Damsel.
"It will probably continue to shriek 'Pretty Poll,' and eat sugar out of the hand of any stranger," replied the Sage, plucking his heard.
"And the man?"
"The man will go on telling every one he has bought the most divine bird in the world, in the hope that some one will
offer him a large sum of money for it. The only person who gains in the affair is the Bird of Paradise, who, instead of being caged as when in the possession of the man, is absolutely free to fly with its new master, Circumstance, who only seeks to please and soothe this glorious bird and make life fair for it."
"But what will be the very end?" persisted the Damsel.
The Sage turned and looked full at her. He was angry with her importunity and would have answered sternly.
Then he saw that the ripples of her hair were golden and his voice softened.
"That will depend—upon Circumstance," he replied, and he closed his door softly in her face.
A man wishes and a woman wishes, but Circumstance frequently wins the game.
ife is short—avoid causing yawns.
It is possible for a woman to retain the amorous affection of a man for many years—if he only sees her for the two best hours out of each twenty-four.
lease open the door, Sage," entreated the Damsel, "and I will tell you a story."
The Sage pushed it ajar with his foot, but he did not come out.
"There was once upon a time a man," she said, "who unexpectedly and for no apparent reason became the possessor of a Tiger. It had been coveted by numbers of people and was of a certain value and beauty. It had an infinite variety of tricks. It was learned in caresses. It was fierce, and gentle, and it could love passionately. Altogether a large price would have been offered the man for it by many others if he had wished to sell it. In the
beginning he had greatly valued the possession of this strange beast, and had fed it with his own hand. The little anxiety as to whether it would eat him or not, or rush away, had kept him interested.
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