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Show page 213 Songster fanned his face with his multi-purpose hat and replaced the hat on his head. "Chicken stew with fresh spring onions is a potent dish, Hutch." "I thank you," said Hutch, stepping away from the jenny, holding th e onions behind him. "Git up, Rebecca, before Willie Earl smells our trail," Songster said and rode away. He began a lonesome song about living at the top of a mountain. Songster seemed to love mountains, though there were none in our community, only in the northern part of the state. Hutch was at the seedbin talking to the parrot when Miss Lillie brought her truck to a stop in the driveway. Salem Daylight was a smart parrot with his yellow and green feathers. He had lively eyes and a shocking vocabulary. Hearing Miss Lillie's arrival, he cocked his head and said, "The master of the ship. Ahoy, mates, the master of the ship is on the bridge." There was no mistaking that at some time Salem had been a seafaring bird. Suddenly he cut loose with a string of words that would have peeled the paint off the side of a barn. Hutch headed for the kitchen. Miss Lillie was seated at the table. Hutch served her,fluff-ed a napkin for her to place across her lap, then served and seated himself and waited for Miss Lillie to say grace. Miss Lillie closed with thoughts uppermost on her mind: "And please direct my employee Hutch Henderson to abide by my decision regarding a profane parrot. Find the parrot a good home. And bless Willie Earl; make prison more palatable to him. Your servant." |
