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price of the Madagascar ? " " Did you say auytliing ? " 

 he answered, eyeing me carefully. I told him I had said 

 something, three somethings in fact, and should like an 

 answer to the last one, which I repeated. He appeared 

 somewhat perturbed, and seemed to be carefully watch- 

 ing my lips. "I can't hear you," he said at last, so I 

 reiterated the query as loudly as I could, but a pathetic 

 shake of the head was the only reply. The Madagascar 

 was still there, I noticed, and there it seemed likely to 

 stay, unless I could make him hear, or someone came in 

 who could. Then the old man said "Shout." I shouted 

 obedient]}' enough, but it was of no use. Coming closer 

 to me, he said "I'm deaf — can't hear:" news indeed ! 

 A happy thought struck me, and I wrote my question on 

 a piece of paper — but, of course, he could not read. I 

 pondered over the situation, and it certainly seemed 

 rather incongruous. Here was an old man, who could 

 not read nor hear, left in charge of the shop, and the 

 family had gone out for the da}-. It was very aggravating 

 to have to leave the bird, but there was no help for 

 it, and I intended calling next day. It so happened, 

 however, that the next day's programme included a long 

 drive ; and when I did call again, a day or so later, the 

 bird had disappeared. •' Yes, Sir, we sold it the day 

 before yesterday, to a lady," I was told, or in other 

 words, the day after I had first called. 



I find this article is taking up more space than I 

 anticipated or its merits deserve, so I must be as brief as 

 possible. In the spring of last year, I wrote to about a 

 dozen dealeis and stated my requirements. Two only 

 replied : one at the West end had a cock Madasgascar, so 

 I wrote and told him to keep it for me until the next 

 Saturday, when I would call for it— if he was sure it was 

 the bird I wanted. The next day brought a card with 

 the laconic inscription, "Weavers all sold." The other 

 man apparently had "lots of 'em," for he stated he 

 would be pleased to send me one. I had grown sceptical 

 by this time, and asked for a description of the bird, and 

 the mention of a "black head" was proof of another 

 disappointment. 



