"Couldn't we keep it, Mother?" asked Rose. "I'd like it almost as much as my doll!"

   "Oh, mercy no, child! We couldn't keep Mr. Hixon's parrot!" said Mrs. Bunker.

   "Have you one, Grandma Bell?" asked Russ.

   "No, I'm thankful to say I haven't," said

   Mrs. Bell with a laugh. "I like children, and I love to hear them talk and laugh; but I don't like parrots. I have a dog and a cat; so I think we'll let Mr. Hixon have his own parrot."

   "I don't care for 'em myself," said Mr. Mead. "Well, I'll be getting along with this one now. I guess I've got out all your baggage."

   "Yes, and thank you very much," said Mr. Bunker.

   "Come on! Gid-dap! Go 'long, horses!" cried the parrot. "Give me a cracker! Go long, horses!"

   "He thinks you're driving horses," said Russ.

   "I don't know what he

    thinks

   ," said Mr. Mead. "He talks a lot, that's sure. I won't be lonesome for the rest of the way. I'll let the parrot ride outside with me, I guess. He'll be sort of company for me."

   "Pretty Poll! Give me a cracker! Let me out and give me a cracker!" cried the green bird.

   "Here's one!" said Laddie, holding out a bit of cracker which he had left from a pack

   age his mother had bought for him on the train.

   "Look out! He might bite you!" said Laddie's father.

   "Bill said his bird was gentle, but, still, maybe the little boy had better be careful," said Mr. Mead. "Here, I guess I had better feed him."

   He held out the bit of cracker to Polly, who took it in one black claw, and then began to bite off pieces, saying, meanwhile:

   "That's the way to do it! That's the way I do it!"

   "Oh, he's awful cute!" said Rose. "I wish we had one!"

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