The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-15
A GIFTED PARROT.

A GIFTED PARROT.
The longer the bird who consented to
take the name of Cato stayed with us
the more copious did his vocabulary be-
come. He had coaxing voice, a stri-
dent and repellent voice-the kind Of
voice stage tyrants used to have-a we'll
bred drawing-room voice, and a horri-
bly, vulgar voice. He lived sometimes
in the kitchen, but generally in the din
ing-room, which was separated from
the drawing-room only by folding,
doors, through which any loud talking
was heard but too easily unless heavy
curtains were drawn over the doors.
One day when there were no such
curtains drawn visitor-a woman
called on my wife. Cato was in the
dining-room, and not long after con-
versation had been going on in the
drawing-room he started an incoherent
and unintelligibIe monologue, very loud,
in the atrociously vulgar voice to which
have above referred. When this had
gone on for some little time the visitor
rose, said to my wife: rs that your
little boy talking in there?" and took
her departure. We have not always
been fortunate with our parrots and our
visitors. 3 ga
1t was his strident voice, somewhat
reminiscent of the late John Ryder, the
actor, that Cato employed on an occa-
sion which had a certain touch of pa
thos. must premise that in our house
on Campden-hill, the drawing-room
window looked out on the road, while
the dining-room window opened on
yard with a penthouse and shrubbery,
and opposite to the shrubbery was a
short flight of steps leading up to the
gravel path, which went past the pos
tage-stanp of a front garden to the
outer door.
On a certain wintry afternoon, when
there was snow on the ground, the par
rot was alone in his glory in the kitcf-
en-, since the maids were upstairs and
my wife was writing in the dining
room, which was Immediately above the
kitchen. Presently she was aware of a
small boy, as it seemed from his voice,
gradually descending the steps, and
saying rather tirnidly at intervals in a
your steps?" Presently he got for an
swer a loud and strident "What?"
Then he repeated his inquiry, coming a
little nearer, and was answered again
in yet louder tones, WHAT" A third
time he put his question, and then his
unseen respondent answered in a quite
new and deep bass voice: II don't
know" Whereupon the poor little
chap fed before my wife could inter-
cept him, and compensate him for the
fright which, no doubt he had got.
In the foregoing story there is nothing
wonderfully out of the way. For those
which now follow expect no credence.
although Cor mayhap because) have
a credible witness prepared to affirm
that he heard the parrot say exactly
what I heard him say. There may also
be polite and hesitating folk who will
take refuge las, by the by, does my
wife) in saying that we were the fools
of a too lively imagination. For my
own part shall never falter in my con-
viction that things happened exactly as
my companion and I heard them, and
as I am now about to relate them.
One day, then, one of the maids came
up to tell me that Cato had all the
symptoms of bad cold. On this ! HE'D
me down with my companion, taking as
equipment some whiskey very slightly
diluted, some red pepper and a tea
spoon. With the pepper and whiskey
prepared in the teaspoon beverage
which may fairly be called an unfailing
remedy, and to which the bird had
haken kindly on a previous occasion.
I opened the door of the cage, and
proffered him the healing drink. Not a
word would he have to say to it,. He
danced at it, he fluffed up his feathers,
he said that he didn't like it at all, and
he muttered things which were evident
ly meant in doubt and anger. Present.
ly I spoke to him like grandfather,
saying, MY good bird, you have had
this before. 1t cured your cold then,
Why don't you take it now? 1t isn't
poison" Upon which he looked at me,
said. well, I thought 1t was,' and pro-
ceeded to lap it up as kitten would
lap milk.
Again, there came to share the par
rot's sovereign rule young and very
handsome Dutch maybe, who assumed
by request the name of Sherlock, and
liked it so we'll that very soon he con-
stantly addressed himself by it In COM