diff options
Diffstat (limited to '26617.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 26617.txt | 1661 |
1 files changed, 1661 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/26617.txt b/26617.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..01c9a72 --- /dev/null +++ b/26617.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1661 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Minnie's Pet Parrot, by Madeline Leslie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Minnie's Pet Parrot + +Author: Madeline Leslie + +Release Date: September 14, 2008 [EBook #26617] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINNIE'S PET PARROT *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of corrections +is found at the end of the text. + + + + +[Illustration: "Oh, dear! oh, dear me!" Page 85.] + +[Illustration: MINNIE and her PETS + BY MRS. MADELINE LESLIE + MINNIE'S PET PARROT.] + + + + + MINNIE'S PET PARROT. + + + BY + + MRS. MADELINE LESLIE, + AUTHOR OF "THE LESLIE STORIES," "TIM, THE SCISSORS-GRINDER," + ETC. + + + ILLUSTRATED. + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, + 1864. + + + + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by + +A. R. BAKER, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of +Massachusetts. + +ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. + + + + + TO MY YOUNG FRIEND, + + HENRY FOWLE DURANT, JR. + + =These Little Volumes= + + ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED + + BY THE AUTHOR, + + IN THE EARNEST HOPE THAT THEY MAY INCREASE IN HIM THAT + LOVE OF NATURE AND OF RURAL LIFE WHICH HAS EVER + EXERTED SO SALUTARY AN INFLUENCE IN THE + FORMATION OF THE CHARACTERS OF + THE WISE AND GOOD. + + + + +MINNIE AND HER PETS. + + Minnie's Pet Parrot. + Minnie's Pet Cat. + Minnie's Pet Dog. + Minnie's Pet Horse. + Minnie's Pet Lamb. + Minnie's Pet Monkey. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The object of these little books is not so much to give full, scientific +information with regard to the animals of which they treat, as to bring +before the child such facts concerning them as shall interest him in +their history, awaken a desire to know more of the particular traits of +each, and especially lead him to be kind to them as a part of God's +creation. + +Natural history we deem, according to the opinion of an eminent writer, +as "not only the most captivating of the sciences, but the most +humanizing. It is impossible to study the character and habits of the +lower animals without imbibing an interest in their wants and feelings." + +Dr. Chalmers, who was famous for his interest in the brute creation, +says, "To obtain the regards of man's heart in behalf of the lower +animals, we should strive to draw his mind toward them. The poor brutes +look, tremble, and give the signs of suffering, as we do. A threatened +blow strikes them with terror, and they have the same distortions of +agony on the infliction of it. Their blood circulates as ours does. They +sicken, and grow feeble with age, and finally die, as we do. They +possess also instincts which expose them to suffering in another +quarter. The lioness, robbed of her whelps, makes the wilderness ring +with her cries; and the little bird, whose tender household has been +stolen, fills and saddens all the grove with her pathetic melody." + +The author has been careful to select only facts well authenticated. She +takes this opportunity to acknowledge most gratefully her indebtedness +to those friends who have contributed original anecdotes which have come +under their own observation; and also to state that she has quoted from +most of the popular English works on these subjects, prominent among +which are Jesse, Richardson, and Hamilton, on dogs; Youatt, the Ettrick +Shepherd, and Randall, on sheep; Morris, Brown's Natural History, +Chambers's Miscellany, etc. + +She has been greatly encouraged, in the preparation of these volumes for +the young, by the flattering reception of the previous productions of +her pen. If these should meet with similar favor, they may be followed +by other volumes of the same character and objects. + + THE AUTHOR. + + + + +MINNIE'S PET PARROT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MINNIE AND HER PARROT. + + +In these little books, I am going to tell you about Minnie, her home, +and her pets; and I hope it will teach every boy and every girl who +reads them to be kind to animals, as Minnie was. Minnie Lee had a +pleasant home. She was an only child, and as her parents loved to +please her, they procured every thing which they thought would make her +happy. The first pet Minnie had was a beautiful tortoise-shell kitten, +which she took in her baby arms and hugged tightly to her bosom. After a +time, her father, seeing how much comfort she took with kitty, bought +her a spaniel. He already had a large Newfoundland dog; but Mrs. Lee +was unwilling to have him come into the house, saying that in summer he +drew the flies, and in winter he dirtied her hearth rugs. So Leo, as the +great dog was called, was condemned to the barn, while Tiney could rove +through the parlors and chambers whenever he pleased. + +In Minnie's seventh year, her father bought her a Shetland pony and a +lamb, which he told her was called a South Down--a rare and valuable +breed. The little girl now thought her hands quite full; but only the +next Christmas, when her uncle came home from sea, he told her he had +brought an addition to her pets; and true enough, when his luggage came +from town, there was a bag containing a real, live monkey, named Jacko. + +These, with the silver-gray parrot, which had been in the family for +years, gave Minnie employment from morning till night. + +You will wonder, perhaps, that one child should have so many pets; and, +indeed, the parrot belonged to her mother; but when I tell you that, +though her parents had had six children, she was the only one remaining +to them, and that in her infancy she was very sickly, you will not +wonder so much. The doctor said that their only hope of bringing her up +was to keep her in the open air as much as possible. + +"Let her have a run with Leo," he used to say; or, "Get her a horse, and +teach her to ride. That will do her more good than medicine." + +When her father came home from town, if he did not see his little +daughter on the lawn, playing with Fidelle, the cat, and Tiney, the dog, +he was almost sure to find her in the shed where Jacko's cage was kept, +with Miss Poll perching on her shoulder. + +When visitors called and asked to see her, her