{"collection":"African","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/afr/yl/yl32.htm","path":"afr/yl/yl32.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/afr/yl/yl32.htm","text":"Sacred-Texts African Index Previous Next\nTHERE was a grey parrot which knew how to speak and had the habit of correcting anybody who did not tell the truth.\nThe parrot was the pet of an untruthful woman, and she found the bird\u2019s habit so inconvenient, that she at length decided to get rid of it.\nOne day a neighbour was passing her house, and the woman called out to him from the threshold to come and see the beautiful tame parrot which she intended to give him as a present.\nThe man asked her why she desired to part with so beautiful a bird, and to this the woman replied: \u201cBecause it eats a great deal, and I am poor.\u201d\nThe parrot cried out. \u201cShe lies!\u201d\nThe neighbour took no notice, thanked the woman, and returned home with the bird on his shoulder. When he reached his house, his wife asked him where he had found the bird.\n\u201cAs I came through the forest, it flew down and perched on my shoulder,\u201d replied the man, but the parrot quickly cried out: \u201cHe lies!\u201d\nThe man soon discovered how awkward it was to have such a truthful pet, and he p. 58 was often tempted to wring the bird\u2019s neck.\nIt happened that this man was dishonest, and stole a great many articles which he buried in a deep hole, unknown to anybody. He would have been quite secure but for the wonderful parrot.\nWhen the thefts were discovered, a search was made in the man\u2019s house, but nothing was found there. The searchers were therefore forced to consider that he was innocent. As they went out, they said to him: \u201cAre you sure you have not stolen these things?\u201d\n\u201cI am sure!\u201d said the man indignantly; but the parrot cried out: \u201cHe lies!\u201d\nThe man was so enraged that he seized the bird and twisted its neck, but the suspicion of the searchers was aroused, and eventually they discovered the hole, which was marked with a little stake, and all the stolen articles were found. Had it not been for the truthful parrot, the secret would never have been revealed.","title":"XXX THE PARROT","type":"page"}