Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-19


unwilling way, with many doubts as to
the route and not a few remarks, by
no means soto vOce, on the natives
part on my appearance, and the glass
in my eye, which seemed to act on
them as an irritant. Ultimately in a
very grimy street with many stalls of,
l suppose, vegetable produce, l found
the shop where the parrot was for
sale. / 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-
sion, and a liberal allowance of chain
permitted fox terrier of the most ac-
tive disposition to snap at my legs,
causing me to jump aside on pen Of
Cochin Chinas, which | upset. and my
own equanimity also. just when most
required it for a diplomatic triumph.
The proprietor, very grimy and mo-
rose man, in a slouched hat and dirty
shirtsleeves, and putting, l think, the
very rankest shag l ever smelt, stood
behind his counter eyeiKg me silently.
When had replaced the Cochin Chi
mas in their position, which didn't i'm
prove my gloves. Ibroached my errand
and said l had heard of a parrot which
was rather accomplished. negligently
limiting | 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
contemplatively and looked at me
somewhat sardonically. At last he
condescended to reply, at the same
time reflling his pipe:
'If ever yer saw par rot, mister, to
ekal mine, I'm Dutchman."
This was point had not come to
discuss. But it was necessary TO pro-
pitiate him, so l observed had heard
the bird was a fine talker.
"Torker!" answered the proprietor,
scornfully, why, she'd tork any bloom
in Washers head of, with a personal
application which was marked. land
French as well as English, answer
questions, tell the time; in fact, the
ole bag O. tricks. Tork, 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." l 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 proof of my
regard and esteem. But twenty pounds!
nothing, of course, to that well-to-do
vulgarianess, if l 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
a 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 one like 'er, mister, if
you can"
And is in good health and plum
age?" l adaed, congratulating myself
on my business-like aptitude.
why, yer don't think I'm such a
bloomin' fool as to keep my birds in
bad eth. do yer?" said this truculent
man, while the fox terrier growled
carniverOusly, I'm an honest man, l
am"
l 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, 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 for
midable for me to show my annoyance.
Did he doubt my ability to produce the
cash? Calming myself repeated. iii
pay twenty pounds to you for that
bird
Il know yer won't" repeated the
proprietor, and some of his friends
laughed approximately.
And why not, them" said !,
haughtily -at which they laughed
again, and most Extensively.
Cos that there bird sold"
"Sold?" repeated, while the audi
ence laughed more than ever, and one,
the wit, suppose, with brutal famili-
arity. said: land so are you.''
why didn't you say SOP" l replied,
to which the proprietor answered, he
s'posed COS l didn't ask him, which
| caused another ebullitiOn of merriment.
To be the cause of wit in others is I'M
pleasant anywhere, in my opinion, but
in the case of Bethnal Green group
particularly annoying. o that ridicu-
! lous enthusiasm of mine!
However, l was really in doubt what
/ to do, for, having said Ia buy the old
woman a parrot. l didn't choose after
flourish on my own trumpet-the
| only performance, by the way. Badger
says in which | shine-but let that pass
to go back and confess my diplomacy
at a discount.
That there birds sold to a party in
Russell square" the proprietor con-
tinued, but needed him not, though l
| did afterward. What was the best
thing to do? Buy bird of some sort
and pass it off as the Simon pure"
said expediency. At what a tangled
web we weave when. etc. Had l never