mother would laugh, as +she answered, "I'm sure I don't know where the child is, she has so many +pets." + +Minnie was not allowed to study much in books; indeed, she scarcely knew +how to read at all; yet she was not an ignorant child, for her father +and mother took great pains to teach her. She knew the names of all the +different trees on her father's place, and of all the flowers in her +mother's garden; but her favorite study was the natural history of +beasts and birds; and nothing gave her so much pleasure as to have her +father relate anecdotes of their intelligence and sagacity. + +He had a large, well-selected library, where were many rare volumes on +her favorite subject, illustrated with pictures of different animals. +When Mr. Lee could not recall a story as often as she wished, she would +take his hand and coax him to the library. Then she would run up the +steps to her favorite shelf, and taking down a book almost as large as +she could lift, say, playfully, "Now, father, I'm ready for you to +read." + +Mrs. Lee often found them sitting together, talking over the wonderful +feats of some dog, cat, horse, or monkey, and laughed as she said to her +husband, "I believe Minnie comes naturally by her love for animals, for +you seem as much interested in the stories as she does." + +Mr. Lee lived in a very handsome house about seven miles from the city +where he did business. He had made a great deal of money by sending +ships to foreign lands, freighted with goods, which he sold there in +exchange for others which were needed at home. He now lived quite at his +ease, with plenty of servants to do his bidding, and horses and +carriages to carry him wherever he wished to go. + + * * * * * + +But in this volume I shall speak of himself, his family, equipage, and +estate, only as they are connected with my object, which is to tell you +about Minnie's pet parrot, and also to relate stories of other parrots, +all of which are strictly true. + +Poll was brought from the coast of Africa by a sea captain, who +presented her to a lady, aunt to Mrs. Lee. At the lady's death it was +given to her niece, and had been an important member of the family ever +since. It was not known how old she was when she was brought to +America; but she had been in the family for fifteen years, and therefore +was old enough to know how to behave herself properly on all occasions. + +Miss Poll had a plumage of silver-gray feathers, with a brilliant +scarlet tail. Her eyes were a bright yellow, with black pupils, and +around them a circle of small white feathers. Her beak was large and +strong, hooked at the end. Her tongue was thick and black. Her claws +were also black, and she could use them as freely as Minnie used her +hands. When her mistress offered her a cup of tea,--a drink of which she +was very fond,--she took it in her claws, and drank it as gracefully as +any lady. + +In the morning, when her cage was cleaned, she always had a cup of +canary seed; but at other times she ate potato, cracker, bread, apple, +and sometimes a piece of raw meat. She liked, too, to pick a chicken +bone, and would nibble away upon it, laughing and talking to herself in +great glee. + +Miss Poll, I am sorry to say, was very proud and fond of flattery. If +Mrs. Lee went to the cage, and put out her finger for the bird to light +upon it, and did not praise her, she would often bite it. But if she +said, "Sweet Poll! dear Poll! she is a darling!" she would arch her +beautiful neck, and look as proud as any proud miss. Then she would tip +her head, and put her claws in her mouth, just like a bashful little +girl. + +Poll was exceedingly fond of music, and learned a tune by hearing it +played a few times; but she had a queer habit of leaving off in the +middle of a line, when she would whistle for the dog, or call out, +"Leo, come here! lie down, you rascal!" + +Poll was very fond of Minnie, and indeed of all children. + +When she saw the little girl come into the room with her bonnet on, she +exclaimed, in a natural tone, "Going out, hey?" When Minnie laughed, she +would laugh too, and keep repeating, "Going out? Good by." + +Parrots are said to be very jealous birds, and are displeased to have +any attention shown to other pets. + +I think Poll was so, and that she was angry when she saw Minnie show so +much kindness to Fidelle. One day she thought she would punish the +kitty; so she called, "Kitty, kitty," in the most sweet, coaxing tones. +Puss seemed delighted, and walked innocently up to the cage, which +happened to be set in a chair. + +"Kitty, kitty," repeated Poll, until she had the little creature within +reach of her claws, when she suddenly caught her, and bit her ears and +her tail, Fidelle crying piteously at this unexpected ill treatment, +until some one came to rescue her. Then puss crept softly away to the +farther end of the room, and hid under a chair, where she began to lick +her wounded tail, while Poll laughed and chuckled over the joke. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PARROT AND THE TRAVELLER. + + +One morning when the whole family were in the breakfast room, Poll began +to talk to herself, imitating exactly the manner of a lady who had +recently visited the house with her children. + +"Little darling beauty, so she is; she shall have on her pretty new +bonnet, and go ridy, ridy with mamma; so she shall." + +In the midst of this, the bird stopped and began to cry like an +impatient child. + +"Don't cry, sweet," she went on, changing her voice again; "there, +there, pet, don't cry; hush up, hush up." + +This conversation she carried on in the most approved baby style, until, +becoming excited by the laughter of the company, she stopped, and began +to laugh too. + +After this, whenever she wanted to be very cunning, she would repeat +this performance, much to the amusement of all who heard her. + +Poll was a very mischievous bird, and on this account was not let out of +her cage, unless Minnie or some one was at liberty to watch her. + +Mrs. Lee, who usually sat in the back parlor, from which place she could +hear Poll talk, was sure to know if the bird was doing any great +mischief, for she always began to scold herself on such occasions. + +"Ah, ah!" she exclaimed, one day; "what are you about, Poll?" + +Mrs. Lee rose quickly, and advanced on tiptoe to the door, where she saw +the parrot picking at some buttons on the sofa, which she had often been +forbidden to touch. Much amused at the sight, she listened to an +imitation of her own voice, as follows:-- + +"Go away, I tell you, Poll! I