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Show page 212 Hutch stepped out close enough to get the breeze of the onions. Tears were flowing down Songster's smudged cheeks. "Put your hat over the onions," Hutch said, "and they won't smell so. How come you trading in onions?" "Anything for a l i v i n g , Hutch. Times ain't the best. What you hailing me for? What for, with the lights in Miss L i l l i e 's window and the t a b l e set and Willie Earl on the loose?" "I hear you have wisdom, Songster," Hutch said. "Aye, Songster has wisdom." "Enough to stay that yellow and green parrot you got for me? Miss L i l l i e is dead set against that bird." Songster twisted himself half around, looked toward the top of the walnut t r e e and studied something on a high limb. "Get my wisdom from mildew spots on upper branches," he mumbled and kept looking up into the t r e e . "I'm thinking, thinking of Willie Earl so hard I got to concentrate him out." Hutch rubbed the jenny's ear and waited. Songster f i n a l l y lowered his eyes. "The wisdom has come, Hutch. It is that the bird has a good value and should stay with you and Miss L i l l i e ." "Miss L i l l i e makes me keep the bird in the seedbin," said Hutch, "says he t a l k s worse everyday. She wants him back to you." Songster leaned forward over the sack of onions. "Miss Lillie* 11 be getting a pointer dog from Old Man Wilkey. He is a good dog but he is going to take some t a l k i n g t o . The parrot's a talking bird. Bide your time, Hutch. Here, take Miss L i l l ie a bunch of these sweet onions." |
