p. 143 | The Swearing Parrot by D. Nash

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1872

The Swearing Parrot

By D. Nash

Two friendly neighbors bought each of them a parrot. That of Mrs. A. was a bird of grave deportment, who had been taught to speak very proper words. That of Mrs. B. was an impious fellow, for his language abounded in bad words. Now, Mrs. B. felt quite shocked at the irreverent talk of her parrot, and prevailed on her friend to allow the grave parrot to pay a visit to the swearer, in hope of reclaiming the rogue by good example. The two birds staid together for about a month; but imagine the consternation of good Mrs. A., on the return of her more grave and decorous bird, to hear him swearing terribly. The fact is, that, instead of teaching, he had been learning, and from that sad day his language was as bad as that of his ‘scape-grace associate. Let all our scholars learn from this, that although they have never been guilty of profaneness, nor of speaking foul and unclean words, yet if they keep the company with wicked boys who delight in swearing, they will soon be likely to indulge in profane language; for “evil communications corrupt good manners.”—D. Nash.