Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08
Why the Parrot Wears a Hooked Beak.
BY 5. TEN EYCK BoURKE.


Once upon a time in the long. long ago,
when the old old world was very young
world indeed. the moon set the meadows
and woods aquiver with shimmering silver
The dancing beams laced the roses and
pomegranates that circled the great kings
palace with a fretwork of sheen, then stole
through the easement of purest gold where
solomon sat.
Lord they cried, why is the nightin-
gale silent? She has always sung to the
first spring moon, but this year she has
kept to her nest
"Trulyr' spoke Solomon. such nights as
these her song should thrill with delight"
Then forth from his palace went the
wise king past the tail pomegranate trees
and fragrant roses to the grove where the
nightingale nested.
Have you forgotten the thrills 1 love
so. Nightingale?" questioned the king
Lord" she replied ''only today have
my nestlings' beaks Clipped through the
shells of my eggs. 1 have not been yet
to the tree that SINGS
parrot housed in a nearby tree-the
crimson-tailed grandfather of parrots or
every hue he was, with a straight, strong
beak as parrots had in the long ago. He
fetched his head from under his wing and
fluttered out on bough.
LORD, ne CrOdkeQ, as ne SellleQ himself
square his legs in his pompous way, If
you would listen to thrills that are worth
while, just hear mine" And straightway
he began to sing in quaverng, strident
voice, up and down, up and down, until
his breath gave out.
"Ah-ha! Oh-ho!" laughed the evening
breeze. "Oh-ho! Ah-ha!" rustled the leaves.
And ''Ha-ha-ha!' the king chimed in.
DO you think that is anything like our
bird OF the thousand tongues?" asked the
leaves. "Oh-hOi Ah-hai'
The parrot ruffied his plumes with dis
dainful fluff. I'm wise with the wisdom of
ages to come" he began.
1t is wisdom to know what one has
not" interrupted the king. " It's the magic
voice that makes the melody, Friend Par
rot. A musical marvel 1 fear you never
will be-"
The parrot cooked his head on one side
with a naughty stare, then contemptuously
turned his back on the king.
Il could not trill as l do if l did not
serve the singing tree, the nightingale
soothingly said
Il know the tree" whispered the breeze
1T grows in moss-spread glade, where
lilies and purple-tipped iris blossoms are
massed in a scented tangle"
What is it you do, Nightingale" asked
the leaves,
The Soul of the Tree dwells in the hollow
where the branches spread" answered the
tide sap bubbles up, but soon it clogs in an
amber gum, sealing the song within the
bark for the rest of the year.
Then how do you learn your exquisite
sOng?' asked the king.
Each year l battle in the gum while It's
soft, filling my feathers with every drop
till none remain to harden over the Soul of
the Tree" explained the nightingale.
" 'Tis piece of unparalleled luck / am
herei I'll go at once to the tree. Then
we'll see!' So the parrot announced to
himself-but he missed the nightingale's
last remark:
The spring-tide sap is the voice of the
tree the nightingale had gone on to say.
"Only 50 long the amber gum stains
my feathers this reddish brown will the
song of the tree swell in my throat"
A sibilant hiss floated upon the evening
breeze. and the silver rings of the ser
penis black polished coils slipped past.
Beware" cautioned Solomon; keep
Your secret from the serpent if you would
continue to sing"
Elise we must be content with the par
rotts trills," rustled the leaves.
"Ah-ha! Oh-hoi Ha-ha-haW laughed
the breeze and the king as they thought
of those trillS.
He laughs best who laughs last"
sagely commented the parrot, as he clam
bered head-frst down the trunk of his
tree.
What a pompous strut laughed a
voice, and the serpent's silver rings flash
ed by again in the gloom, as the parrot
stalked off.
Wisdom, friend serpent, is seen in a
slowness to speak. Know that my digni-
fed walk is due to my toes. I've worn
two out straight in front on each claw
and two just behind to conform to the
law of duality - which no other bird
does" calmly retorted the parrot.
Surely your tracks are like no other
birds, admitted the serpent, then glided
away
Where are you going, oh, bird of wis
dom?" asked Solomon.
That's my secret" replied the parrot,
and my secrets / keep-something IT
a To Lon
Booster! You are not so old, nor 1. nor
the world" laughed the king. Il prefer
the wit the nightingale shows in learn
ing to trill''
the parrot cried. Then he strutted away