The Cockatoos Story | Page 2

little absurd to hear a bird of your
tender years speaking of a history. Think what mine must be, and what
I must have come through and seen in my long life!"
They were here interrupted by the appearance once more of Master
Herbert, who brought a most tempting piece of cake in his hand. Going
up to the cockatoo, he said, "I suppose I needn't offer you this,
Cockatoo. You are determined not to be friends." The cockatoo put out
his claw for it, and took it gently from Herbert's hand, who could not
fail to see there was a marked difference in the bird's appearance.
"Good boy, good boy!" shrieked the gray parrot from her perch, quite
forgetting she had promised never to speak the English language, in her
eagerness to mark her approval of his conduct. "Now, if you really
would like to please Master Herbert," she continued in her own parrot
tongue, "I'd say the words he has been trying to teach you for days.
Come, out with it, old boy;" and again she relapsed into the English
language.
[Illustration: CAKE FROM MASTER HERBERT.
Page 12.]

The cockatoo looked into Herbert's kind eyes, and said as plainly as he
could, "Pretty Cocky."
"Oh, you can speak after all," said Herbert. "Well, now, that's jolly; I
thought you were going to be a good-for-nothing stupid creature. Come
now, say it again; but give us the whole of the word."
Assisted by Mrs. Polly's "Out with it, old boy," the cockatoo tried his
best, but could only get the length of "Pretty Cockat----" However,
Herbert was content with this for a beginning, and turned to the gray
parrot with a kind inquiry after her health; who instantly replied,
anxious perhaps to make up for her companion's tardiness, "Thank you,
sir; how d'ye do?"
"I'm glad you're clever, Mrs. Polly," said Herbert. "Uncle James was
just saying to Lucy the other day, you were the cleverest parrot he ever
saw, and he has brought home dozens now." Mrs. Polly did not
understand all her young master said; but she knew by his voice and
eye he was praising her, so she said, with a pretty courtesy, "Thank you,
sir!" which made Herbert laugh very heartily; and when he further
requested her to dance, she did so at once, whistling a tune to herself
for an accompaniment. "Do you know, Mrs. Polly, you are to have
another companion very soon?" said Herbert, giving the gray parrot
another piece of cake. "He's a great scarlet macaw, and Uncle James
says he is getting him sent from South America. Oh dear! I should like
to be able to understand your chatter--I mean your own language,
Polly--because you could tell such a great deal about the different
countries you have come from. There's Cockatoo, he could tell us about
the Indian Islands, and Borneo;--that was where Uncle James brought
you from, sir, when he was on his voyage to Canton. He got ever so
many birds of paradise, too; for, luckily for him, they had just come
over from New Guinea, and the other islands where they generally stay.
Oh dear! I do wish I understood your language," he repeated again.
At this moment, a great humble-bee came humming in at the window;
and on looking up, what should Herbert see but a tiny fairy sitting on
its back! In a moment the bee lighted on the table, and stopped its
humming; and then the fairy's voice could be distinctly heard, as she

stood up on the back of the humble-bee, saying,----
"Little boy, with eyes so blue, You are kind and you are true To the
birds, the beasts, the flowers, Their language we will make it yours:
Then listen to Miss Polly's speech, And hear what lesson she will
teach."
With these words she waved her shining silver wand, and touching him
first on one ear, and then on the other, as she rode past him, was borne
away out of the window once more, on the back of the humble-bee.
Herbert didn't know very well what had happened, and thought he was
dreaming, till he heard Mrs. Polly saying to the cockatoo, "Now, sir, if
you sulk, Master Herbert will know what it's for."
"I say, Polly," said Herbert, "am I really to understand your language?
Did you see the fairy too?"
"Oh yes, sir," replied Mrs. Polly. "I saw her, and heard what she said;
and let me tell you, sir, it isn't every boy that receives such a reward;
but you must have pleased the fairy Fauna, by being kind to all the
creatures, great and small. Yes, she has heard no doubt how you open
the window, and put the bees and the blue-bottle flies out, instead of
killing