Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-31
II Parrot and
the Photograph

Copyright. 1898, by Frances A. schneider)
It's a beautiful worldl It's a beautiful
world" croaked the green parrot. and his
mistress. without looking up from her
work, responded with CHEEKY good humor:
Yes. indeed, Polly, It's a beautiful
world"
Though exactly what there was in the
outlook from Miss Pinch's window, to
Justify this statement, It would be difficult
TO say. A row OF dingy, second-rate apart
ment houses bounded her vision. To be
sure, she may not at the moment have
been wholly conscious Of her surroundings,
Aer attention being riveted upon some dais-
les she was embroiderlng upon a delicate
piece Of fabric, and which reminded her
Of the green pastures and still waters Of
the New England home she had left six
years before. or perhaps her mind had
wandered off to her nephew, Richard.
whom she pictured to herself as sedulously
toiling in the far away city Of Boston and
upon whose future achievements she built
great hopes.
When her only sister had died fifteen
years before, she bequeathed to Miss Pinch
her S-year-old son, Richard. Education be-
ing a hobby Of Miss Pinch's-though, be it
said, her own had been much neglected
she decided that her nephew should have
the best that she could obtain for him. He
should go forth into the world armed with
no less a weapon than a college degree.
And with this great end in view the little
woman strove and labored.
II had been a hard struggle, involving
years of unceasing toil-the best years Of
Miss Pinch's life-and finally the sale Of
the old home and bit Of farm land about It.
vi .h. a.,r -rV,,HInI ENv.,, a. -
moval to the great city. where she had
been assured a ready market awaited all
the work her skillful fingers could turn out,
did not discourage or embitter her. Her
object was being accomplished and she
never doubted that Richards love and care
would repay her tenfold.
But somehow. the .two-edged sword Of
knowledge, which 1t had cost Miss Pinch
such a struggle to place In her nephew's
hands, did not enable him to cut his way
with great celebrity. 1t was now two years
since he graduated and he was still draw
ing heavily upon her slender resources.
For" wrote he, though 1 have a pretty
good job at tutoring, l don't get enough
out of it TO keep me as a man in my
position has need to keep himself. In the
meantime, 1 am making myself solid with
II w VI NOolNNyl
Thus matters stood on the Saturday
afternoon when Miss Pinch and the parrot
first heard the photograph. 1t was early
in March and wonderfully warm for the
season. The little woman had thrown
open her window, so that any breath OF
fresh air that crept down between the tall
houses might find an entrance to her room.
Miss Pinch was embroidering violets on
white satin, while the green parrot pecked
languidly at n bit of water cress held
gingerly In his claw. Suddenly the strains
OF a popular air, executed by some one or
something in one of the apartment houses
opposite, rent the air. At first, the indis-
eliminating Miss Pinch inclined to the idea
that 1t was a human voice. But at length
she discarded this theory in favor Of the
belief tina It was a monograph. "And
very pretty, too" she unused, leaning back
contentedly in her chair to listen. AS for
the parrot, he dropped the water cress
and chuckled with delight, cooking his
head on one side and lettering back and
forth from one short leg 20 the other
When II was almost dark Miss Pinch, will
n pang OF self-reproach for her idleness
jumped up hastily, saying with something
like a sigh;
"It's a beautiful world. Polly dear; bu
I am wasting time, so we'll light the lsmI
and go to work"
TITS a beautiful world" shrieked tn,
parrot in response and rolling himself VI
into a ball put his head under his wins
and went to sleep.
often after this Miss Pinch heard tn,
photograph. Indeed, she grew to expect 1
at a certain hour each day and was dis
appointed II, by chance, II remained silent
She thought the sound proceeded from thu
apartment nearly opposite, where lived tn
tall man, whom she had sometimes seel
looking over at the green parrot.
Early one bright morning Miss Pinch
having hung the parrots cage in the opel
window, put on her hat and went out t
deliver a piece of embroidery
Goodbye, Polly dear" she said as sh
left the room. All the way downstairs sh
could hear the bird calling. Goodbye
Good-byeI"
It was an hour before she returned an
rs she opened the door OF her room
strange. unusual quiet seemed to steal on
like a cold breath and chill her. She stoo
still upon the threshold, possessed by
sudden fear.
Polly" she said softly, "Polly!"
There was no croak of welcome fror
the hO0rSe voice tnat nau never lot mar
years. failed to answer her.
polly" she called. end with an efoI
dragged her unwilling feet across to III
cage. The door was open just as she mus
carelessly have left II. The bird was gon,
Miss Pinch stood for n minute starin
nxedly at the empty Gag then began
hurried search in every possible and impo'
sible corner OF the room. Craning her hen
out of the window she called, "PollN
Pollyl" till the ~neighbors came out TO Sc
what was the matter. Never had the quic
reserved Miss Pinch attracted so much a
tentlon. To her oft repeated inquiry, "HaV
you seen my parrot anywhere ?" the respon'
was always, Ain seen no parrot at all,
Finally she FASTENED out into the street
search, she knew not where, for the Dir
returning to her room after a time, lone
and miserable. For the first time in mar
years Miss Pinch wept.
1T may be wrong 70 take on So" 81
sobbed, but he was the best friend l hG
In all this big city and knew every VOL
I said to him"
She was lying quite stil on her bed, h
face buried in the pillow, when some hal
knuckles applied Themselves vigorously
the door panel. Miss Pinch. in obedient 2
Spouse, called in n weak voice:
please wait a minute and l will let y,
in"
Then the little woman bathed her face
cold water, smoothed her curly dark ha