The Faithless Parrot by Bennett, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1829-1867
The Faithless Parrot by Bennett, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1829-1867
The Faithless Parrot by Bennett, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1829-1867
CHARLES H. BENNETT
LONDON
By CHARLES H. BENNETT.
There once lived happily together, in a fine house, a tortoise-shell Cat and a pretty white Dog: the Cat’s name
was Tittums; the Dog’s, Fido. In course of time the pretty Dog fell in love with the Cat, and only waited for a
good chance to disclose his affections. This came one day, when Tittums had put her paws on the fender,
dropped her head a little on one side, half closed her eyes, and seemed thinking of nothing at all. Then Fido,
who lay stretched at full length upon the hearth-rug, looked steadfastly at her, and heaving a gentle whine,
said,—
“Yes, indeed,” continued the little Doggy, rather hurt at her coldness: “it’s you that I’ve fallen in love with.
Do you like me, Tittums?”
But Tittums would not answer, even with a single purr-r! and it was only upon her giving him a sly look out
of the corner of her left eye that he guessed how much she did like him. However, made bold by even this
small token of esteem, he came quietly up, and sat by her side; even going so far, at last, as to take her out for
a short walk down the garden-path, where they looked through the railings at the people passing by.
“Well,” said Fido to himself, “I have no doubt but she will love me in time; all the more, as I have great hopes
of growing bigger before the spring.”
But one morning, when Tittums came in from a visit she had been paying her mamma, she was followed by a
gentleman from the tropics, who, with all the impudence of his race, made himself quite at home, pressed
Tittums’ paw to his heart, called her “the loveliest of Cats,” asked her to oblige him with a song, which he had
been told she could sing very sweetly, and never took the least notice of poor Fido, who was sitting in the
corner. To tell the truth, poor Fido was very cross, and began to growl quite savagely; the more so when, to
his dismay, he beheld the pleasure with which Tittums heard all this nonsense. He could not think what right
the bold stranger had to come there unasked; for all that he had bright red and green feathers, a rakish,
By CHARLES H. BENNETT. 2
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
broad-brimmed hat, and a gold-headed walking-cane, he was not good-looking, that was very certain.
But Tittums was very much struck by his appearance and bearing; his feathers were so pretty, he spoke so
many languages, shrieked so terribly and in such a loud voice, had travelled so much, and was so struck by the
beauty of Tittums, that, poor little Cat as she was, she ceased to care a button for faithful Fido, and kept all her
sly glances for Mr. Paul Parrot.
“Lovely Tittums,” said Mr. Paul, “you must forget such upstart puppies as Fido. Listen to me—I am a
traveller—I speak five languages,—I have a palace made of golden bars, within which is a perch fit for a
king,—I have a pension of bread and milk and Barcelona nuts: all of which I will share with you. To-morrow
we will go for a trip into the field next to the house. Good-by for the present, my dear Pussy Cat;” and he went
away kissing his hand.
By CHARLES H. BENNETT. 3
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
Indeed, Mr. Parrot carried all before him; he was so grand, so loving, and so clever, that Fido from being
deserted became despised, and was indeed thinking about hanging himself on the meat-hook in the kitchen.
“Lovely Mrs. Daw,” said one of the voices which he seemed to recognise, “I am a traveller—I speak
five languages—I have a palace made of golden bars, within which is a perch fit for a king,—I
have a pension of bread and milk and nuts; all of which I will share with you. To-morrow we will fly for an
excursion on to the great oak-tree in Farmer Hodges’ field.”
By CHARLES H. BENNETT. 4
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
The old widow seemed very much pleased at the warmth of Mr. Paul’s love, and no doubt thought
that every word he said was true; leering round at him with her old eyes, and wishing that she had put on a
clean muslin cap, as it might have made her look even younger than she thought she did.
As for Fido, he almost jumped for joy; he ran home as soon as ever he could.
“Oh, Tittums!” said he, heedless of her scornful looks, “what do you think I have
found out? There is that rascal of a Paul Parrot, who pretends so much love for you, courting Widow Daw at
this very moment; and if you come at once you may see it with your own eyes.”
“Well,” said the Dog, “to convince you, if you will only come to the other side of the
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
wall you shall see that what I have said is quite true.”
But Pussy, trusting in the honour of Mr. Paul, would not believe a word, and it was only after a great deal of
persuasion that she was induced to jump over the wall and listen.
EAVES-DROPPERS.
Mr. Paul and Mrs. Daw were still courting, and the Parrot was trying, by coaxing the old lady, to find out how
much she was worth, and where all her treasures were hid. Indeed Mrs. Daw was just on the point of telling
him her secret, when Tittums, unable to contain herself, rushed at Mr. Paul and scratched his face.
“Oh, you bad Parrot!” she said; “did you not promise to marry me, and take me to your
golden palace?”
“Golden palace!” screamed Mrs. Daw: “why, you wicked bird, that’s what you
promised me. Stay, ma’am, what did he say besides?—did he promise you any bread and milk,
or any Barcelona nuts?”
“Yes, he did—he did—he did,” continued the Cat, scratching and clawing the
false, faithless Parrot as she spoke.
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
“Well,” said Pussy, now fairly exhausted, “I hope you are satisfied: if ever you come
near our house again, I’ll scratch out every feather you have on your back;” and so she left
him, taking Fido with her, who, in spite of his general good nature and the Parrot’s rage, could not
resist giving him two or three sharp bites.
Never after this was the Parrot able to hold up his head. Every one scorned him; even his golden palace turned
out to be a brass cage; and for his misdeeds a chain was fastened round his leg. He was confined to a wooden
perch, which, out of pure spite, he was always pecking.
Tittums could not help admiring the constancy of Fido; and when in the spring he had grown bigger, and was
promoted to a sweet red and black collar, Pussy found that she loved him very much indeed, and made up her
mind never more to forsake him.
By CHARLES H. BENNETT. 7
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
By CHARLES H. BENNETT. 8
The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Faithless Parrot, by Charles H. Bennett
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