The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-09
How a Parrot
Effected a Match
By U B. CUMMINGS

AuSy NAdCAAulSut. uOW dUOuI tulS III
fair between you and George Horbi
son? George has been attentive to you
for six months and 80 fur as l know
nothing has come Of it."
what car l do. Aunt Rebecca? !
can't make him propose"
my DEAR" said the old lady in a
kindly tone. II have q suggestion to
make"
What is 1t, Aunt Beck?"
Get a parrot"
"a p~arrot!"'
Eyes, a parrot. But you'll understand
me better after l have told you a story.
When l was your age a number of
young men at different times showed
me q good deal of attention. but any
n who married me must furnish all
the income on which we would live, for
I hadn't a cent. There's many q splcn.
did girl who has remained a maid for
this reason. Any prudent young man
fs liable to balk because the girl he
would make his wife can furnish moth
ing toward the family support.
"Half a dozen young men had been
devoted to me, but when each had be-
came convinced that he must shoulder
the whole load if he married me he
withdrew. One day at the beginning
of the summer a friend Of my mothers
came in and said that size and her fam
lily were going to the country and ask
ed If we would take. care of her parrot
while they were gone. Mother said
she would be happy to accommodate
her, and the parrot-they called him
Roger-was brought over He was a
queer looking bridal parrots are
and was very amusing. The way he
would climb about his cage, muttering
to himself, made us all laugh. To me
he seemed like an alderman in a red
waistcOat.
I'VE put Roger OF the porch, which
was nicely fitted for summer lounging.
and usually left him there all night.
except when it stormed. In the v
ing we sat there ourselves; at least
did, for l found it a very convenient
place to receive my friends.
THAT spring l had met a young man
who seemed to be as much pleased
with me as the others had been. and
by the time summer came he was Civ
ing me the usual devotion. But he
was a clerk on something like $1,000
a year salary, with nothing laid up or
in prospect. and l expected that when
September came and those away for
the summer returned I should be left
out in the cold again.
During August there was scarcely
any n in town. and my admirer had
no place to 20. except to our house.
and he was there four or five evenings
a week. The truth is. this fact Of his
having nowhere else to go was the
principal reason for his coming SO
often to see me. He never said a word
about love or marriage. though l ad-
mit-but I am getting ahead Of my
story.
well. Jack. as l have said. spent
nearly every evening during July and
August ut u house. Sometimes my
mother used to sit with us. but moth
er was afraid Of. the night air. and
since we always sat on the porch
she didn't trouble US very much. Jack
used to apologize for being at the
house so much. saying that II we could
stand him till his mother and sisters
came home he would give US a rest.
knew very well that he said this to
prevent my considering, his attentions
serious. OF course l told him he was
quite welcome and since all our friends
were out of town l was as needful Of
his eUf1panysas heswas o. mine.
'.Uh The ut Of september Rogers
owner returned to%the city and the
same evening came around for her pet,
Jack was there. as usual. and mother
and the lady came out on to the porch
for the parrot. Jack rose and was In
PRODUCED to the lady. He did not re-
seat himself. hut stood on the step
where he usually stood when l bid him
good night on his leaving me-
''Isoger was evidently quite pleased to
zee his mistress again and strutted
about. whetting his beak on bis perch
and showing OF all kinds Of antics.
When Jack said that he would bid us
good evening the parrot suddenly ex-
claimed:
"'Goodby.'
every one laughed, and doubtless
this excited the parrot to further re-
mark.
".Give me another. Beck cried the
bird.
"Our porch was furnished with an
electric light. which Jack and l always
kept turned Cd. Tonight It was turned
on. and my crimson cheeks betrayed
Rogers meaning. Jack in confusion
was walking away when the parrot
cried out:
".Come back. Jack. You may have
one more
81 turned and ran into the house and
up to my room. where l suffered no
end Of modification. I knew the story
would soon be all over town. and It
was. Every time Jack met an &C.
quaintance he was hailed with the
words Give me another and my girl
friends tainted me with Come back,
Jack: you may have one more The