted by a
sharp ring at the bell, and almost i'm
medately the servant entered the
room, carrying very range-looking
parcel and a note
"'Mr. lbsrn's compliments. He has
sent you Christmas present.
"'I must confess | am curious to
know what it can be- | said to my wife
who was busy taking the wrappers off
Then | opened the note and read;
Dear Benjamin, will you accept the
accompanying trifling present? After
a great deal of searching finally UNI
carthed the parrot which am sending
you The dealer assures me that it
Is an exceptionally fine bird 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 | 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 10 have
the pair. That's what I'll do
so again | wrote few words. The
dealer from whom had bought a 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 | was sending him.
Bertha went again and returned
with the message that the director was
so overjoyed 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.
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 ibsen entered,
with a cage in his hand.
why, Ibsen, what makes you call
so late?' / asked, astonished
"'Well,' said he, after he had greeted
my wife, the fact is, am sorry to dis
turb you, but the dealer from whom
| bought the parrot this morning has
just sent me second similar one and
am so glad to be able to give you
little pleasant surprise that brought
ii myself
Deeply moved, | gave him my hand.
You are really very kind said How
have | merited such attention.
oh, don't mention it, he said
But let us put both parrots in the same
cage. | am curious to see how they
will behave
so am L. answered, and then, EN-
barrassed, added: You know have
had 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 | thought you
wouldn't take il amiss, so | sent him
the parrot
"Ibsen was astonished What con
temptil,la +l,inr To Joi'
How contemplate?
Why. he replied, in turn embar-
raised, 4 myself received the first par
rot from the director, and sent it TO
you because thought you would
like it,
"'And the secondP asked, eagerly
Why, got that from the director,
too. But what's amiss with you?'
81 sank down, quite overcome. The
poor parrot-twice had received it as
present, had twice given it away and
now for the third time il was there be.
fore me in all its glory But there was
one good thing about the whole affair.
In being sent about it had caught cold.
and in less than a week il was dead
| am sorry now. because could have
given il to you, think have one OF
It's wings left. which would do to put
into hat."-From the German OF
paron Won Schlicher in BOSTON budget