gave her so much pleasure as to have her
father relate anecdotes of their intelligence and sagacity.

He had a large, well-selected library, where were many rare volumes on
her favorite subject, illustrated with pictures of different animals.
When Mr. Lee could not recall a story as often as she wished, she would
take his hand and coax him to the library. Then she would run up the
steps to her favorite shelf, and taking down a book almost as large as
she could lift, say, playfully, "Now, father, I'm ready for you to
read."

Mrs. Lee often found them sitting together, talking over the wonderful
feats of some dog, cat, horse, or monkey, and laughed as she said to her
husband, "I believe Minnie comes naturally by her love for animals, for
you seem as much interested in the stories as she does."

Mr. Lee lived in a very handsome house about seven miles from the city
where he did business. He had made a great deal of money by sending
ships to foreign lands, freighted with goods, which he sold there in
exchange for others which were needed at home. He now lived quite at his
ease, with plenty of servants to do his bidding, and horses and
carriages to carry him wherever he wished to go.

* * * * *

But in this volume I shall speak of himself, his family, equipage, and
estate, only as they are connected with my object, which is to tell you
about Minnie's pet parrot, and also to relate stories of other parrots,
all of which are strictly true.

Poll was brought from the coast of Africa by a sea captain, who
presented her to a lady, aunt to Mrs. Lee. At the lady's death it was
given to her niece, and had been an important member of the family ever
since. It was not known how old she was when she was brought to
America; but she had been in the family for fifteen years, and therefore
was old enough to know how to behave herself properly on all occasions.

Miss Poll had a plumage of silver-gray feathers, with a brilliant
scarlet tail. Her eyes were a bright yellow, with black pupils, and
around them a circle of small white feathers. Her beak was large and
strong, hooked at the end. Her tongue was thick and black. Her claws
were also black, and she could use them as freely as Minnie used her
hands. When her mistress offered her a cup of tea,--a drink of which she
was very fond,--she took it in her claws, and drank it as gracefully as
any lady.

In the morning, when her cage was cleaned, she alwa