WAR'S LIGHTER SIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 6

WAR'S LIGHTER SIDE

PARROT AT PORTSMOUTH

SAILOR HOAXED INNKEEPER

LONDON, Deo. 20 The Navy has started a new parrot story, which is already sweeping London. A sailor, home on leave, arrived at a Portsmouth inn with a parrot sitting on his shoulder. He was an excellent ventriloquist, so, when he called out for a glass of beer, he made the parrot say: "And the same for me, too." The proprietor of the inn looked at the parrot in astonishment. "Was that that bird talking?" he asked. "Of course it was me," said the sailor, again imitating a parrot's voice. ' That's extraordinary," said the innkeeper. "I suppose you would not like to sell the bird. I could do with a parrot who can talk like that." The sailor thereupon sold the bird to the innkeeper for £lO. A year later the sailor was again on leave and again came to the Portsmouth inn. The innkeeper recognised him immediately. "You remember that parrot you sold me," he said. "Yes," said the sailor. "Well it never said another word after you sold it to me." "That's surprising," said the sailor. "Where is the bird?" The innkeeper escorted him to the cage. As soon as the sailor came into the room he did his ventriloquist's trick again. He called out to the parrot, and the bird, to all appearances, replied, "How are you, mate? Glad to see you again-" "There you are." said the sailor to the innkeeper. "Remarkable, he has not forgotten a word." "Remarkable is right," said the innkeeper. "The parrot has been stuffed for six months."