During my long stay in my
mountain home, I had been obliged to mend and darn my garments with the
fibers of plants until there was scarcely a vestige of the original
fabric remaining; and I looked like a veritable scarecrow.
But I was not poor. In a little, home-made wallet, I carried a small
handful of diamonds, which I had, from time to time, found in my
wanderings about the Tower-Mountain. These now did me good service. I
easily converted them into money, which gave me the means of living and
traveling as I pleased.
We took ship, Pippity and I, and sailed away to my old home in the
north. On the voyage, the gifted bird was the hero of the vessel.
Ladies, gentlemen, children, and even the officers and crew of the
ship, were glad to gather around him and talk to him. No such parrot
had any of them seen before. I had magnificent offers made to me, if I
would consent to sell him, but I refused them all, and, after awhile,
Pippity himself relieved me of the duty of declining to sell him. When
an offer of purchase was made, he would say, "I can't be bought!"--or,
if the proposal came from a lady, "Madam, your offer is most
respectfully declined!"
At last we reached my native city, and here a great misfortune happened
to me.
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