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I have only heard Paperl do it once, and that was on the day after the doctor's return from England." "I know the reason why. The bird hears here every day so much music, and so many new melodies which the doctor plays on his piano, that its head has grown quite confused, and poor Paperl has forgotten its tunes." "It has not forgotten its English words, though," murmured Catharine.
Yes, if Paperl could sing, in that case it would not be strange if the Ka , I mean the doctor, had grown fond of the bird. But no, Paperl merely jabbers a few broken words which no good Christian is able to understand." "He who speaks English can understand it well enough, Catharine, "said the lady, "for the bird talks English, and in that respect Paperl knows more than either of us."
"Catharine," she said, "just listen how that abominable bird, Paperl, screams again to-day. I am sure the noise will disturb the doctor, who is at work already." "Yes, Paperl is an intolerable nuisance," sighed Catharine. "I cannot comprehend why the Kapellmeister I was going to say the doctor likes the bird so well, and why he has brought it along from England.
"What may be the meaning of these words which the bird is screaming all the time?" "That beautiful Mrs. Shaw taught Paperl to pronounce them, Catharine. I do not know their precise meaning, but they commence as follows: 'Forget me not, forget me not Good Heaven! the bird has commenced screaming again. I am sure it has not had any sugar to- day. Where is Conrad? He ought to attend to the bird."
"But Paperl cannot talk German, and I think that our language, especially our dear Viennese dialect, sounds by far better than that horrid English. I don't know why the doctor likes the abominable noise, and why he suffers the bird to disturb his quiet by these outrageous screams." "I know it well enough, Catharine," said the doctor's wife, with a gentle smile.
"I did not wish to inquire after him, for I was afraid the answer would be that the bird was dead and had gone home to my dear old wife." "Well, I am sure Paperl would never go to her," said Conrad, laughing; "the two could never get along with each other, and were always quarrelling.
"I taught him the melody, doctor," said Conrad, proudly; "I gave him lessons for three months, and he took pains to learn the melody, for he knew full well that we two were preparing a little surprise and joy for our dear master, the great Joseph Haydn." "And that is the reason why I have not seen Paperl for so long," said Haydn, nodding his head gently.
"She taught Paperl to whistle three airs from my husband's finest quartets, singing and whistling the music to the bird every day during three or four weeks for several hours, until Paperl could imitate them; and when my husband took leave of her, she gave him the parrot." "But the bird never whistles the tunes any more.
"He has gone down town. The doctor has given him several errands." "Good Heaven! the screams are almost intolerable. Go, Catharine, and give poor Paperl a piece of sugar." "I dare not, madame; it always snaps at me with its abominable beak, and if the chain did not prevent it from attacking me, it would scratch out my eyes."
Conrad smiled blissfully. "My Paperl has a long breath," he said, "and the nightingale will be unable to cope with him; Rupert will out-sing it." But the nightingale, as if irritated by this rivalry, now seemed to put forth its whole art and strength.
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