Evening journal., 1903-10-01
A PARROTS MESSAGE

parrot pined for his native land and Of
ten implored his master to let him out
SO that he could go free. The mer-
chant, however, always refused. as the
bird was a very wise one and he val
ued 1t exceedingly.
One night the parrot heard the mer-
chant laying plans for q journey TO
Hindustan, and the nniDg bird laid
a plan of his own, so that he. too, might
go there on his own account The next
day the merchant told his friends what
he proposed to do and asked them
what presents they would like him to
bring back from the wonderful land OF
jewels and elephants, whittier he was
going. So each Of them chose some-
thing they would be pleased to have
him get for them. The merchant then
asked the parrot whatpresent he would
like. The parrot answered:
Dear master, / only want you to
take a message from me to any other
parrots you may meet in Hindustan.
Give them my compliments. Tell them
1 am shut up I'm n big cage here, but
that do not forget them. Tell them
also l would like their advice and in
struction. That Is all."
The merchant promised faithfully to
deliver the message. though he Won
dered somewhat at the words in which
he was to address the parrots. Then
he set out on his journey to Hindustan.
In due time be arrived there safely,
and for awhile he was so busy he for
got about the parrots message. But
one day as he was passing through an
open field he saw several parrots in a
tree overhead. Then he remembered
what he had promised TO his own par
rot and stopped his horse under the
tree. He called TO the parrots and de-
livered the message to them, taking
care to give It exactly as his parrot
had worded It,
The parrots above him listened very
attentively. and for awhile after they
seemed to be considering. Then one of
the parrots suddenly began to tremble
and dropped down dead
The merchant. perceiving this, was
very much grieved at heart and
blamed his own parrot for sending a
message that had resulted in the death
Of one of his feathered relations. He
went on his way and proceeded to fin
ish his business in Hlndustan and up
on that being accomplished returned
home. His family and friends well
coined him joyfully, and to each he
gave the present they had chosen.
Then the parrot asked him:
"Where is my present? Tell me what
you said to the parrots in Hindustan
and what they said in reply"
"Your message was the message of a
fool" returned the merchant, "and /
was fool also to deliver itr'
The parrot appeared greatly aston
ished. my lord" said he. "why this
repentance, why this wrath, why this
sorrowT And the merchant answered
II stated thy message to flock of thy
relatives, and one OF them so felt the
incense OF thy grief at being a captiv,
that he fell over and died of n broker
heart" When the parrot heard this II
too, began to tremble and, falling from
its perch, died likewise.
When the master saw this he was
overwhelmed with sorrow because OF
the death of his bird friend and casi
his cap on the ground as token of his
grief. Then he took up the body of the
parrot and cast it out into the garden
when, 10! the cunning bird few away
to a high tree near by. At this his
master few into a great rage and de
manded an explanation OF his deceit
ful 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 n cage
But know that the parrot who fel
down dead when he heard my message
was only acting a part BY doing SC
he meant to convey to me through you
the means Of escape. 1 am now going
back to Hindustan, but / Will return
again and bring you a present as a re
ward for your kindness to me as a cap
tive. FAREWELL SO saying the par
rot few away. He was absent so long
the merchant concluded that he hao
forgotten all about his promised pres
ent in the joys Of his recovered lib
erty.
But one day when the big Persian
roses in the merchants garden were al
abloom and he himself was walking
about and enjoying their fragrance h'
heard his name called and. looking up
beheld his old friend, Mr. Parrot, perch
ed on branch overhead and holding
something IN one crooked claw.
Here, master" seiS the bird. -
have brought you your present Wear
it, and 1t will preserve you from al
misfortune and harm. Hold out you
robe. and will drop It in" The mer
chant did as he was hidden. and the
parrot dropped a shining something
within its folds and Immediately aftei
few away, never more to return.
The shining something proved to bl
n most wonderful emerald, cut in thl
form of an eye and engraved on thi
back with mystic symbols. The mer
chant showed It 70 the wise men o.
Bagdad, and they one and all agreed
that not only was It a priceless gem
but that the parrot In all probabilit,
had pecked 1t out OF the eye socket o.
Gome Hindoo idol. Thereupon tn
merchant ordered it set in a gold fran,
: and wore it ever after as n charm
g against the evil eye. as the parrot ha,
2 directed.
Very Necessary.