The Seneca Street Prankster

A lady on Seneca Street is the owner of a small, frisky dog and a very talkative parrot. Occasionally, Polly gets demoralized, and instead of behaving herself as a good lady bird should, she gives vent to some terrible shrieks and endeavors to be as bad as she possibly can. When she takes these spells, the dog, knowing that a reprimand is needed, goes to the cage and administers several severe rebukes in the shape of a savage little bark. Yesterday afternoon, Poll sat upon her porch with all the dignity possible. The dog was taking a nap in an adjoining room. Suddenly, without a moment's notice, Poll let loose two or three unearthly screeches. The dog was awakened, of course, and immediately started toward the cage at a full run, barking as he went. After he had scolded, as he thought, enough, he adjourned to the other room and snuggled himself for another snooze. He had no more than closed his eyes before Poll shrieked again, longer and louder than before. Up jumped the dog and out he went barking furiously. When he reached the cage, Poll, who had stopped her noise to give the dog a chance, began to bark just as loud as her four-legged associate. Penny choked himself off and gazed on in holy horror. He stood looking at the cage for several minutes. Finally, his tail dropped between his legs and he turned around and left the spot. Just as he was going out of the room, Poll stopped barking, a sort of pleased expression crept down her jagged beak, and as the dog faded from view, she yelled after him, 'Good-by, Penny,' and without further ado resumed her meditations upon her perch.