All the parrots I ever knew were called "Polly."

Polly was a very pretty bird. She had bright feathers of red, green, and blue.

She did not like to get into the water and wash, so my aunt had to wash her.

Sometimes this made Polly cross, and it was very funny to hear her scold Aunt Mary.

After she had been washed, she would begin to lay her feathers.

If a feather fell out, she would pick it up with her beak and try to put it on her head or back.

She seemed to feel sad because she had lost a feather.

Polly learned to say many words. "Good

such as "Good-by, sir,"

morning, sir," and "Polly wants something to eat."

Uncle John had a way of saying, "There's no doubt about it;" and soon Polly learned that, too.

One time Aunt Mary was sick, and Polly missed her very much. Polly got out of her cage and went into every room.

When she came to Aunt Mary's room, she climbed up on the bed. Aunt Mary said, "Polly, I'm glad to see you. I'm very sick."

"There's no doubt about it!" said Polly.

Polly was very playful, but she did many naughty things that Uncle John did not like.

She would walk about the room, and pick the tacks out of the carpet, and bite pieces out of the chairs and table.

At last Uncle John sent for a man to come and buy Polly.

"How much do you want for her?" said the man.

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'Twelve dollars," said Uncle John. "Polly, are you worth you worth twelve

dollars?" said the man.

"There's no doubt about it!" said Polly.

This answer so pleased the man that he gave Uncle John the twelve dollars and took Polly home.

After a while he found out the naughty things Polly did, and was sorry that he had bought her.

One day he said to her, "Polly, what a dunce I was to give so much money for you!"

"There's no doubt about it!" cried

Polly.

And this time Polly was right.

LANGUAGE LESSON.

Let pupils tell this story in their own language. Especial attention should be paid to the manner of expression and the proper use of words.

He was too

When the old rats asked him if he would like to come out with

them at night, he would say, "I don't know."

And if they said, "Would you like to stay in ?" he still used the same words "I don't know." He would not take the trouble to find out what he wished.

An old gray rat said to him one day, "No one will care for you if you go on in this way. You have no more mind than a blade of grass.

"It is sometimes good to give up your own plans. But it is not good to have no plans at all.”

The young rat sat up, and looked very wise, but said not a word.

"Do you not think so? Why do you not speak?" said the old gray rat.