t I had begun to realize was a comfortable home brought me to
my sober senses at once. I hung my head and was silent. For the first
time in my life I was mortified and ashamed of myself.

It was now decided to try water on my feathers, and Louis, putting me on
his shoulder, carried me to the bath-room. I did feel the greatest
inclination to bite his ear, but I contented myself by gently pulling
his hair, which made him laugh.

It was a great luxury to get into the bath-tub, for no one had even
given me water to wet my feet for a very long time; and although parrots
do not care to get in the tub every morning and flutter and spatter like
canaries, still they like to wet their feet, and, above all things, they
enjoy a gentle shower-bath, like a summer rain.

I can not say the bath the children gave me was what I would have chosen
myself, for they rubbed me and scrubbed me and tumbled me about till I
was half dead. At last it was over. The ink stains had nearly
disappeared from my feathers, but I was cold and miserable. Then, too, I
had proved myself such a destructive personage when free that my feet
were chained once more; and although my mistress had kindly covered the
rings I wore round my ankles with soft flannel, the chain was still a
dreadful burden. When I was at last left alone on my perch, I gave way
to the most sorrowful meditations.

Still, all my present happiness dates from that troublesome time. The
children were with me constantly, and their kind treatment completely
cured me of my ugly, malicious temper. I then became acquainted with my
dear friend Fritz, in whose company I have spent many happy hours. In
order to talk with him I was compelled to learn his language, and soon I
could bark so well that little Hope would clap her hands and say, "Our
Rito makes a better doggie than Fritz himself."

[Illustration: "FRITZ ADORED SUGAR."]

Often when I sat on my perch Fritz would lie on the carpet near me, and
we would hold long conversations together. He, too, had met with
disappointments in life, and we consoled each other. We shared
constantly the good things given us, and I soon discovered that Fritz
adored sugar. As there were always some pieces in my feed dish, I kept
them for him, and many a frolic we have had, for I never could help
tantalizing him by holding the tempting morsel higher than he could
jump.

I have had some nice friends in the garden, for in warm weather I was
often carried out and