All Hands Below

A good story is told oí a parrot wiio had always lived on board of a ship, but who escaped at one of the Southern ports and took refuge in a churoh. Boon afterward the congregation asserabled, and he minister begau preaching to them in lis earnest fashion, saying there was no virtue in them - that every oneof them would go to an endless perditiou unless hey repented. Just as he spoke the sen - ence, np spoke the parrot fioni his hiding üna : " All hands below !" To siiy that " all hands " tvere startled would be a mild way of putting it. The peculiar voioe and unknown source had tnuch more effeüt upon them than the P'uson's voice ever had. He waited a moment, and then a shade or two paler, he lepeatcdthe warnina;. ' All hands btilow !" again rang out trom somevvhere. The preachcr started from his pulpit and looked anxiously around, inquiriug if anyhody hud 6polien. " All hands below !'' was the only reply, at which the panic stricken congregation got up, and a moment afterwart they all bolted for the doors, thepreaoher trying his bsst to get there first, and du rinsr the time the mischievous bird kep up bis yelliug : " AU hands below." There was one old -woman present who was lame, and could not get out as fast os the rest, and in a short time sbe was left entirely alone. Justas she was about to hobble out, the parrot flew down, and alighted on her shoulder, yelled in her ear : " All hands below '.'■ " No, no, M-'ster Devil !" shrieked the old woman, " you don't mean uie, I don't belong here. I goto the other church acrosa the way."