The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-12-06
JOE AN ABLE PARROT
THE ODD FRANKS PLAYED BY THIS
ACCOMPLISHED BIRD.

making An Irritated and BewiI-
dered TsAmsteF - An EIOpement
Spoiled by Another Parrot.
Joe Is an African gray parrot supposed
to be about thirty years old. Thees
stories about him are told by his owner:
A friend called one evening and, finding
that Mr. T., the parrots owner, was out,
but expected to return shortly, went into
the parlor to wait for him. The visitor
was left alone, or supposed he was, but
something must have happened, as the
slamming OF the screen door announced
his rather hasty departure.
After q time the visitor returned and,
upon being questioned regarding his I'M
ceremonious departure, said that he heard
the most violent lovemaking in the ad-
Joining room.
The young people were so greatly oc.
cupied that they seemed unaware OF my
presence" he said. II couHhed. made a
noise with my chair and dropped II book,
but all to no avail. so / Thought the best
thing for me was to take walk.
"Dear Joe, kiss me again. joe some
one said, and then the kissing-and such
|
| than | could bear with compnSure"
But replied the host, there are no
young people in the house. Our parrot
he's been fooiing you"
Impossible" the visitor said. 81 was
told that l was alone, but before the
| servant left l was invited to walk right
| In and sit down. and Are you warmY
| was asked, and l had scarcely replied
when l was laughed at; then there were
| two other distinct voices. Besides, the
| kissing and cooling were altogether too
real"
you are not the first to be fooled by
the bird" Mr.. T. replied "Only few
days ago q nearby plumber, whose name
happened to be Joe, called to do a small
job of repairing, and the work was begun
before left IN the morning. but the man
left suddenly, the work was unfinished,
and no explanations were given.
1.-THE next morning called at the shop
and took the workman to task and was
told that unless l could make my serv-
ants behave another plumber would have
to finish the Job. He said that WREN he
began work he was called to an adjoining
room only TO be laughed at by the serv-
ant who kept out of sight and called out:
"'You old rascal and You're q beaut,
cried Sick emf and guyed hin all the
time.
well, you Gun understand 1 had hard
work to make the man believe that it was
only parrot, but he felt cheap enough at
being SO badly fooled.
Sometimes Joe is very embarrassing.
A very dear old lady friend visits us who
Is somewhat of an invalid and has rather
distressing cough and other pecuharities
that can be plainly heard, all Of which
Joe initiates In the precise tones. with
more than natural emphasis, sneezing and
blowing his nose and coughing distress,
ingly.
HE counts, repeats the alphabet, spells
many words, whistles, knocks on his
perch like some one at the door and then
enters into conversation.
"'Why, come right in; sit down; nice
day. Are you coldF he says until he has
had enough, and then he says. Goodby;
come again Sometimes we have callers
that Joe seems to dislike, and he will keep
ON with hts goodbys until people hurry
of, and In these cases he never invites
them to come again.
IF there Is doubtful statement made,
Joe is sure to cry Rats! with such vol
ume as sometimes to upset the composure
Of the company. He drives a horse with
all the spirit OF the horse trainer and
seems TO enjoy 1t. You can fairly see the
race.
last year when we moved 70 our surn-
mer cottage Joe was sent on n load of
goods instead of being taken with us on
the cars. as usual. Joe's cage was care
fully secured ON the seat beside the driy-
or.
eve arrived Mt the cottage several
hours beyond the customary time for the
arrival Of the wnson and became snxious
obont our goods hnt narticulorIv about
Joe Our fears were NOT relieved whom
the wagon drew in sight with the parrot
cage missing from the drivers seat, and
there was chorus of Where's .IoeY
with face flushed with anger. the
driver replied: .Drat the haste. or burd
or whatever no Ia NOT q thing end | do
wild him. You know yourself the load
had on. an 1t was all me horses cud pull,
an when everything would be gon' well
the burd would scream: whoa! Back
up," l Thought meseif il was me own
voice. an so did me horses. an it's
wonder we're here Wit. That burd is DOS
sessed. He has q diril in him. l Thought
we'd not git here tonight. So | buried
the burd Wild boxes on the back Of the
load an covered him wild q blanket, an,
with all RESPECTS to Won. sor. l hone he ia