see you! Take care!" + +Finding her buttons fast disappearing, she suddenly entered, when the +bird went quickly back to her perch. + +In the afternoon, when her husband returned from town, she related the +incident to him and to Minnie. + +"That shows us," answered the gentleman, laughing, "how careful we +ought to be what we say before her; we shall be sure to hear it again." + +After tea, when Minnie and her father were in the library, they heard +Poll singing a variety of tunes in her merriest tones. They stopped +talking a while to listen, and then both laughed heartily to see how +quickly she struck into a whistle, as Tiney walked deliberately into +the room in search of her little mistress. + +"What a funny bird she is!" cried Minnie; "she runs on so from one thing +to another." + +"In that respect she shows a want of judgment," replied her father; +"but, by the way, I have a story for you of a curious parrot, which I +will read. + +"A gentleman who had been visiting a friend near the sea shore, and +concluded to return by way of a ferry boat, walked to the beach to see +whether there was one ready to start. As he stood looking over the +water, much disappointed that there was none in sight, he was surprised +to hear the loud cry of the boatman,-- + +"'Over, master? Going over?' + +"'Yes, I wish to go,' he answered, looking eagerly about. + +"'Over, master? Going over?' was asked again in a more earnest tone; +and again he repeated,-- + +"'Yes, I wish to go as soon as possible.' + +"The questions were repeated constantly, and yet no preparation was made +for granting his request. He began to be somewhat indignant, and seeing +no one near upon whom he could vent his wrath, he walked rapidly toward +a public house near by. Here his anger was speedily changed to mirth, +for on going near the door he saw a parrot hanging in a cage over the +porch, from whom all the noise had proceeded." + +"Oh, father," exclaimed Minnie, greatly delighted, "that was a real good +story. Isn't there another one?" + +"Yes; here is one where a man made his bird revenge his insults. + +"There was once a distiller who had long suffered in his business by a +neighbor, who had several times reported him to the public authorities +as one who made and sold rum without a license to do so. At last he +became very angry at being interfered with, and, as no ready means +offered to revenge himself, he adopted the following singular method. + +"He had a large green parrot, which could speak almost any thing. This +parrot he taught to repeat, in a clear, loud, and distinct voice, the +ninth commandment,--'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy +neighbor.' + +"Having committed this lesson satisfactorily, the owner of the parrot +hung him outside one of the front windows of the house, where his +troublesome neighbor, who lived directly opposite, would be able to +have the full benefit of the inspired words. + +"The first time the neighbor came in sight, the parrot began, 'Thou +shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor;' and this was +repeated on every occasion, to the great delight of the neighborhood." + +At this moment, Mrs. Lee opened the door, to tell Minnie that Anne, the +nurse, was waiting to put her to bed. + +"It's too early," began the child, impatiently; "I don't want to go +yet." + +Her mother only answered by pointing to the little French timepiece on +the mantel. + +"I was having such a good time," sobbed Minnie; "I always have to go +just when I'm enjoying myself the most." + +Hearing this, Poll instantly began to whine, "I don't want to go," and +then, putting her claw up to her mouth, sobbed, for all the world, just +like her little mistress. + +Minnie wanted to laugh, but she felt ashamed, and did not like to have +her parents see her; so she said, "Keep still, Poll; you've nothing to +do with it." + +This reproof only excited the bird the more, and in a loud, angry tone, +she went on,-- + +"Keep, still, Poll! don't meddle! don't meddle! Ah, Poll, what are you +about? Take care; I see you!" + +Mr. Lee watched his daughter anxiously, to see whether she would recover +her temper, and was pleased to observe that she presently advanced to +the cage, when she held out her finger to say "Good night" to her pet, +as usual. + +"Good night; say your prayers," repeated the bird, holding out her +claw. + +She then gave her parents their good-night kiss, and snatching Tiney in +her arms, went gayly from the room. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +POLL'S FUNNY TRICKS. + + +In summer, Poll lived mostly out of doors, hung in a cage at the top of +the piazza. Here she seemed very much amused at the various operations +she witnessed. + +In the morning, she was placed in front of the house on account of the +shade; but after dinner, the cage was carried round to a porch, where +the shed and barn were in full view. + +From the front porch, she could salute all the early visitors, and watch +the butcher's cart as it passed, often startling him with the inquiry,-- + +"What have you to-day?" Then, if no one answered, she would quickly +reply, "Veal," or, "Only veal to-day." + +But her greatest amusement was to watch a family of children, who lived +nearly opposite. There was one child just commencing to go to school--a +duty which he disliked exceedingly. + +As soon as Poll saw him she would begin, "You must go, or you'll grow up +a dunce." + +Then she would whine, and cry, "I won't go, I say I won't." + +"Go right along, you naughty boy, or I shall tell your father." + +Poll now begins to sob and sniffle in earnest, when she suddenly stops +and begins the whole conversation over again, greatly to the merriment +of her hearers. + +There is, however, one trick that Poll has learned, which is quite +inconvenient. + +Near Mr. Lee's house, the ground rises, his residence being on a hill. +Teams loaded with coal, and other heavy articles, continually pass by, +it being of course quite an object with the drivers to get the horses to +the top of the hill without stopping on the way. + +But this would spoil Miss Poll's fun. When they are about half way up, +and just in the steepest part, she calls out, "Whoa," in a loud, +authoritative voice, so exactly in imitation of the driver that they +obey at once. This she repeats as often as he attempts to start them +forward, until, greatly vexed, I am sorry to say, he sometimes swears +at both the horses and the bird. + +Nor is this all. When the teams have reached the top of the hill, and +the driver wishes to let them stop and breathe, Poll