Part 4 (1/2)
The animals all promised to come on the morrow, and each in turn took leave of the grandmother, thanking her for the treat they had had.
The bear, after making his best bow, led the way towards the forest, followed by the racc.o.o.n, the woodchuck, the squirrel, the parrot, and the wood-pigeon. And soon the whole company disappeared among the branches.
CHAPTER IV.
”I was born,” said the parrot, ”in Africa.”
It was a lovely afternoon; and Toto's friends were again a.s.sembled around the cottage-door. The parrot, as the story-teller of the day, was perched in great state on the high back of an old-fas.h.i.+oned easy-chair, which Toto had brought out for his grandmother. The old lady sat quietly knitting, with Bruin on one side of her, and c.o.o.n on the other; while Toto lay on the gra.s.s at her feet, alternately caressing the wood-pigeon and poking the woodchuck to wake him up.
When the parrot said, ”I was born in Africa,” all the animals looked very wise, but said nothing; so she added, ”Of course, you all know where Africa is.”
”Of course,” said the racc.o.o.n hastily; ”certainly, I should hope so!
We know _where_ it is; if you come to that, we know where it is.”
”c.o.o.n,” said Toto, laughing, ”what a humbug you are! How is Africa bounded, old fellow? Tell us, if you know so well.”
”North by the Gulf States, south by Kalamazoo, east by Mt. Everest, and west by the Straits of Frangipanni,” replied the racc.o.o.n, without a moment's hesitation.
Miss Mary looked much disgusted. ”Africa,” she said, ”as every person of _education_ knows [with a withering glance at the racc.o.o.n], is the exact centre of the universe. It is the most beautiful of all lands,--a land of palm-trees and crocodiles, ivory and gold-dust, sunny fountains and--”
”Oh!” cried Toto eagerly, ”excuse me for interrupting, Miss Mary; but _are_ the sands really golden? 'Where Afric's sunny fountains,' you know, 'roll down their golden sands,'--is that really true?”
”Certainly,” replied Miss Mary.
”Dear me, yes. A fountain wouldn't be called a fountain in Africa if it hadn't golden sands. It would be called a cuc.u.mber-wood pump,”
suggested the woodchuck drowsily.
”Toto,” said the parrot sharply, ”if I am interrupted any more, I shall go home. Will that woodchuck be quiet, or will he not?”
”He will, he will!” cried Toto. ”We will all be very quiet, Miss Mary, and not say a word. Pray go on.”
Miss Mary smoothed her feathers, which had become quite ruffled, and continued,--
”I was not a common wild parrot,--I should think not, indeed! My mother came of a distinguished family, and was the favorite bird of the great Bhughabhoo, King of Central Africa; and I, as soon as I was fully fledged, became the pet and darling of his only daughter, the Princess Polpetti. Ah! happy, indeed, were the first years of my life!
I was the Princess's constant companion. She used to make songs in my honor, and sing them to her royal father while he drank his rum-and-water. They were lovely songs. Would you like to hear one of them?”
All the company declared that it was the one desire of their hearts.
So, clearing her throat, and c.o.c.king her head on one side, Miss Mary sang:--
”'Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo, Fairest fowl that ever grew, Fairest fowl that ever growed, How you brighten my abode!
How you ornament the view, Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo!
”'Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo, You have wit and beauty, too; You can dance, and you can sing; You can tie a pudding-string.
Is there aught you _cannot_ do, Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo?'
”That was her opinion of my merits,” continued the parrot modestly.
”Indeed, it was the general opinion.
”As I was saying, I was the Princess's constant companion. All day I followed her about, sitting on her shoulder, or flying about her head.