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A. LIVELY PE,

   

Q ] LD Mrs. Moore lived by herself in a little
cottage close beside the sea. It was a tiny
Ne house, very plainly built, with nothing at all
grand about it; but “Granny” Moore, as the
neighbours’ children called her, dearly loved
the little place. She had lived there nearly
all her life. Her husband, who had been a sailor, was
drowned one night in a terrible storm almost within sight
of his cottage home; and “granny” had lived on in the little
place ever since.

Mrs. Moore had one son, a bright, merry lad, who loved
his mother very much, and did all he could to help and cheer
her. When he grew old enough to earn his own living,
however, to his mother’s dismay he said he wanted to go
to sea; and nothing availed to turn him from his purpose.
So to sea he went; and poor “ granny” was left more lonely.
than ever. But one day the sailor lad reached home again,
and amongst many other presents for his mother he brought
her a parrot, to keep her company while he was away. On
board his ship he had taught the bird to say many things;
and when at last he had to go to sea again, the parrot oe
quite a lively pet.

‘“Granny,” who was very deaf, was obliged to use an
ear-trumpet ; and it was most amusing to see Poll perch, as
She often did, on anything handy, and talk away, while
“granny” held her trumpet to her ear and smiled at the
bird’s droll sayings. Poll’s favourite sentence was, ‘“‘ Cheer
up, mother; Jack will soon be home again!” And often did
“oranny” pray that the comforting words might come true.