Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1904 — POLLY’S FOURTH. [ARTICLE]

POLLY’S FOURTH.

Even a Parrot Can Cry, “Hurrah for George Washington. Polly was a middle-aged parrot whose early days had been spent in the green forests of Yucatan in Central America. I had long tried to teach Polly to speak, and had taught her to Ray a few short sentences. About eight weeks before the Fourth of July I tried to teach Polly to say “Hurrah for George Washington.” But she would not repeat it after me. Then I thought it might be too long to say it all at once —that she probably could not remember it all, so I tried to teach her to say it word for word. But no; she wouldn’t say a word of it. Yet she listened attentively when I repeated it. Then I got disgusted and gave it up till a week or so before the Fourth; then I tried to make her say it, but she would not listen to me now. So when the morning of the Fourth came I went out to Polly. She said, “Hello.” I answered “Hello, Poll; can’t you say ‘Hurrah for George Washington’ for me?” Then she became furious and flew to the other side of her cage and would not look at me, so I finished feeding her. I went into my room and got my firecrackers, went outside, and was shooting my fireworks away when mother called to come in for luncheon. After luncheon I had to stay in the yard, so I went nnd got Polly and hung her up on the vex-anda, put up the hammock nnd was rending St. Nicholas, when along the street comes the street band playing “Star-Spangled Banner.” Then all of a sudden Polly becomes x'estless and cries as loud as she can, "Hurrah for George Washington!” This is the story of Polly’s Fourth.— St. Nicholas.