The Clerk's Transformation · page 21 2101The boys carried him into a very elegant room, where a stout, pleasant-looking lady received them, but she was not at all gratified to find that they had brought a lark--a common field-bird as she called it.102However, she allowed them for one day to place the bird in an empty cage that hung near the window. "103It will please Polly perhaps," she said, laughing at a large gray parrot, who was swinging himself proudly on a ring in a handsome brass cage. "104It is Polly's birthday," she added in a simpering tone, "and the little field-bird has come to offer his congratulations."105Polly did not answer a single word, he continued to swing proudly to and fro; but a beautiful canary, who had been brought from his own warm, fragrant fatherland, the summer previous, began to sing as loud as he could.106"You screamer!" said the lady, throwing a white handkerchief over the cage.107"Tweet, tweet," sighed he, "what a dreadful snowstorm!" and then he became silent.108The clerk, or as the lady called him the field-bird, was placed in a little cage close to the canary, and not far from the parrot.109The only human speech which Polly could utter, and which she sometimes chattered forth most comically, was "Now let us be men."110All besides was a scream, quite as unintelligible as the warbling of the canary-bird, excepting to the clerk, who being now a bird, could understand his comrades very well.111"I flew beneath green palm-trees, and amidst the blooming almond-trees," sang the canary. "112I flew with my brothers and sisters over beautiful flowers, and across the clear, bright sea, which reflected the waving foliage in its glittering depths; and I have seen many gay parrots, who could relate long and delightful stories.113"They were wild birds," answered the parrot, "and totally uneducated.114Now let us be men.115Why do you not laugh?116If the lady and her visitors can laugh at this, surely you can.117It is a great failing not to be able to appreciate what is amusing.118Now let us be men."119"Do you remember," said the canary, "the pretty maidens who used to dance in the tents that were spread out beneath the sweet blossoms?120Do you remember the delicious fruit and the cooling juice from the wild herbs?"121"Oh, yes," said the parrot; "but here I am much better off.122I am well fed, and treated politely.123I know that I have a clever head; and what more do I want?124Let us be men now.125You have a soul for poetry.126I have deep knowledge and wit.127You have genius, but no discretion.128You raise your naturally high notes so much, that you get covered over.129They never serve me so.130Oh, no; I cost them something more than you.131I keep them in order with my beak, and fling my wit about me.132Now let us be men.133"O my warm, blooming fatherland," sang the canary bird, "I will sing of thy dark-green trees and thy quiet streams, where the bending branches kiss the clear, smooth water.134I will sing of the joy of my brothers and sisters, as their shining plumage flits among the dark leaves of the plants which grow wild by the springs."135"Do leave off those dismal strains," said the parrot; "sing something to make us laugh; laughter is the sign of the highest order of intellect.136Can a dog or a horse laugh?137No, they can cry; but to man alone is the power of laughter given.138Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Polly, and repeated his witty saying, "Now let us be men."139"You little gray Danish bird," said the canary, "you also have become a prisoner.140It is certainly cold in your forests, but still there is liberty there.141Fly out! they have forgotten to close the cage, and the window is open at the top.142Fly, fly!"143Instinctively, the clerk obeyed, and left the cage; at the same moment the half-opened door leading into the next room creaked on its hinges, and, stealthily, with green fiery eyes, the cat crept in and chased the lark round the room.144The canary-bird fluttered in his cage, and the parrot flapped his wings and cried, "Let us be men;" the poor clerk, in the most deadly terror, flew through the window, over the houses, and through the streets, till at length he was obliged to seek a resting-place.145A house opposite to him had a look of home.146A window stood open; he flew in, and perched upon the table.147It was his own room. "148Let us be men now," said he, involuntarily imitating the parrot; and at the same moment he became a clerk again, only that he was sitting on the table. "149Heaven preserve us!" said he; "How did I get up here and fall asleep in this way?150It was an uneasy dream too that I had.151The whole affair appears most absurd."1 2← previousThe Eventful Moment--a Most Unusual Journeynext →The Best Thing the Goloshes Did↑ back to Fairy Tales of Hans Christian AndersenThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/44/page/2/