THE TALE OF A CIRCUSPARROT.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1374, 27 August 1895, Page 2

THE TALE OF A CIRCUSPARROT.

When one is told that he is to hear a socalled funny story about a parrot, he expects it to be surcharged with profanity. But here is one in which nothing of the sorb is mingled—indeed, we quote it from a religious exchange—and which, we think, our readers will admit is intensely droll. Ben Lusbie, who for fifteen years was one of the greatest features of Barnum's circue in the capacity of "lightning ticket 1 seller," had a wonderful parrot, which had been presented to him by one of the canvas men of the show, who was at one time 0 sailor on a steamer plying between Boston and Fernandino, in the Bahamas. Lusbie used to have a way of quieting the scrambling mob of the ticket purchasers around the ticket wagon by saying : "Don't be in a hurry, gentlemen !" "There's plentj of time!" "Don't crowd each other !"' " One ab a time gentlemen," andsuch like expressions. The parrot, which was perched upon the safe in the waggon just back of Lusbie, gob to learn these, little speeches after a season's tour, and often broke out in a piercing squawk with one of them, mucb to Lusbie's amusement. The parrot, which was quite a little vagabond, broke loose from her fetters one day, and flew over into a neighbouring wood, near the circus grounds. A searching party was made up, and they had nob proceeded far before >bhey heard a vasb racket, apparently made by squawking birds. Hastening to the scene, they found poor Poll clinging as best she could to the limb of a'dead bree, surrounded by a screaminjg flock of {The parrot had only two or three/tall feabhers left, arifl the hostile crows were "striking, pecking, and plucking her righb and left. Hanging on as besb she could, the parrob was shrilly screaming: " One ab a time, gentlemen !" " Don't crowd there !" " Take your time!" " There's plenty more lefb !"