The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cockatoo's Story, by Mrs. George Cupples

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Title: The Cockatoo's Story

Author: Mrs. George Cupples

Release Date: June 5, 2007 [EBook #21685]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE

COCKATOO'S STORY.

_By_

_MRS. GEORGE CUPPLES._

WITH 12 ILLUSTRATIONS.

London:

T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW.

EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK.

1881.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A GREEDY DOG

_Page 80._]

THE COCKATOO'S STORY.

"I begin to be ashamed of myself--I really do," said a white cockatoo,
as he sat on his perch one day. Then he gave himself a good shake, and
after walking up and down once or twice, he continued, "I think it vexes
the boy, and I can see he means to be kind. And, oh dear, dear! I see
now I brought the troubles on myself."

"Kind!" screamed a small gray parrot from a perch on the opposite side;
"of course he means to be kind. You won't often meet a kinder; let me
tell you that, sir. If I could only get this chain off my foot, I'd come
over and give you as good a pecking as ever you got in your life, you
sulky, ungrateful bird you! And then Master Herbert stands, day after
day, trying to tempt you with the daintiest morsels, and there you sit
and sulk, or take it with your face turned from him, when hunger forces
you."

"There is no need to be so angry, old lady," replied the cockatoo.
"Didn't you hear me say, I begin to be ashamed of myself? But if you
only knew how I have been used, you would not wonder at my sulks."

"Oh, if you have a foundation for your conduct, then I'll be happy to
retract," said Mrs. Polly, walking about her perch very fast indeed, and
ruffling up her feathers as she walked. "No bird I ever had the
pleasure of living beside could say I was unreasonable; so please state
your case, state your case--I'm all