begins to cluck for +them to go on, and will not let them rest until they are out of her +sight, when she begins a hearty laugh over her own joke. In the mean +time, the driver frets and fumes, and wishes that bird had the driving +of those horses for once. + +Poll has formed quite an acquaintance with most of the children of the +neighborhood. At one time, there was a great excitement among the boys +in regard to a company of soldiers they were forming. On Wednesday and +Saturday afternoons, they marched up and down the street, past Mr. +Lee's, beating a drum, and singing, "Rub-a-dub, dub! rub-a-dub, dub! +Hurrah, hurrah!" As soon as they were out of hearing, Poll began the +story, and went through the drill with great glee. + +From the back porch, Poll witnessed the grooming of the horses, when, as +was often the case, they were taken out for Mrs. Lee and Minnie to ride. +Indeed, she did her best, as far as words could go, to assist in the +operation. While the harness was being put on, she continually called +out, "Back, sir! Stand still! What are you about there?" This was often +done, greatly to the discomfiture of the hostler, who was obliged +generally to countermand these orders. + +I have told you that Poll was very fond of her friends, and jealous of +their affection. She was also very strong in her dislikes. There was one +member of the family whom she could not endure, and she took every +occasion to vent her spite against him. This was the colored boy who +blacked the boots, scoured the knives, and ran errands. + +Early one morning, when Poll was hanging up at a back window, she saw +Tom polishing the boots, and whistling a merry tune, never once thinking +of his enemy near him. Squeezing herself, as she often did, through the +wires of her cage, she crept silently along through an inner room into +the shed, when she flew directly at him, caught him by the legs, and +held him fast. + +Poor Tom was frightened nearly out of his senses, and yelled for some +one to take the parrot away. The servants enjoyed the fun too well, +however, to release him. They laughed heartily, telling him to shake her +off; but he was paralyzed with fright, and stood the picture of horror +until the cook coaxed Poll away. + +At another time, she took a great dislike to the groom, who was an +Irishman. Watching a favorable opportunity, she flew at him, caught hold +of his shirt bosom, and held it so tightly with her strong beak, that it +was some time before Mrs. Lee, who was attracted to the kitchen by the +noise, could make her let go her hold of the astonished object of her +hatred. + +After this, whenever the women servants were displeased with the man, +they would slyly let Poll out of her cage, when she darted directly +toward him, and was thus the means of his losing many a dinner. + +When his grievances became too heavy, he complained to his mistress, who +soon put a stop to such unjust proceedings. + +One evening, when Mr. Lee drove into the yard, he heard Minnie laughing +heartily. Approaching nearer, he saw her sitting on the piazza; Leo, +looking rather ashamed, crouching at her feet; and Poll talking, in +great excitement, in exact imitation of his own tones-- + +"Leo, come here! good fellow! Down, sir! Leo, Leo! Hurrah, boys; what +fun!" + +As it was near the time for his master's return, the dog had been more +readily deceived by the parrot's call, and had run rapidly toward the +house, when he perceived that he had been made a fool of, as he often +had been before. + +A few hours later, they were talking it over in the library, when Mr. +Lee said he thought he had read an incident very similar. + +Minnie joyfully clapped her hands, while her father took down the book, +and read,-- + +"A parrot belonging to a gentleman in Boston was once sunning himself in +his cage, at the door of a shop. Seeing a dog in the distance, he began +to whistle, when the animal, imagining it to be the call of his master, +ran swiftly toward the house. + +"At this moment, the bird exclaimed, 'Get out, you brute!' when the +astonished dog hastily retreated, leaving the parrot laughing and +enjoying the joke." + +"That reminds me," added Mrs. Lee, "of a story a lady once told me of a +parrot she owned, and which was really a wonderfully intelligent bird. A +new family moved into the neighborhood, consisting, among others, of two +young ladies, who always dressed very gayly. + +"Polly had a bad habit of making remarks upon the passers by, as she +hung in her cage overlooking the main street. If, as was sometimes the +case, persons engaged in conversation stopped near the house, they would +often be startled by the cry,-- + +"'Go home, now! Want to quarrel?' + +"But when she saw ladies dressed fashionably, she gave utterance to a +most contemptuous laugh, which would have been insult enough by itself; +but she often accompanied it by the words,-- + +"'La, how smart I do feel!' + +"My friend called at once on her new neighbors, but unfortunately found +they were out; she waited a long time for the call to be returned, and +at last began to wonder that no notice was taken of her politeness, when +the cause of the neglect was explained by a mutual friend. + +"It appeared that on several occasions the young ladies had passed the +house, and had heard the insulting laugh and words, which they +attributed to my friend; so that when asked whether they had become +acquainted with Mrs. G., they answered, coolly, 'We have no wish to make +her acquaintance.' + +"Being pressed for a reason, they at last confessed that they had been +repeatedly insulted, and narrated in what manner it had happened. + +"This answer caused such a burst of merriment that they were surprised, +until, being told that it was the chattering of a tame parrot, they soon +joined in the laugh, and went at once to make her acquaintance, and also +that of her mistress." