night I encamped in the woods, I placed it on the baggage beside me, where it usually sat with great composure, dozing and gazing at the fire till morning. In this manner I carried it upwards of a thousand miles in my pocket, where it was exposed all day to the jolting of the horse, but regularly liberated at meal times and in the evening, at which it always expressed great satisfaction. 6. In passing through the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations, the Indians, whenever I stopped to feed, collected around me, — men, women, and children, — laughing, and seemingly wonderfully amused with the novelty of my companion. The Chickasaws called it in their language kelinky," but when they heard me call it Poll, they soon repeated the name; and whenever I chanced to stop amongst these people, we soon became familiar with each other through the medium of Poll. 7. On arriving at Mr. Dunbar's, below Natchez, I procured a cage, and placed it under the piazza, where by its call it soon attracted the passing flocks, such is the attachment they have for each other. Numerous parties frequently alighted on the trees immediately above, keeping up a constant conversation with the prisoner. One of these I wounded slightly in the wing, and the pleasure Poll expressed on meeting with this new companion was really amusing. She crept close up to it as it hung on the side of the cage, chattering to it in a low tone of voice as if sympathizing in its misfortune, scratched about its head and neck with her bill, and both at night nestled as close as possible to each other, sometimes Poll's head being thrust among the plumage of the other. 8. On the death of this companion she appeared restless and inconsolable for several days. On reaching New Or leans I placed a looking-glass beside the place where she usually sat, and the instant she perceived her image all her former fondness seemed to return, so that she could scarcely absent herself from it a moment. It was evident she was completely deceived. Always when evening drew on, and often during the day, she laid her head close to that of the image in the glass, and began to doze with great composure and satisfaction. 9. In this short space she had learned to know her name, to answer when called on, to climb up my clothes, sit on my shoulder, and eat from my mouth. I took her with me to sea, determined to persevere in her education; but, destined to another fate, poor Poll, having one morning about daybreak wrought her way through the cage while I was asleep, instantly flew overboard and perished in the Gulf of Mexico. ALEXANDER WILSON. 86. THE PARROT: A True Story. THE deep affections of the breast By human hearts. A parrot, from the Spanish main, Full young and early caged, came o'er, To spicy groves where he had won For these he changed the smoke of turf, But petted in our climate cold, He lived and chattered many a day; At last, when blind, and seeming dumb, He hailed the bird in Spanish speech; Flapped round the cage with joyous screech, T. CAMPBELL. Thrice welcome, darling of the spring! Even yet thou art to me No bird, but an invisible thing, A voice, a mystery; The same that in my school-boy days I listened to; that cry Which made me look a thousand ways, To seek thee did I often rove And I can listen to thee yet, O blessed bird the earth we pace An unsubstantial, fairy place, That is fit home for thee! WORDSWORTH. |