The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-09-21

MIS-. dlllsI zoe, Sald l, II tndG par
rot is to bessr I'll get it.r'
''You willeS said the old lady, de-
lightedly, swell, now, that's what l
call businessr' 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: 80 fool! fool! foolr'
II.
Bethnal Green on a 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 l wendell my
unwilling way, with many doubts as to
| the route and not 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 found
the shop where the parrot was for
| sale. went in, and the mere odor
which greeted me was in itself test
of my love for Alice. Cats, rats, birds,
rabbits aud guinea pigs were in profu-
sion, an6E;s ffsJgrEf iowSsfdc5 -0f-claes&f1
| 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 l upset. and my
own equanimity also, just when most
required it for a diplomatic triumph.
The proprietor, a very grimy and mo-
rose man, in a slouched hat and dirty
shirtsleeves, and putting, | think, the
very rankest shag | ever smelt, stood
behind his counter cycling me silently.
When had replaced the Cochin Chs
mas in their position, which didn't i'm
prove my gloves, preached my errand
and said had heard OF a parrot which
was rather accomplished, negligently
limiting l 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 retilling his pipe:
eff ever yer saw a parrot, mister, to
ekal mine, I'm a Dutchman."
This was a point | had not come to
discuss. But it was necessary to pro-
| ni+;o+o b;,, en- obca,vo1 I bod' hoo nd
the bird was fine talker.
''Torker!' answered the proprietor,
scornfully, "why, she'd tork any bloom
in masher's head off, 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.
1.-The price of that bird is twenty
| pun-and no less"
This was rather a ''facer." l was
determined, on the great principle of
the sprat for the salmon, to paEfor the
bird out of my own pocket, and mag
unanimously insist on refusing to take a
farthing, presenting it to dear Mrs.
Hillstone (old wretch) as proof of my
regard and esteem. But twenty pounds!
nothing, of course, to that well-to-do
vulgarianess, if may coin word, but
to me, who had limited salary and
unlimited tastes, 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 cam
''And is in good health and plum
age?" l added, 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 'elth. do yer?" said this truculent
man, while the fox terrier growled
carniverously, I'm an honest man,
am"
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 knox yer won't"
1 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, ''rll
pay twenty pounds to you for that
bird"
II know yer won't" repeated the
proprietor, and some of his friends
laughed appreciatively.
"And why not, them" said 1,
haughtily at which they laughed
again, and most Extensively.
"Cos that there bird 8 sold."
"Sold?" / repeated, while the audi.
ence laughed more than ever, and one,
the wit, suppose, with brutal famili.
arity, said: "And so are your
| GaWbu aid ~ vn,, COW cnpb ranliad