The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-05-25
A FAIRY TALE.

Once upon a time. Ia faraway Persia
cher. lived /, merchant who had a very
beautiful parrot He had bought the bird
of "A trader from Hindoostan- He kept II IN
a fine large casSe and took the greatest pos-
sible care Of H. But the parrot ptned Tor
his native land and often implored his mas
ter 70 let him out so that be could 20 free
The merchant. however. always refused as
the bird WAS a very wise one, and be valued
" exceedingiy.
One night the parrot henrd the merchant
laying plans for "A journey 90 Hindoostan-
and the cunning bird Laid a plan OF his own
80 that be. toc. migh5 20 there on his own
account The next day the merchant told
his friends whab be proposed 20 DO and
asked them what presenas they would Ike
him to bring back from the wonderful land
Of Jewels and elephants. whittier he was
going So each OF them chose something
they would be plensed to have him get Tor
them. The merchant then asked the par
rot what present be would like The par
rot answered.
'Dear master. only want you TO take
message from me TO any other parrots you
NAV meet ia Hindoosuan- Gfve them my
compliments Tell them I am shut up IN
big cage here. bur that do not forget
them Tell them also I would like their
advice and instruction. That il all"
The merchant promised faithfully TO de-
liver the message, though be wondered
somewhat ar the words in which be was 70
address the parrots. Then he set out on
bis Journey to Hindoostan-
In due time he arrived there safely, and
tor awhile be WIS so busy be forgot about
the parrots message. But one day a. he
was passing through an open field he saw
several parrots in a tree overhead Then
be rememb ered what be had promised TO
his own parrot, and stopped his horse under
the tree He called TO the parrots and de-
hvered the message Co them, taking care TO
give it exactly as his parrot had worded IT,
The parrots above him listened very at
tenrively, and for awhile after they seemed
to be considering. Then one OF the parrots
suddenly began to sremble and dropped
down dead
The merchant, perceiving this, was very
much zrieved at heart and blamed his own
parrot for sending a message that had re-
suited in the death Of one Of his feathered
relations. He went on his way and pro-
ceeded to finish his business in Hindoostan,
and upon that being accomplished returned
home. His family and friends welcomed
him ioyfuIly. and to each he gave the pres
ent they had chosen Then the parrot
asked him.
Where is my PRESENT. Tell me what
you SAID 20 lne PARROTS IN AluOooelaL anu
what they said in reply"
Your message was the message of a
fool, " returned the merchant, and I was
a fool also TO deliver itf'
The parrot appeared greatly astonished.
My lord said he. why this repentance,
why this wrath, why this sorrow2" And
the merchant answered, I stated thy mes
sage TO a flock of thy relatives. and one Of
chem so felt the incense OF thy grief at be
ing a captive that he fell over and died Of a
broken heart" When the parrot heard
this, it, too, began to tremble, and falling
from its perch died likewise
When the master saw this, he was over
whelmed with sorrow because Of the death
OF his bird friend, and cast his cap on the
ground as a token Of his grief. Then he
took up the body of the parrot and cast it
cut into the garden. when, lol the cunning
bird flew away to a high tree near byl At
this his master flew into a great rage and
demanded explanation for his deceitful
conduct
Whereupon the parrot answered: Dear
master, you have been very kind to me, but
liberty is sweet. How would you like to be
shut up in a cage2 BUT know chat the par
rot vino fell down dead when be heard my
message was only acting part. By doing
so he meant to convey to me through you
the means of escape. I am now going back
to Hindoostan. but [ viii return again and
bring you a present as a reward for your
Kindness Co me captive. FAREWELL
So saying the parrot flew away. He was
absent SO long the merchant concluded that
he had forgotten all about his promised
{ present in the joys OF his recovered liberty.
But one day when the big Persian roses
in the merchants garden were all abloom
and he himself was walking about and en-
) ioying their fragrance, be heard his name
called, and looking up beheld his old friend
q Mr.. Parrot, perched on a branch overhead
and holding something in one crooked claw
Here, MASTER, said the bird. Il have
brought you your present. Wear it and il
will preserve you from all misfortune and
harm. Hold out your robe, and will dror
it in" The merchant did as be was hidden
and the parrot dropped a shining some
thing within its folds and immediatel,
after flew away. never more to return
The shining something proved to De
most wonderful emerald. cut in the form, o.
an eve. and engraved on the back with mys
tic symbols. The merchant showed it {,
the wise men OF Bagdad. and they one anl
all agreed that not only was it a priceless.
gem. but that the parrur in all probabilit,
had pecked it out of the eve socket OF SOM
HindoOstan idol. rhereupon the merchan
ordered il set in a gold frame. and wore i
ever after as a charm against the evil eve
as the parrot had directed. -Pittsburg Dis
patch.
The sixtsenth Century Gentlswoman-