The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-12-19
with credit, for to give, you know, is

better than to receive
with fearful eyes my wife took
leave of the dear, sweet, little par
rot, which had managed to break a
vase before we could capture it. /
comforted her by saying that she
would be able to see the bird again
when she called on the frau direc-
tor. Then our maid Bertha set out
with it, and half an hour later came
back with very nice note: My
dear SIR it ran, the acceptance of
your kind present, just received,
gives me the greatest pleasure. For
long time it has been my great de-
sire to possess a parrot. I had not
bought one because I never found
one pretty enough for me. | never
saw such a beauty as the one you
have so kindly sent me, for which I
hereby thank you most hcartiiy.'
so you see, mother said,
what is an owl to one is nightin-
gale to another
Christmas night arrived. 1t is
always such a peculiar time. The
older man gets the more uncertain
he feels whether it is going to bring
him happiness or misfortune. Moth
er and l had exchanged presents and
sat hand in hand in front of the
sparkling Christmas fire. Neither of
us spoke; we were both busy with
onr 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
sharp ring at the bell, and almost i'm
mediately the servant entered the
room, carrying a very strange-look-
ing parcel and note.
"'Mr. Ibsen's compliments. He
has sent you Christmas present.
'''I must confess / am curious to
know mhat it can be- l said to my
wife, who was busy taking the wrap
pers off. Then I opened the note
and read Dear Benjamin, will you
accept the accompanying trihing pres
ent? After great deal of searching
I finally unearthed the parrot which
I am sending you. The dealer as
sures 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 ! I roared in
rage, what the deuce do people mean
by sending me parrots? What can /
do with the bird! I'lltell you what.
I'll send this over to the director
just as it is in the cage. He'll be
glad to have the pair. That's what
I'll do
$50 again 1 wrote few words.
The dealer from whom I had bought
a parrot in the morning had by chance
received second and similar bird,
which he had at once offered me. 1t
gave me great pleasure to ask him to
accept the parrot which I was send
ing 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
morning to return thanks in person.
"Then we sat down to the table.
I was SO happy and so merry. The
greatest 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
satisfaction, how overcome with JOY
the director had seemed.
Another hour passed-it must
have been close upon nine-when the
door opened and my friend Ibsen en-
tered, with cage in his hand.
"'Why, Ibsen, what makes you
call so late?' I asked astonished.
WELL, said he, after he had
greeted my wife, the fact is, I am
sorry to disturb you, but the dealer
from whom l bought the parrot this
morning has just sent me a second
similar one, and / am so glad to be
able to give you little pleasant sur
prise that / brought it myself
deeply moved, / gave him my
hand. You are really very kind I
said. How have l merited such at
tention?'
"Oh, don't mention it, he said.
"But let us put both parrots in the
same cage. I am curious to see how
they will behave
g SO am l. answered, and then,
embarrassed, added: You know /
have had a curious experience with
the first parrot you sent me?'
Why, how so?' asked Ibsen, as
tonished.
"'Well, had to make some pres
ent to our director, and I thought
you wouldn't take it amiss, so sent
him the parrot
"Ibsen was astonished. What a
contemplate thing to do 7
"'How contemplate? ?
why he replied, in turn en-
barrassed, I myself received the first
parrot from the director, and I sent
it to you because thought you would
like it..
"'And the second?' l asked, ca
gerly.
Why, l got that from the direc-
tor, too. But what is amiss with
your
''I sank down, quite overcome
The poor parrot-twice had l receiv-
ed it as a present, and twice given il
away, and now for the third time il
was there before me in all its glory.
But there was one good thing about
the whole affair. 1t being sent about
it had caught cold, and in less than
week it was dead. l am sorry now
because could have given it to you