The Springdale news., 1889-10-04

NY aslnlnc enthusiasm was aroused. 'Mrs. Hillstone,n said l. "if that par rot is to be got, I'll get it. v
 "You will?' said the old lady, de- lightedly. well. now, that's what 1 call businessn And Alice smiled be- witchingly. and intoxicated by her glorious eyes, vowed to explore the far East and secure this phoenix of par rots. Again permit me to say with the | Moor: 70 fool! fool! foolw II.
 Bethnal Green on q wet day is about as cheering an experience as that which the conventional Frenchman thinks presented by Waterloo bridge in November Through amaze of sor- did and crowded streets 1 wended my unwilling way. with many doubts as to the route and not a few remarks, by | no means sotto voce, on the natives part on my appearance, and the glass in my eye, which seemed to act on them as an iI'ritant. Ultimately in a very grimy street with many stalls of, l suppose, vegetable produce. l found l the shop where the parrot was for sale. 1 went in, and the mere odor which greeted me was in itself a test of my love for Alice Cats, rats, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs were in profu- 1 sion, and liberal allowance of chain permitted q fox terrier of the most ac- tive disposition to snap at ny legs. | causing ne to jump aside on pen of l Cochin Chinas. which 1 upset, and my l own equanimity also. just when l most required it for diplomatic triumph. The proprietor, a very grimy and mo- | rose man, in slouched hat and dirty 1 shirtsleeves, and puf1ing, l think, the very rankest shag 1 ever smelt, stood behind his counter eyeing me silently. When l had replaced the Cochin Chi l mas in their position, which didn im prove my gloves. broached my errand and said l had heard Of parrot which was rather accomplished. negligently hinting had had many experiences Of similarly talented birds, and might, at a fair price, buy it; to all of which the proprietor made no reply, but smoked contemplatiyely and looked at me somewhat sardonically. At last he condescended to reply, at the same time reflling his pipe:
 ..lf ever yer saw a par rot. mister, to ekal mine, Pm Dutchman.
 This was point 1 had not come to discuss. But it was necessary to pro- pitiate him, so observed l had heard the bird was fine talzer.
 "Torker,n answered the proprietor, scornfully. "why. she | tork any bloom in masher's head off, with a personal application which was marked. .and French as well as English, answer questions. tell the time; in fact, the ole bag o't tricks. York, indeed
 And what is the price of the bird? ?" said l, coming to the point
 The price of that bird is twenty pun-and no less"
 This was rather "facer.' 1 was determined. on the great principle of the sprat for the salmon, to pay for the bird out of my own pocket, and mag unanimously insist on refusing to take a farthing, presenting it to dear Mrs. Hillstone Gold wretch) as a proof of my regard and esteem. But twenty pOundsi nothing, of course, to that wcll-to-do vulgarianess, if 1 may coin word but to me, who had limited salary and unlimited tastes, a great deal. How ever, it was quite clear the individual before me was not to be diplomatized into any reduction of price. So, after brief inward struggle, l resolved to pay the money and get in some way an enormous profit for the expenditure afterward.
 You say the bird talks French and English?"
 "Yes. Find ono like 'or, mister, if you can."
 And is in good health and plum age?o added, congratulating myself on my business-Ike aptitude.
 'Why. yer don't think I'm such bloomin' fool as to keep my birds in bad elth. do yer?n said this trueulent man. while the fox terrier growled carniverously, I'm an honest man, l ann
 really felt in this wild region some what nervous, especially as some of the natives were looking into the shop. So to close the interview, l said: Well, I'll give you the price you ask.
 The proprietor made no movement and looked at me silently, then quietly remarked, Il know yer won't.
 felt annoyed. but he was too tor- midable for me to show my annoyance. Did ne doubt my ability to produce the cash? Calming myself l repeated, ''rll pay twenty pounds to you for that bird.
 'I know yer won't,' repeated the proprietor, and some of his friends laughed appreeiatively
 And why not, then?" said l, haughtily at which they laughed again, and most offensively.
 ..Cos that there bird 8 sold."
 "Sold?' repeated, while the. audi
 l