the back-seat of the auto, and I forgot all about
him, or her, whichever it is. I guess Polly has been asleep all the while
until just now."

"Oh, let us see the parrot!" begged Rose. "I love to hear them talk," and
she tucked her doll under her arm and walked toward the auto.

"Be careful, he might bite!" said Mother Bunker.

"Oh, he's in a cage--he or she--whichever it is," said Mr. Mead. "Bill
said the parrot was a good one, and likes children. I guess it won't hurt
any to let the tots see the bird."

Mr. Mead opened a sort of little cupboard under the back seat of his auto,
and brought out a parrot's cage. In it was a green bird, which, as soon as
it came out into the sunlight, began preening its feathers and moving
about, climbing up on the wires, partly by its claw feet and partly by its
strong beak.

"Polly wants a cracker! A sweet cracker!" squawked the parrot. "Lovely
day! How are you? Here, Rover, sic the cats!" and the parrot whistled as
well as Russ himself could have done.

"Oh, what a nice parrot!"

"Could we keep him?"

"Doesn't he talk plain?"

"Listen to that whistle!"

"Oh, isn't she nice!"

These were some of the things the six little Bunkers said as they listened
to Bill Hixon's parrot, as it moved about in the cage on the back seat of
Mr. Mead's auto.

"Couldn't we keep it, Mother?" asked Rose. "I'd like it almost as much as
my doll!"

"Oh, mercy no, child! We couldn't keep Mr. Hixon's parrot!" said Mrs.
Bunker.

"Have you one, Grandma Bell?" asked Russ.

"No, I'm thankful to say I haven't," said Mrs. Bell with a laugh. "I like
children, and I love to hear them talk and laugh; but I don't like
parrots. I have a dog and a cat; so I think we'll let Mr. Hixon have his
own parrot."

"I don't care for 'em myself," said Mr. Mead. "Well, I'll be getting along
with this one now. I guess I've got out all your baggage."

"Yes, and thank you very much," said Mr. Bunker.

"Come on! Gid-dap! Go 'long, horses!" cried the parrot. "Give me a
cracker! Go long, horses!"

"He thinks you're driving horses," said Russ.

"I don't know what he _thinks_," said Mr. Mead. "He talks a lot, that's
sure. I won't be lonesome for the rest of the way. I'll let the parrot
ride outside with me, I guess. He'll be sort of company for me."

"Pretty Poll! Give me a cracker! Let me out and give me a cracker!" cried
the green bird.

"Here's one!" said Laddie, holding out a bit of cracker which he had left
f