THE PARROT AND THE PRINCE.
"When Prince Maurice was Governor of Brazil, he was informed of an old
parrot who would converse like a rational creature. His curiosity became
so much roused that, though at a great distance from his residence, he
directed that it should be sent for.
"When Poll was first introduced into the room where the Prince sat with
several Dutch gentlemen, he instantly exclaimed in the Brazilian
language,--
"'What a company of white men are here!'
"Pointing to the prince, one gentleman asked, 'Who is that man?'
"'Some gentleman or other,' Poll instantly replied.
"'Where did you come from?' asked the prince.
"'From Marignan.'
"'To whom do you belong?'
"'To a Portuguese.'
"'What do you do for a living?'
"'I look after chickens.'
"The prince laughingly exclaimed, 'You look after chickens!'
"'Yes, I do; and I know well enough how to do it,' clucking at the same
time like a hen calling her brood.
"Prince Maurice, as well as the rest of the gentlemen, were delighted
with the intelligence of the bird, and after keeping him at his
residence as long as possible, the governor gave him a prize for being
the most sagacious parrot in the kingdom."
When Mr. Lee returned from the city, he found Poll as bright and
cheerful as a lark. He brought with him a young man in his employ,
called Theodore, to whom Minnie exhibited all her pets, and who staid
till after tea, and then Mr. Lee read a few stories to Minnie, with one
of which I must close my story of Minnie's pet parrot.
"A prince, named Leo Maced, was once accused by a monk of forming a plan
to murder his father, the emperor. He was, therefore, though protesting
his innocence, cast into prison.
"After some months, the emperor had a feast, to which he invited most of
the nobles of his court. They were all seated at table, when a tame
parrot belonging to the prince, and which was hung up in the room, cried
out, mournfully,--
"'Alas, alas! Poor Prince Leo!'
"This exclamation, which was continually repeated, as if the bird could
not help comparing their sumptuous entertainment with the prison fare
and confinement of his exiled master, so affected the guests as to
deprive them of all appetite. It was in vain that the emperor urged his
delicacies upon them. They could not eat, while the faithful bird
repeated his plaintive cry,--
"'Alas, alas! Poor Prince Leo!'
"At last one of the nobles with tears entreated the emperor to pardon
his son, whom they all believed to be innocent. The others joining in
the request, the father ordered that Prince Leo be brought before him.
He was soon restored to favor, and then to his former dignities, through
the affection of his faithful parrot."
Transcriber's Note
The following typographical errors were corrected:
Page Error
4 LECTROTYPED changed to ELECTROTYPED
98 and was then changed to "and was then