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +POLL AT THE PARTY. + + +"Please, mamma, tell me all you can remember about Mrs. G.'s parrot," +cried Minnie, a few days later. "Was she as wonderful as our Poll? and +was she as handsome?" + +Mrs. Lee smiled. "If I should answer all your questions," she said +presently, "I should have work for the rest of the day. My friend's +parrot was green, with a brilliant red neck and tail. She was a great +talker, and seemed to understand the meaning of much of what was said in +her presence. I can recollect now two or three incidents which are well +worth repeating. + +"Polly was very fond of children, and enjoyed being let out of her cage +to play with them as much as our Poll does. One day, when Mrs. G. had +company, they were all startled by hearing loud and repeated screams of +distress. Recognizing the voice of her favorite bird, my friend ran +hastily into the yard, expecting to see Polly in some dreadful trouble. +To her surprise, there was the bird perched safely on the clothes line; +but going a few steps farther, she saw her youngest child, a darling +girl between two and three years old, just balancing over the edge of a +hogshead of water, and entirely unable to recover herself, or to utter +one sound. Situated as she was, the poor child could not have remained +long in that position, and, but for the alarm given by the watchful +bird, must have fallen into the water and drowned." + +"O, wasn't that a good bird, mamma? I'm sure they all must have loved +her better than ever. Will you please tell the rest?" + +"Mr. G. was for a long time ill, and was unable to rest well at night. +Polly, who always remained in their chamber at night, was in the habit +of rising early, and practising all her accomplishments by herself as +soon as she could see. She would begin, 'Mr. G.,' and then go on, 'My +dear,' the name he always called his wife, 'Francis, Maria,' until she +had repeated the name of every member of the family; after which she +chattered away a strange mixture of sense and nonsense until called to +breakfast. After the gentleman was so ill, his best hours for rest were +soon after dawn, and my friend would whisper, 'Still, Polly! keep +still!' + +"This caution the parrot tried to enforce on herself by softly repeating +the words away down her throat--'Keep still; Polly! keep still!' and +ever after until Mr. G.'s death, whenever she saw her mistress point to +the bed, and put her finger on her lip, she began to whisper, 'Keep +still, Polly! Keep still!' + +"At Mr. G.'s funeral, the clergyman, who was an Episcopalian, read with +great solemnity the funeral service. + +"The strangeness of the scene, the great concourse of people, and the +sound of weeping, so interested Polly that she did not utter a word; +but no sooner had the family returned from the grave than she began to +utter sounds in sentences so nearly like what she had heard at the +funeral, that it was recognized at once as the service for the dead. + +"I forgot to tell you that, having been in the habit of hearing the +children when they repeated the Lord's prayer, she had long ago learned +it, and never went to sleep on her perch without uttering the words +with apparent solemnity. + +"After the funeral, whenever a number of persons were assembled and +began to talk in a mournful tone, Polly always seemed to think this a +proper occasion to repeat her funeral service, often occupying an hour +in the recital. There were no distinct words; but the sentences were so +similar in length, and the tone so exactly that of the clergyman, that +many persons recognized it without being told who the parrot wished to +imitate." + +"I think Polly is the very best parrot I ever knew," exclaimed Minnie. +"I wish Mrs. G. would bring her here. I wonder what Poll would say to +her." + +"Mrs. G.'s bird is dead, my dear; and a sad death it was too. I will +tell you about it. After her husband's decease, my friend had a little +Blenheim spaniel presented her--a beautiful creature, with long white +hair like satin, and salmon ears. She was naturally fond of pets, and +soon became greatly attached to the dog, who returned her affection with +all his heart. As soon as she entered the room, he ran joyfully to meet +her, licking her hands, and showing his pleasure in every possible way. + +"For some days she noticed that the bird seemed dull, and talked very +little; yet she did not connect it with the fact of her attention to the +dog. But at last as Polly refused to eat, and seemed uneasy when the +spaniel was present, she was convinced that the bird was jealous. Every +means was tried to reconcile the old friend to the new one, but in vain. +Polly knew that children must of course be loved and cared for. She +herself loved the children of her mistress; but she could not endure +that any other favorite should divide the affection she had so long +enjoyed. From this time she drooped; and upon consulting a physician, he +said she had every symptom of consumption. Her feet swelled, and at last +she died on my friend's breast, seeming 'happy in being allowed to die +in the arms of one she so dearly loved.'" + +A few weeks later, Mrs. Lee invited a small party of friends to take tea +at her house. They were all seated in the parlor, and Poll, who was out +of her cage, perched on the back of a chair in the next room, and +listened with the greatest curiosity to the hum of so many voices. + +Presently one of the ladies related a precious bit of scandal then +running through the town. She had scarcely finished her narration, when +a shrill exclamation,-- + +"Possible!" in a tone of incredulity, came through the open doors. + +The relator blushed deeply, but went on to prove that her statement must +be true, while Mrs. Lee was so much amused, she was obliged to make a +great effort to keep from laughing. + +Again, as soon as the lady ceased, the exclamation,-- + +"Possible!" was repeated, as if in greater doubt. + +This was too much of an insult, and the lady's face kindled with anger. + +Mrs. Lee quietly arose, saying, "Poll must come in and make her own +apology for her rudeness;" and soon returned with the parrot clinging to +her finger. + +"Poll has a bad habit of interrupting conversation," she said, +playfully, "especially when she wishes to be invited to join the +company, as at present." + +"Could 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 hear them talk +to each other." + +"Yes, I should; but mother thinks one such noisy bird is more than she +can endure. Father had Poll given to him when he was a little boy, and +he says he couldn't keep house without her. She is very old indeed, and +is often sick, though now she is only making believe. Father will tell +you how many years she has been in the family." + +"There is nothing I like so well," exclaimed Minnie, enthusiastically, +"as to hear stories about birds and beasts." + +"Oh, I'll get father, then, to tell you a funny one about Polly when he +was a little boy. He knows all about parrots, because he once went to +the country where they live." + +At dinner, Minnie was introduced to the gentleman, whom she regarded +with great interest, on account of his fondness for the bird. No sooner +was the dessert brought on the