Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-17

been spending the day with some
friends in the country, and Wnen they
ran into their mothers room, Billy
cried out: Say, mamma, what do you
think? We are to have parrot!"
Eyes, mamma, fine talking parrot,
declared Flora excitedly.
Mrs. James laid aside her book and
asked for particulars. Come, tell me
about the prospective bird" she said
But a look Of uncertainty was in her
eyes.
/ why" explained Billy, you know
Mr.. Davis has cousin visiting him
from South American republic, and
he-the cousin, whose name Is Mr.
Zaney-brought with him three fine
parrots, each great talker, for Mr.
Fancy has spent much time in teaching
them how to speak. Well, Mr.. and Mrs
Davis told Flora and me today that we
are more than welcome to one of the
parrots, for they saw how much we
wanted one. And they don't want but
two-one for Stella and one for David,
you know"
Flora and Billy had been visiting at
the home of the aforementioned Mr..
and Mrs. Davis, for Stella and David
Davis were their closest friends.
ooh, isn't that just splendid" cried
Flora, addressing her mother. But
Mrs. James said rather reluctantly:
"But, my dears, we don't want par
rot-here in town. They are such noisy
birds. Why, one could keep the whole
neighborhood awake in the early morn.
ing. I'm afraid, my children, that
you'll have to explain to good Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis that while you are most
grateful for the preferred parrot, you
are obliged, for good reasons, to fore
go the pleasure of accepting him. They
will understand why one cannot have
a parrot in town, especially when one
has such nearby neighbors. We must
do nothing to bother other people"
"But," begged Billy, his face falling,
'the parrot will not bother any one,
for I'll keep him in my room at night.
and in the early morning I'll get up
and put him in cage and throw a
dark cloth over 1t. That will make him
keep quiet, for he'll think it still night
Oh, mamma, please let us have him..
eyes. mamma, If you could see how
pretty he is, and hear his cute manner
of talking, you'd want him as much as
we do" added Flora. "He says Hello,
there. What you after?' and Get out,
you bum
Mrs. James laughed, and remarked
that evidently Mr.. Fancy had not
taught the parrots very nice things
to say. Then she added: Lets wait
till papa comes home and have him de-
eide the matter. If he consents to your
having the parrot shall not object.
But-we'll have to keep the noisy fell
low quiet Of early mornings
ell see to that" said Billy, kissing
his mother for half-giving her consent
to their having the parrot. "And I'm
sure papa will say yes"
That evening at the supper table
the matter of the parrot was talked
over. At first Mr.. James shook his
head. mo sonny" he said to Billy,
who had asked him ABOUT the bird. "a
parrot is a great nuisance. He is
loud and ungovernable."
"But a parrot is the cutest, just the
cutest thing in the world" said Flora.
"And-you'd must love this one If you
could see him and hear him talk,
daddy"
Mrs. James looked at II about to
Yield, and her glance at her husband
caused him to say: .'Well bring him IN
| II you think you can manage him SO
as to have no complaints from the
neighbors. But, II he becomes too
bothersome, well, you must be recon.
ciled to parting from him We will
explain it that way to good Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis"
ooh, thank you, papa" said Billy.
Eyes, thank you, papa. DEAR" added
Flora, running to her fathers side and
hugging and kissing him warmly
you're the bestest daddy in the
world"
"But he's made so by the bestest
momsey," said Billy, rising and hug.
ging his mother affectionately. Rem.
ember, it's mammals glance behind
the throne that makes the king Of the
James realm so easily brought to
terms"
Then they all laughed and the meal
was completed in the usual happy
manner, for the four James-father
mother. son and daughter-were the
best Of comrades.
i The very next day Billy took big
basket and went out to the farm OF
/ Mr.. Davis. He got the parrot and
came home VIGOROUSLY. isn't he 6
danay:' he asked of his mother as he
placed the fine fellow on perch that
had ueen bought that morning by
Flora
1 "Yes he's nice parrot" agreed
Mrs. James. II suppose he is toe
much frightened by his new surround
ings to talk.for few days. But he'll
soon become acquainted with u.s."
But hardly had Mrs. James said
this when Mr. Parrot called out in
|lusty voice: Hello, there! What you
after?" OF course, Mrs. James and the
children laughed merrily at the new
arrival, whom they decided 70 call by
the name of Dandy" And all taas
afternoon the neighbors' children were
coming in to get acquainted with
Dandy. isn't he Just too cute fol-
anything?" said Lily Travers, one OF
Floras girl chums.
ooh. he's perfect darling" said
Nellie Bryant, another Of Flora's best
friends And all the neighbors de
clared Dandy would not annoy them In
the least, even though he did get tc
talking of early mornings. The first