despised, and was indeed thinking about hanging himself on the
meat-hook in the kitchen.

[Illustration: TITTUMS WALKING OUT WITH THE PARROT.]

[Illustration: THE PARROT COURTING THE JACKDAW.]

One evening, just after dark, as he was roaming about, feeling
very sad, and thinking that, perhaps, it would be better to run
away than to use the meat-hook, he all at once found himself in
the next garden, and while he was looking round him, he heard
voices.

"Lovely Mrs. Daw," said one of the voices which he seemed to
recognise, "I am a traveller--I speak five languages--I have a
palace made of golden bars, within which is a perch fit for a
king,--I have a pension of bread and milk and nuts; all of which
I will share with you. To-morrow we will fly for an excursion on
to the great oak-tree in Farmer Hodges' field."

"Dear me!" thought Fido, "this must be Mr. Parrot." And, sure
enough, so it was,--Mr. Parrot, indeed, and making the warmest of
love to old Mrs. Daw, the widow of Miser Jack Daw, who, during a
long life, and by means of stealing and saving, had laid by a
large fortune, which he had left Mrs. Daw to enjoy.

The old widow seemed very much pleased at the warmth of Mr.
Paul's love, and no doubt thought that every word he said was
true; leering round at him with her old eyes, and wishing that
she had put on a clean muslin cap, as it might have made her look
even younger than she thought she did.

As for Fido, he almost jumped for joy; he ran home as soon as
ever he could.

"Oh, Tittums!" said he, heedless of her scornful looks, "what do
you think I have found out? There is that rascal of a Paul
Parrot, who pretends so much love for you, courting Widow Daw at
this very moment; and if you come at once you may see it with
your own eyes."

"Nonsense!" replied Tittums: "I do not believe it."

"Well," said the Dog, "to convince you, if you will only come to
the other side of the wall you shall see that what I have said is
quite true."

But Pussy, trusting in the honour of Mr. Paul, would not believe
a word, and it was only after a great deal of persuasion that she
was induced to jump over the wall and listen.

[Illustration: EAVES-DROPPERS.]

Mr. Paul and Mrs. Daw were still courting, and the Parrot was
trying, by coaxing the old lady, to find out how much she was
worth, and where all her treasures were hid. Indeed Mrs. Daw was
just on the point of telling him her secret, when Tittums, unable
to contain he