Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-03-04
CUPID AND THE
PARROT y Z
By Elizabeth Cherry Waltz
Copyright, 1903. bp the
s. 5. Mcclure Company

one, with a fine blue eye and pleasant
II rather reserved manner. He stood
Mt the door of neat cottage one MORN
ing In spring with rather disconsolate
air.
Il do miss Sis Therese," he said re-
gretfully, land her dying so unexpect-
ed-like has upset all my ideas of life"
He turned and gazed ruefully at the
comfortable sitting room, now in the
utmost disorder. On the top Of the
sewing machine box paraded a fine
gray and red parrot that seemed to ell
joy the situation.
Hello, captain" she cried. "Ship
ahoyw
wish there was, Polly" retorted the
captain, "but there's none In sight. I'll
go down town and advertise for a
housekeeper to clean up this place"
Ship ahoy, ship ahoyw screamed
the parrot, and again the captain re-
turned as he locked the door:
Il wish there was, Polly"
After he had put an advertisement
In several newspapers the captain
walked slowly along the streets to-
ward the markets. His eye caught
sight of large blue and white sign,
Servants Supplied"
1T will not do any harm for me to
stop in there" quoth the captain.
AS he stepped into the entry he saw
woman hesitating in front of him.
The captain declared ever afterward
that when she turned about you could
have knocked me down with a feath-
err" She was not girl, but a woman
approaching middle age and with a
pale and gentle face.
"Scuse me, ma'am. l am trying to
find me housekeeper."
The woman looked intently at him.
II am trying to find a place where /
can do something" she said YEARLY.
'Tf you would not mind trying to put
up with me and my Polly eagerly
began the captain.
is Polly your wife?' she queried.
"Oh, no; she's the parrot"
The woman hesitated.
II have always lived in the coun-
try" she answered, "but my brother
died. and ! thought could do better
in the city. haven't money enough to
60 back-in fact, ! haven't any at ALL"
The captain looked at her and speed
fly grasped the facts of the case.
I'm most old enough to be your ia
ther," he said kindly, although he was
not land you must come right along
and straighten up that house for Polly
and me. First we will get some break
fast"
An hour later the captain unlocked
the house door. Polly, much excited at
the advent of woman, swung and
screamed in her cage:
Captain. ship ahoy! Captain. ship
ahoyw
A week went by, and the burly cap
tain stood trimming his grapevines
when he saw a woman of rather gen
erous proportions coming in at the
front gate, followed by boy carrying
a large valise. He knew that this must
be his sister Melinda from California,
who could not attend her sisters fu-
neral on account of illness. His spirits
sank lower and lower as he climbed
the back steps. The new housekeeper
had proved quiet. clean and very indus
trious. Polly was never happy unless
she was in sight. In short, his sorrow
for the death of Sister Therese was
now softened because of no lack of
creature comforts.
In the little sitting room Polly began
angrily screaming. One of the first
acts of the newcomer was to throw a
heavy wrap over the cage.
You'll smother her." said quiet
voice. "I'll take her out on the porch"
"Who are you, anyhow" quoth an
irate female voice. where's the cap
tain?"
Here l am" said that individual
weakly, appearing at the door. 1--we
didn't expect you, Melinda"
II suppose not. l came as soon as
could. Therese left me all her things,
you see."
The captain looked about him, much
amazed.
what things"
"Why, the housekeeping things. You
won't want to keep house. You can
board"
mo; won't board" protested the
captain. "Polly and me are comforta-
BILE right here"
But you cannot live this way" re-
peated the California sister. You will
be stolen from and imposed upon.
Therese wrote me that if she ever had
to go to come right on and break up
FOR Won So I've come"