The little girl was delighted. She held Poll on her lap, caressing her fondly, and calling her by all sorts of endearing and funny names.
The parrot on her part seemed desirous of showing her grat.i.tude for relief from pain by doing all she could to please her little friend. She often heard the cook calling Tom, who was apt to run to the barn when she wanted him; and she began in a loud, impatient tone, "Tom!" her voice rising; then again, "Tom!" falling inflection; "Tom!" again; "I say, Tom; come here, you rascal!"
Finding this made Minnie laugh heartily, she began to call, "Leo, come here! Lie down, sir! Tiney, Tiney," in a small, fine voice, like the child"s; "Tiney, Tiney, Tiney! O, you little rogue!"
After this she chattered away like Jacko, c.o.c.king 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 pa.s.sed 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 a.s.sembling 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 top of his voice.
"The noise called the police to the place, and one of the robbers was secured.
"The watchful parrot saved his owner"s silver. When he was praised for his timely interference, he would arch his head, and begin at once to call out,--
""You lazy rascals, I see you! John, bring me my revolver!""
CHAPTER VII.
THE PARROT AND THE PRINCE.
"When Prince Maurice was Governor of Brazil, he was informed of an old parrot who would converse like a rational creature. His curiosity became so much roused that, though at a great distance from his residence, he directed that it should be sent for.
"When Poll was first introduced into the room where the Prince sat with several Dutch gentlemen, he instantly exclaimed in the Brazilian language,--
""What a company of white men are here!"
"Pointing to the prince, one gentleman asked, "Who is that man?"
""Some gentleman or other," Poll instantly replied.
""Where did you come from?" asked the prince.
""From Marignan."
""To whom do you belong?"
""To a Portuguese."
""What do you do for a living?"
""I look after chickens."
"The prince laughingly exclaimed, "You look after chickens!"
""Yes, I do; and I know well enough how to do it," clucking at the same time like a hen calling her brood.
"Prince Maurice, as well as the rest of the gentlemen, were delighted with the intelligence of the bird, and after keeping him at his residence as long as possible, the governor gave him a prize for being the most sagacious parrot in the kingdom."
When Mr. Lee returned from the city, he found Poll as bright and cheerful as a lark. He brought with him a young man in his employ, called Theodore, to whom Minnie exhibited all her pets, and who staid till after tea, and then Mr. Lee read a few stories to Minnie, with one of which I must close my story of Minnie"s pet parrot.
"A prince, named Leo Maced, was once accused by a monk of forming a plan to murder his father, the emperor. He was, therefore, though protesting his innocence, cast into prison.
"After some months, the emperor had a feast, to which he invited most of the n.o.bles of his court. They were all seated at table, when a tame parrot belonging to the prince, and which was hung up in the room, cried out, mournfully,--
""Alas, alas! Poor Prince Leo!"
"This exclamation, which was continually repeated, as if the bird could not help comparing their sumptuous entertainment with the prison fare and confinement of his exiled master, so affected the guests as to deprive them of all appet.i.te. It was in vain that the emperor urged his delicacies upon them. They could not eat, while the faithful bird repeated his plaintive cry,--
""Alas, alas! Poor Prince Leo!"
"At last one of the n.o.bles with tears entreated the emperor to pardon his son, whom they all believed to be innocent. The others joining in the request, the father ordered that Prince Leo be brought before him.
He was soon restored to favor, and then to his former dignities, through the affection of his faithful parrot."