his she chattered away like Jacko, cocking her eyes and looking
as if she thought herself very smart.

Once in a while Poll talked Portuguese, which she had learned from some
sailors who were in the vessel when she came over, more than fifteen
years before. She began now to talk what sounded to Minnie like perfect
jargon, but which so much amused the bird that she kept stopping to
laugh most heartily.

By and by Mrs. Lee was ready to sit down; and she said Poll had had
excitement enough for a sick bird, but told Minnie if she would bring
the book about birds, she would try and find some true stories to read
to her.

The next hour was passed most pleasantly to both of them. Some of the
stories I will tell you.

"A parrot belonging to a lady in England was fond of attending family
prayers; but for fear he might take it into his head to join in the
responses, he was generally removed.

"But one evening, finding the family were assembling for that purpose,
he crept under the sofa, and thought himself unnoticed. For some time he
maintained a decorous silence; but at length he found himself unable to
keep still, and instead of 'Amen,' burst out with, 'Cheer, boys; cheer!'

"The lady directed the butler to take him from the room; and the man
had taken him as far as the door, when the bird, perhaps thinking he had
done wrong, and had better apologize, called out,--

"'Sorry I spoke.'

"The overpowering effect on those present can be better imagined than
described."

"Here is a story," continued Mrs. Lee, "of a parrot who acted as a
police officer."

"In Camden, New Jersey, Mr. John Hutchinson had a very loquacious
parrot, and also a well-stocked chest of silver plate. One day some
robbers thought they would like to use silver forks, goblets, and
spoons, as well as their rich neighbors, and watching their opportunity
broke into the pantry.

"They had already picked the lock off the thick oaken chest, and were
diving down among salvers, pitchers, and smaller articles, when they
were terrified to hear a loud, angry voice exclaim,--

"'You lazy rascals, I see you! John, bring me my revolver!'

"Dropping the silver, which they had taken, on the floor, the robbers
made a rush for the window, which they had forced open, and in their
hurry got over the wrong fence into the yard of a neighbor who kept a
fierce dog.

"Bruno, not at all pleased with the appearance of his sudden visitors,
sprang upon them, barking at the