ter'n, faster'n,
faster'n------

How much faster I did not have time to find out, for Uncle Dan just
then called to get me. A light cover with a hole in the top was
slipped over my cage, and I started on my journey. Of my trip, of
course, I knew nothing. Part of the way we rode in a wagon through the
country to the station where we took the train, but as Uncle Dan did
not remove my cover in the railway car the time spent on the journey
was almost a blank to me.

Right glad was I, after what seemed a long, long time of jarring and
jolting, to find the cage once more swinging from his hand and to hear
the click of his boot heels on the pavements as we went through the
streets of the town where Polly lived.

CHAPTER X

A NEW HOME

Should it happen that the last egret is shot and the last bird of
paradise is snared to adorn a lady's dress, then--then I would not like
to be a woman for all that earth could hold.--_Herbert O. Ward._

When at last my covering was removed I found myself in a large, long
room, which I afterward learned was a millinery store. In fact the
store was the front part of the family residence, the living rooms
being behind and upstairs over it. My cage was hung near the wide
doorway at the end of the apartment and my new mistress at once ran to
fill my cup with fresh water and bring me a supply of clean millet.
After I had refreshed myself I began to look about me and study my
strange surroundings.

My new home was so unlike the little log house in the South from which
I had come that it was many days before I could accustom myself to the
clatter of voices which buzzed monotonously all day through the store.
From ten o'clock in the morning, if the day were fine, till three in
the afternoon, the din at times was almost deafening; for it was the
busy season and customers were constantly coming and going, not all of
them to buy, merely to look over the ribbons and tumble up the goods,
as I heard the tired clerks say complainingly more than once.

Numerous glass cases were placed near the walls, and running cross-wise
were a counter and shelves much frequented by ladies who stood eagerly
examining the array of bright gauzes, the glittering buckles, the
flowers and plumes displayed there. And what a chattering they kept
up! What a stir and a hubbub they made! So many "Oh-h's" and
"Ah-h's," so many "How lovely's," and other ecstatic exclamations, were
mingled with their conversation