PARROT SAVING THE SILVER.
Minnie was quite distressed one morning, when, on going to Poll's cage
to say "Good morning" to her pet, she found her unable to answer, only
returning a feeble moan. She ran in haste to tell her mother, who
thought it one of the parrot's tricks. When she came down, however, she
found Poll was really ill.
[Illustration: "Dear Poll! darling birdie!" Page 115.]
"Dear Poll! darling birdie!" she said, tenderly, stroking the beautiful
head. "I'll make you some tea, which I hope will soon cure you."
She went at once to a side closet, and taking a little pinch of saffron
from a paper, sent it to the cook, with directions to steep it at once.
Breakfast that morning was a dull affair, without Poll's lively talk;
and as, after the saffron tea, she did not at once revive, Minnie began
to mourn so much lest her dear parrot would die, that her father, to
occupy her attention, took her to the library, and read her some
anecdotes, a few of which I will repeat.
"A tradesman in London kept two parrots, which usually hung in a cage
over the porch projecting from the front door, so that when a person
stood on the side of the street nearest the house, the birds could not
be seen.
"One day, when the family were all absent, some one rapped at the door,
when one of the parrots instantly called out,--
"'Who's there?'
"'The man with the leather,' was the reply.
"'Oh, ho!' retorted the parrot.
"The door not being opened as he expected, the stranger knocked again.
"'Who's there?' repeated the bird.
"'Why don't you come down?' cried the man, impatiently. 'I can't wait
all day.'
"'Oh, ho!' was the only response.
"The man now became furious, and leaving the knocker, began to pull
violently at the door bell, when the other parrot, who had not before
spoken, exclaimed, 'Go to the gate.'
"'What gate?' he asked, seeing no such convenience.
"'Newgate,' was the answer, just as the man, greatly enraged at the
thought of being sent to Newgate prison, ran back into the street, and
found out whom he was questioning."
"Dr. Thornton, a benevolent physician in London, once visited the
menagerie in Haymarket, where he saw a parrot confined by a chain
fastened to his leg. He talked with the bird, and found he could
imitate the barking of dogs, the cackling of fowls, and many sounds like
the human voice. The bird, however, seemed melancholy and restless,
which induced the good doctor to try and buy him of the owner. He
succeeded at last in getting him for the sum of seventy-five dollars,
which Dr. Thornton did not regret, since it would rescue the poor
creature from her present unhappy confinement.
"The first thing he did was to loose him from the chain, and carry him
home, where his diet was changed from scalded bread to toast and butter
for breakfast, and potatoes, dumplings, and fruit for dinner.
"At first, his poor feet were so cramped, and the muscles so much
weakened from long disuse, that he could not walk. He tottered at every
step, and in a few minutes appeared greatly fatigued. But his liberated
feet soon acquired uncommon agility, his plumage grew more resplendent,
and he appeared perfectly happy. He no longer uttered harsh screams, but
very readily learned many words, and amused himself for hours repeating
them. He attached himself particularly to his kind benefactor, and
always cheerfully practised his little accomplishments to please him,
calling out, 'What o'clock? Pretty fellow! Saucy fellow! Turn him out,
Poll.'
"He was friendly to the children of the family, and to strangers, but
exceedingly jealous of infants, from seeing them caressed.
"He was remarkably fond of music, and danced to all lively tunes, moving
his wings, and also his head, backward and forward, to keep time. If
any person sang or played a wrong measure, he stopped instantly. When
his quick scent announced the time of meals, he ran up and down the
pole, uttering a pleasing note of request.
"When any food was given him of which he was not very fond, he took it
in his left claw, ate a little, and threw the rest down; but if the
variety was nice and abundant, after eating what he wished, he
carefully conveyed the remainder to his tin pail, saving it for another
occasion.
"Every Friday a scissors grinder came and worked under his window. After
listening attentively, Poll tried to imitate the sound with his throat,
but could not succeed. He then struck his beak against the perch; but
his quick ear discerned a difference. Finally he succeeded by drawing
his claw in a particular way across the tin perch, and repeated the
performance of grinding every Friday, much to the amusement of those who
saw him."
Minnie was so much interested in these stories that she quite forgot her
grief, until her mother opened the library door to tell her that her pet
was beginning to sing.
Minnie flew to see her, and before noon had the pleasure of knowing that
Poll was quite recovered. Indeed, she had never seemed more gay. She
hopped first on one foot and then on the other, in curious imitation of
a polka dance, tossing her head on one side in a most coquettish manner.
Then she talked and laughed with Minnie, exclaiming every now and then
in a cunning tone, "What are you about, you rogue? O, you little rogue!"
The little girl was delighted. She held Poll on her lap, caressing her
fondly, and calling her by all sorts of endearing and funny names.
The parrot on her part seemed desirous of showing her gratitude for
relief from pain by doing all she could to please her little friend. She
often heard the cook calling Tom, who was apt to run to the barn when
she wanted him; and she began in a loud, impatient tone, "Tom!" her
voice rising; then again, "Tom!" falling inflection; "Tom!" again; "I
say, Tom; come here, you rascal!"
Finding this made Minnie laugh heartily, she began to call, "Leo, come
here! Lie down, sir! Tiney, Tiney," in a small, fine voice, like the
child's; "Tiney, Tiney, Tiney! O, you little rogue!"
After this she chattered away like Jacko, cocking her eyes and looking
as if she thought herself very smart.
Once in a while Poll talked Portuguese, which she had learned from some
sailors who were in the vessel when she came over, more than fifteen
years before. She began now to talk what sounded to Minnie like perfect
jargon, but which so much amused the bird that she kept stopping to
laugh most heartily.
By and by Mrs. Lee was ready to sit down; and she said Poll had had
excitement enough for a sick bird, but told Minnie if she would bring
the book about birds, she would try and find some true stories to read
to her.
The next hour was passed most pleasantly to both of them. Some of the
stories I will tell you.
"A parrot belonging to a lady in England was fond of attending family
prayers; but for fear he might take it into his head to join in the
responses, he was generally removed.
"But one evening, finding the family were assembling for that purpose,
he crept under the sofa, and thought himself unnoticed. For some time he
maintained a decorous silence; but at length he found himself unable to
keep still, and instead of 'Amen,' burst out with, 'Cheer, boys; cheer!'
"The lady directed the butler to take him from the room; and the man
had taken him as far as the door, when the bird, perhaps thinking he had
done wrong, and had better apologize, called out,--
"'Sorry I spoke.'
"The overpowering effect on those present can be better imagined than
described."
"Here is a story," continued Mrs. Lee, "of a parrot who acted as a
police officer."
"In Camden, New Jersey, Mr. John Hutchinson had a very loquacious
parrot, and also a well-stocked chest of silver plate. One day some
robbers thought they would like to use silver forks, goblets, and
spoons, as well as their rich neighbors, and watching their opportunity
broke into the pantry.
"They had already picked the lock off the thick oaken chest, and were
diving down among salvers, pitchers, and smaller articles, when they
were terrified to hear a loud, angry voice exclaim,--
"'You lazy rascals, I see you! John, bring me my revolver!'
"Dropping the silver, which they had taken, on the floor, the robbers
made a rush for the window, which they had forced open, and in their
hurry got over the wrong fence into the yard of a neighbor who kept a
fierce dog.
"Bruno, not at all pleased with the appearance of his sudden visitors,
sprang upon them, barking at the top of his voice.
"The noise called the police to the place, and one of the robbers was
secured.
"The watchful parrot saved his owner's silver. When he was praised for
his timely interference, he would arch his head, and begin at once to
call out,--
"'You lazy rascals, I see you! John, bring me my revolver!'"