table, and the servants had retired from +the room, than Lizzie Monson, her young friend, began. + +"Papa, will you please to tell Minnie about Poll finding out who stole +the bacon?" + +Mr. Lee burst into a merry laugh, but presently said,-- + +"I warn you it is a dangerous business. Our little daughter has such a +passion for birds and beasts, that if she once finds out you are a +story-teller, she won't let you off very easily." + +Mr. Monson gazed a moment into the sparkling countenance of the child, +upon which her father's remarks had caused the roses to deepen, and +said, smilingly, "She does not look very savage. Any contribution I can +make," turning to the child, "to your stock of knowledge on your +favorite subject will give me great pleasure." + +His bow was so profound and his smile so arch that the little girl could +not help laughing as she thanked him, while Lizzie whispered, "Isn't +papa a funny man?" + +"Ask your friend to come into the library," called out Mr. Monson, as +they were leaving the dining hall. + +"Father, isn't Poll sixty years old?" cried Lizzie, pressing forward to +attract his attention. + +"She has been in the family ninety years," answered the gentleman, "and +was then probably one or two years of age. It is astonishing how much +she knows. Lizzie, run and open her cage, and bring her here." + +"She is, indeed, a splendid bird," remarked Mrs. Lee, gazing with +delight at her richly-tinted plumage. "See, Minnie, how her neck is +shaded from the most beautiful green to the richest mazarine blue." + +"And look at her breast, mother; see those elegant red feathers!" + +"The parrot," said Mr. Monson, "is an insulated bird. Its manners and +general structure, and the mode of using its feet, as described by +naturalists, are different from any other bird. Mr. Vigors, Mr. +Swainson, and others, consider parrots the only group among birds which +is completely _sui generis_. A parrot will, by means of its beak, and +aided by its thick, fleshy tongue, clear the inside of a fresh pea from +the outer skin, rejecting the latter, and performing the whole process +with the greatest ease. + +"In climbing, I presume you have noticed, she uses her hooked beak as +well as her feet; and in feeding she rests on one foot, holding the +food to her beak with the other. Her plumage is generally richly-tinted, +while in some varieties, like this, it is superb. In all kinds the skin +throws off a mealy powder, which saturates the feathers and makes them +greasy." + +"Please, papa," cried Lizzie, "to tell about these birds as you saw them +in their own country." + +"I suppose, Minnie," continued the gentleman, "that you know this is +not the home of your favorite bird. You never see them at liberty and +flying from tree to tree, as you do the robin or bluebird." + +"Yes, sir, I know that. Uncle Frank was going to bring me another parrot +from South America, but mother thought one was enough." + +"I quite agree with you," said Mrs. Monson, enthusiastically, "I can +scarcely be reconciled to the noise of one, rousing me at all sorts of +unreasonable hours, and keeping up such a clatter through the whole +day." + +"They are confined to the warmer climates," the gentleman went on, "and +are most abundant in the tropics. I have seen a flock of them resting in +a grove of trees, chattering and talking like a company of politicians +at a caucus. They are indeed very noisy, keeping together in large +flocks, and feeding upon fruits, buds, and seeds. At night they crowd +together as closely as possible, and hiding their heads under their +wings, sleep soundly. As soon as the first ray of light can be +discerned, they are all awake, chatting over the business for the day. +First they make their toilet, and in this they assist each other, being +very fond of pluming each other's feathers. + +"One peculiarity of this bird is, that he has but one wife, and never +marries again. The pairs form lasting attachments, and when one dies the +mate sometimes mourns itself to death. They make a kind of nest in the +hollow trees, and there bring up their young. They belong to the +scansorial order of birds; that is, they have two toes forward and two +backward. Some of them fly slowly; but others wing their way with the +greatest rapidity, and for a long period." + +"I think," remarked Mrs. Lee, "they are the most intelligent of the +feathered race." + +"Yes, naturalists decidedly give them that character. Poll sometimes +seems almost too human; and then they are so quick to learn. Did you +know, Minnie, that a parrot is considered an article of delicacy for the +table?" + +"O, no, indeed, sir! I wouldn't eat a parrot for any thing." + +"Nor I; but among other rare and luxurious articles on the bill of fare, +described by AElian, as entering into the feasts of the Emperor +Heliogabalus, are the combs of fowls, the tongues of peacocks and +nightingales, the heads of parrots and thrushes; and it is reported that +with the bodies of the two latter he fed his beasts of prey." + +Minnie's countenance expressed great distress, as she quickly exclaimed, +"O, how cruel!" + +"Now, papa," said Lizzie, "please tell her about Poll and the bacon." + +"Yes, I mustn't forget that. When I was a little boy, Minnie, my father +kept a country store, where all manner of things were exposed for sale. +On one counter, in the genteel part, were cambrics, calicoes, and even +silks for ladies' dresses, while at the other end were barrels of +sugar, boxes of cheese, and other groceries, and above them hung large +legs of bacon. + +"Midway between these, a hook was driven into the beam, and there Poll +used to hang as long ago as I can remember any thing. + +"It was the custom for the men of the village to gather together at the +store, and talk politics, or gossip about the affairs of the place. +Long before town meeting, it was well understood at the store how each +man in the community would vote, and who would be elected to the +different offices. + +"Among others who used to come there, was a man by the name of Brush. He +was considered an inoffensive, well meaning man, with no force of +character; but all supposed him honest. Poll, however, knew to the +contrary; and after a while she convinced others that Brush was a thief. + +"It was noticed, when this man got excited by the conversation, that he +always left the circle round the stove, and walked back and forth +through the store; and it was at such times that he contrived to cut +large slices from the bacon, which he carefully concealed in his +pocket. My father soon began