that sound come from a bird?" inquired the lady; "I certainly
thought it was a human voice."

Many of the company tried to make Poll talk, but she declined for the
present. After a while, however, when some witty remark was made which
caused a general laugh, Poll laughed too, both loud and long, and then,
as if perfectly exhausted with so much emotion, exclaimed,--

"Oh, dear! Oh, dear me!"

Two or three of the company had been invited to bring their children,
and just at this time Minnie returned with her young friends, having
introduced them to Jacko and her other pets.

The little girls gathered eagerly around Mrs. Lee, begging her to make
Poll talk to them.

"Perhaps you would like to play a game of hide-and-seek with her," cried
Minnie; "she plays that real nice."

"Yes, oh, yes indeed!" was the united response.

"Come, Poll," called Minnie, extending her finger.

The parrot went at first with seeming reluctance, but presently entered
into the spirit of the play, running after the children around the
tables and chairs, laughing as merrily as any of them, and every once
in a while repeating that curious "Oh, dear! Oh, dear me!" as if quite
worn out.

Minnie then called the little girls into the next room, shutting the
door behind them, when Poll, putting her head down close to the crack,
seemed trying to listen to what they said. She well understood the game,
however, for she presently called, "Whoop," and then hid behind the
door, to catch them when they came along, crying out, as she did so,
"Ah, you little rogue!"

After this, she laughed so heartily that none could help joining
her,--certainly the ladies could not; but all agreed she knew altogether
too much for a bird, and was the most wonderful parrot they had ever
seen.

CHAPTER V.

POLL AND THE BACON.

Minnie went one day with her parents to a neighboring town, to visit
some friends. She had no sooner alighted from the carriage, than she
heard the familiar sound of a parrot's voice.

"How do you do, miss?" cried the bird, arching its superb neck.

"I am very well, thank you," answered Minnie, laughing. "How are you?"

"I'm sick, very sick." The funny creature hung her head, and assumed a
plaintive, whining tone. "Got a bad cough. Oh, dear!" (Coughing
violently.) "I'm sick, very sick. Call the doctor."

"I'm glad you have a parrot," the little girl said to her companion, who
stood by laughing. "I have one too; I should admire to