A New England Idy

Boston 1-ieeord: This true story comei from an oíd seaboard town in Maine:- Jacob loved Rachel, but Rachel wouldn't have hiña. Jacob labored on, pressing hU suit ai iutervals. and aftcr eaoh rcbiill' telling hev he was bound to win her vet and convinced evcry one she cared for liim as much as he believed in his beart shedid. "Very well," cricd the indignant Rachel, with a toss of her head, "keep righton til! yon inake folKs believe that, and whcn yon do !'ll marry yon!" Jacob did persevere, bñt with small success, and at last began to lose courage. About this time another suitor ol Rachcl's arrived home from sea, bringing Wlth hirn. nmonpf othor oxotio , u parrot of gorgcous hne, wiiich he presented to Kacho', vvho forthwith had the ird suspended from thu sittiugroom window vvhence sho looked out afternoons when lier work was done. For a day or two after his elcvation to his dignity the parrot remalned marvellously quiet, only casting an eye about as if taking 'n his new situation. On the third morning, however, no sooner did the neighbors begin to stir. than he electrified each passer-bv with the announcement- "Rachoi's gone on Jacob; no chanco for John!" Of courso the more laughter this raised the more vociferously the bird proclaimeil the news. It spread like wildfire, and the parrot's audience steadily increased. Rachel meantime went into hysttrics, but h nvever much this inconinuidi'il the family it made no inipression on the parrot, who although threatened and be&teD and relegated to darkness, waxed more and more furious with t'ie desire to spread his knowlede. Jacob kept out of the way for a while, but there was no lack of courtiers to brin ; him iuformation of the other fellow's discomtiture and the parrot's heroic defeuce of his cause. Ai last Rachel's father appeared, wearina; on his weather-beaten face an odd mixture of frown and grin. "Look a-here," he said, "between that demned bird's screechin'an'folks a cacklin'. that gal's a most out o' her head. ïhere's nothin for you to do but go over ïliero an' try to lix things up as well's ye can. I guess most likely slie'll see ye - I do' 'no', folks can't alwavs teil."" The upshot was Rachel married Jacob, who sticksto it that it was the penetrative wisdom of his rival's parrot that did the business, and denies to this day all knowledge of the way the parrot came by his speech.