to conclude that the meat, and sundry other +articles, were missing, but could not imagine who was the thief. He +watched for several days, not noticing that whenever Mr. Brush made his +appearance, Poll instantly screamed, 'Bacon.' + +"One evening he determined to watch, as, the day previous, a larger +slice than usual had been taken, and he was hid behind a barrel, when +he saw Mr. Brush coming softly toward him. + +"'Bacon! bacon! bacon!' screamed Poll, at the top of her voice. + +"'I'd wring your neck if I dared,' murmured the man, glancing +maliciously toward the bird; and then he walked back again to the fire. + +"After this, father watched the parrot, and found he made this cry only +when Brush appeared. He thought it so singular that he charged him with +the theft, which the man, in great confusion reluctantly confessed. + +"The curious story of his detection by a parrot soon spread through the +town, and for years Mr. Brush was called by the name of Bacon, while the +bird received much attention and many compliments for her sagacity." + +"I suppose, then, Poll saw him take it," said Minnie, gravely. + +"O, yes! He witnessed the whole proceeding, and did his best to give +warning at once; but his loud cries were not understood." + +"Wasn't he a good bird?" asked Lizzie. + +"Yes, indeed. I suppose it would be a good plan to hang a parrot in +every store." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +PARROT SAVING THE SILVER. + + +Minnie was quite distressed one morning, when, on going to Poll's cage +to say "Good morning" to her pet, she found her unable to answer, only +returning a feeble moan. She ran in haste to tell her mother, who +thought it one of the parrot's tricks. When she came down, however, she +found Poll was really ill. + +[Illustration: "Dear Poll! darling birdie!" Page 115.] + +"Dear Poll! darling birdie!" she said, tenderly, stroking the beautiful +head. "I'll make you some tea, which I hope will soon cure you." + +She went at once to a side closet, and taking a little pinch of saffron +from a paper, sent it to the cook, with directions to steep it at once. + +Breakfast that morning was a dull affair, without Poll's lively talk; +and as, after the saffron tea, she did not at once revive, Minnie began +to mourn so much lest her dear parrot would die, that her father, to +occupy her attention, took her to the library, and read her some +anecdotes, a few of which I will repeat. + +"A tradesman in London kept two parrots, which usually hung in a cage +over the porch projecting from the front door, so that when a person +stood on the side of the street nearest the house, the birds could not +be seen. + +"One day, when the family were all absent, some one rapped at the door, +when one of the parrots instantly called out,-- + +"'Who's there?' + +"'The man with the leather,' was the reply. + +"'Oh, ho!' retorted the parrot. + +"The door not being opened as he expected, the stranger knocked again. + +"'Who's there?' repeated the bird. + +"'Why don't you come down?' cried the man, impatiently. 'I can't wait +all day.' + +"'Oh, ho!' was the only response. + +"The man now became furious, and leaving the knocker, began to pull +violently at the door bell, when the other parrot, who had not before +spoken, exclaimed, 'Go to the gate.' + +"'What gate?' he asked, seeing no such convenience. + +"'Newgate,' was the answer, just as the man, greatly enraged at the +thought of being sent to Newgate prison, ran back into the street, and +found out whom he was questioning." + +"Dr. Thornton, a benevolent physician in London, once visited the +menagerie in Haymarket, where he saw a parrot confined by a chain +fastened to his leg. He talked with the bird, and found he could +imitate the barking of dogs, the cackling of fowls, and many sounds like +the human voice. The bird, however, seemed melancholy and restless, +which induced the good doctor to try and buy him of the owner. He +succeeded at last in getting him for the sum of seventy-five dollars, +which Dr. Thornton did not regret, since it would rescue the poor +creature from her present unhappy confinement. + +"The first thing he did was to loose him from the chain, and carry him +home, where his diet was changed from scalded bread to toast and butter +for breakfast, and potatoes, dumplings, and fruit for dinner. + +"At first, his poor feet were so cramped, and the muscles so much +weakened from long disuse, that he could not walk. He tottered at every +step, and in a few minutes appeared greatly fatigued. But his liberated +feet soon acquired uncommon agility, his plumage grew more resplendent, +and he appeared perfectly happy. He no longer uttered harsh screams, but +very readily learned many words, and amused himself for hours repeating +them. He attached himself particularly to his kind benefactor, and +always cheerfully practised his little accomplishments to please him, +calling out, 'What o'clock? Pretty fellow! Saucy fellow! Turn him out, +Poll.' + +"He was friendly to the children of the family, and to strangers, but +exceedingly jealous of infants, from seeing them caressed. + +"He was remarkably fond of music, and danced to all lively tunes, moving +his wings, and also his head, backward and forward, to keep time. If +any person sang or played a wrong measure, he stopped instantly. When +his quick scent announced the time of meals, he ran up and down the +pole, uttering a pleasing note of request. + +"When any food was given him of which he was not very fond, he took it +in his left claw, ate a little, and threw the rest down; but if the +variety was nice and abundant, after eating what he wished, he +carefully conveyed the remainder to his tin pail, saving it for another +occasion. + +"Every Friday a scissors grinder came and worked under his window. After +listening attentively, Poll tried to imitate the sound with his throat, +but could not succeed. He then struck his beak against the perch; but +his quick ear discerned a difference. Finally he succeeded by drawing +his claw in a particular way across the tin perch, and repeated the +performance of grinding every Friday, much to the amusement of those who +saw him." + +Minnie was so much interested in these stories that she quite forgot her +grief, until her mother opened the library door to tell her that her pet +was beginning to sing. + +Minnie flew to see her, and before noon had the pleasure of knowing that +Poll was quite recovered. Indeed, she had never seemed more gay. She +hopped first on one foot and then on the other, in curious imitation of +a polka