THE PAW © Ps:

 

DO not say that the Parrots are the wisest of our “ Household Pets,” but I

am sure they are the most talkative, at least Grey Polly is. She picks up
every word we say, and sometimes I really think she knows what the words mean.
Whenever she sees breakfast or tea on the table, she always says, “ Will Polly
have some tea?” and repeats it till some is given to her

Once Grey Polly saved me from being naughty. Nurse had left the jam on
the table after tea one night, and I thought I should like to eata little. So I took
a doll’s spoon, and climbed on the table. Just as I was going to put it in the
pot, Grey Polly called out, ‘‘ Don’t!” ‘and made me jump. Then she added
gravely, “Poor Mamma!”

I jumped down directly, for she made me think how sorry Mamma would
be if I were so wicked as to steal. I was so glad to have been stopped that I
went up to Polly’s cage, and said, |

“Thank you, Poll!”

When—oh, how strange it was!—Green Polly, who only knows a few words,
said solemnly,

‘Don’t mention it.”

And Grey Polly called out,

“Amen!”

I think they were true friends to me then. I have fancied sometimes since
that Grey Polly watches me very suspiciously when I am left in the room alone;
but I try to show her that I can be trusted now, even with apricot jam.

Sometimes the parrots talk to each other, and, really, I think they often
speak as wisely as many other friends we have. Perhaps they don’t quite under-
stand what they are saying themselves; but that happens to all of us now and

then. Grey Polly kisses us very often, and the noise she makes then is just like
a real kiss.