Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-10
THEGRAY PARROT
By ". v. JACOBS.
IcopyrisA.. laoo, hy ". v. y.cob. ]

By ". ". JACOBS.
fCopyrisht. 1900 by ". ". Jacobal
The chief engineer and the third sat
at tea on the s. 8. Curlew In the East
India docks. The small and not over
clean steward, having placed every
thing he could think Of upon the table
and then added everything the chief
could think Of. had assiduously poured
out two cups Of tea and withdrawn By
request. The two men ate steadily,
conversing between bites and inter.
rupted occasionally by = hoarse and
sepulchral voice. the owner Of which.
being much exercised by the sight Of
the food. asked for 1t, prettily at first
and afterward In a way which at least
compelled attention.
That's pretty good for q parrot"
said the third critically. Seems to
know what he's saying too. No. don't
give 1t anything. It'll stop II you do"
There's no pleasure to me In listen
ing to coarse language" said the chief
with dignity.
He absently dipped a piece OF bread
and butter In the thirds tea and. losing
II, chased II round and round the bot.
tom Of the cup with his finger. the
third regarding the operation with an
interest and emotion which he was At
rx,t l,ta 20 nuAarofond
You'd better pour yourself out an.
other cup" he said thoughtfully a. he
caught the thirds eye.
I'm going to-" said the other dryly.
''The man I bought II Of" said the
chief. giving the bird the sop, said
that II was perfectly respectable par
rot and wouldn't know bad word II
It heard II. hardly like to give II to
my wife now"
"lt's no good being too particular"
said the third. regarding the other with
an III concealed grin. That's the
worst Of all you married fellows Seem
to think your wife has got to be
wrapped up In brown paper. Ten
The chief shrugged his shoulders dis
dainfully. II bought the bird to be
company for her." he said slowly.
'She'll be very lonesome without me.
Rogers"
"How do you know?.' inquired the
other.
"She said so," vas the reply.
when you've been married as long
as I have" said the third. who. hav-
Ing been married some Is years. felt
that their usual positions were some
what reversed, you'll know that. gen.
orally speaking. they're glad to get rid
OF you"
"what fory' demanded the chief In
voice tha, Othello might have envied.
"well. you get In the way a Bit"
said Rogers. with secret enjoyment.
"you see. you upset the arrangements.
Housecleaning and all that sort OF
thing gets interrupted. They're glad
to see you back at first and then glad
to see the back Of you"
There's wives and wives" said the
bridegroom tenderly.
"And mines a good one" said the
third. registered Al at Lloyd's, but
she don't worry about me going away.
Your wife's 30 years younger than
you. isn't sheT
twenty-five" corrected the other
shortly. "You see. what I'm afraid OF
is that she'll get too much attention"
"weil. women like that" remarked
the third"
"But don't. dash itr' cried the
chief hotly. when think Of 1t. ! 60
hot all over-boiling hot"
THAT won't last" said the other re-
assuredly. you won't care twopence
this time next year"
Were not all alike" growied the
chief. "Some Of Us have got finer feel.
ings than others have. saw the chap
next door looking At her as we passed
him this morning"
Good heavensr said the third
wildly.
81 don't want any Of your blanked
impudence," said the chief sharply.
s.He put his hat on straighter when he
passed us. What do you think OF
thatY'
cant say" replied the other. with
commendable gravity. 1T might mean
anything"
III he has any Of his nonsense while
I'm away. I'll break his neck" said
the chief passionately. II shall know
Of It."
The other raised his eyebrows.
'T've asked the landlady to keep her
eyes open q Bit" said the chief. my
wife Is very young and simple. 30
that It is quite right and proper for her
to have q motherly old body to look
after her"
Told your wifeT queried Rogers.
"No," said the other. "Fact Is. Rog.
ers. I've got an idea about that parrot
I'm going to tell her it's a magic bird
and will tell me everything she does
while I'm away. Anything the land
lady tells me shall tell her got from
the parrot. For one thing. don't want
her to go out after Of an evening. and
she's promised me she won't. II she
does. I shall know and pretend that ]
know through the parrot. What do
you think Of it?'
think Of It," said the third. staring
at him. think of It? Fancy man tell
ing a grown up woman q yarn like
thatw
"She believes In warnings and death
watches and all that sort Of thing"
said the chief. so why shouldn't sheT
well. you'll know whether she be-
lieyes In II or not when you come
back" said Rogers. ''and itn be .
great pity. because It's beautiful
talker and the best swearer ] ever
heard"
"What do you meanY' said the other.
81 mean It'll get its little neck
wrung," said the third.
"well, well see." said Gannett Il
shall know what to think II 1t does
die"
"I shall never zee that bird again"
said Rogers. shaking his head as the
chief took up the cage and handed IT to
the steward. who was to accompany
him home with Il
The couple left the ship and proceed
ed down the East India dock road side
by side, the only incident being q hot
argun mt between q constable and the
engineer as TO whether he could or