dance, tossing her head on one side in a most coquettish manner. + +Then she talked and laughed with Minnie, exclaiming every now and then +in a cunning tone, "What are you about, you rogue? O, you little rogue!" + +The little girl was delighted. She held Poll on her lap, caressing her +fondly, and calling her by all sorts of endearing and funny names. + +The parrot on her part seemed desirous of showing her gratitude for +relief from pain by doing all she could to please her little friend. She +often heard the cook calling Tom, who was apt to run to the barn when +she wanted him; and she began in a loud, impatient tone, "Tom!" her +voice rising; then again, "Tom!" falling inflection; "Tom!" again; "I +say, Tom; come here, you rascal!" + +Finding this made Minnie laugh heartily, she began to call, "Leo, come +here! Lie down, sir! Tiney, Tiney," in a small, fine voice, like the +child's; "Tiney, Tiney, Tiney! O, you little rogue!" + +After this she chattered away like Jacko, cocking her eyes and looking +as if she thought herself very smart. + +Once in a while Poll talked Portuguese, which she had learned from some +sailors who were in the vessel when she came over, more than fifteen +years before. She began now to talk what sounded to Minnie like perfect +jargon, but which so much amused the bird that she kept stopping to +laugh most heartily. + +By and by Mrs. Lee was ready to sit down; and she said Poll had had +excitement enough for a sick bird, but told Minnie if she would bring +the book about birds, she would try and find some true stories to read +to her. + +The next hour was passed most pleasantly to both of them. Some of the +stories I will tell you. + +"A parrot belonging to a lady in England was fond of attending family +prayers; but for fear he might take it into his head to join in the +responses, he was generally removed. + +"But one evening, finding the family were assembling for that purpose, +he crept under the sofa, and thought himself unnoticed. For some time he +maintained a decorous silence; but at length he found himself unable to +keep still, and instead of 'Amen,' burst out with, 'Cheer, boys; cheer!' + +"The lady directed the butler to take him from the room; and the man +had taken him as far as the door, when the bird, perhaps thinking he had +done wrong, and had better apologize, called out,-- + +"'Sorry I spoke.' + +"The overpowering effect on those present can be better imagined than +described." + +"Here is a story," continued Mrs. Lee, "of a parrot who acted as a +police officer." + +"In Camden, New Jersey, Mr. John Hutchinson had a very loquacious +parrot, and also a well-stocked chest of silver plate. One day some +robbers thought they would like to use silver forks, goblets, and +spoons, as well as their rich neighbors, and watching their opportunity +broke into the pantry. + +"They had already picked the lock off the thick oaken chest, and were +diving down among salvers, pitchers, and smaller articles, when they +were terrified to hear a loud, angry voice exclaim,-- + +"'You lazy rascals, I see you! John, bring me my revolver!' + +"Dropping the silver, which they had taken, on the floor, the robbers +made a rush for the window, which they had forced open, and in their +hurry got over the wrong fence into the yard of a neighbor who kept a +fierce dog. + +"Bruno, not at all pleased with the appearance of his sudden visitors, +sprang upon them, barking at the top of his voice. + +"The noise called the police to the place, and one of the robbers was +secured. + +"The watchful parrot saved his owner's silver. When he was praised for +his timely interference, he would arch his head, and begin at once to +call out,-- + +"'You lazy rascals, I see you! John, bring me my revolver!'" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE PARROT AND THE PRINCE. + + +"When Prince Maurice was Governor of Brazil, he was informed of an old +parrot who would converse like a rational creature. His curiosity became +so much roused that, though at a great distance from his residence, he +directed that it should be sent for. + +"When Poll was first introduced into the room where the Prince sat with +several Dutch gentlemen, he instantly exclaimed in the Brazilian +language,-- + +"'What a company of white men are here!' + +"Pointing to the prince, one gentleman asked, 'Who is that man?' + +"'Some gentleman or other,' Poll instantly replied. + +"'Where did you come from?' asked the prince. + +"'From Marignan.' + +"'To whom do you belong?' + +"'To a Portuguese.' + +"'What do you do for a living?' + +"'I look after chickens.' + +"The prince laughingly exclaimed, 'You look after chickens!' + +"'Yes, I do; and I know well enough how to do it,' clucking at the same +time like a hen calling her brood. + +"Prince Maurice, as well as the rest of the gentlemen, were delighted +with the intelligence of the bird, and after keeping him at his +residence as long as possible, the governor gave him a prize for being +the most sagacious parrot in the kingdom." + +When Mr. Lee returned from the city, he found Poll as bright and +cheerful as a lark. He brought with him a young man in his employ, +called Theodore, to whom Minnie exhibited all her pets, and who staid +till after tea, and then Mr. Lee read a few stories to Minnie, with one +of which I must close my story of Minnie's pet parrot. + +"A prince, named Leo Maced, was once accused by a monk of forming a plan +to murder his father, the emperor. He was, therefore, though protesting +his innocence, cast into prison. + +"After some months, the emperor had a feast, to which he invited most of +the nobles of his court. They were all seated at table, when a tame +parrot belonging to the prince, and which was hung up in the room, cried +out, mournfully,-- + +"'Alas, alas! Poor Prince Leo!' + +"This exclamation, which was continually repeated, as if the bird could +not help comparing their sumptuous entertainment with the prison fare +and confinement of his exiled master, so affected the guests as to +deprive them of all appetite. It was in vain that the emperor urged his +delicacies upon them. They could not eat, while the faithful bird +repeated his plaintive cry,-- + +"'Alas, alas! Poor Prince Leo!' + +"At last one of the nobles with tears entreated the emperor to pardon +his son, whom they all believed to be innocent. The others joining in +the request, the father ordered that Prince Leo be brought before him. +He was soon restored to favor, and then to his former dignities, through +the affection of his faithful parrot." + + + + +Transcriber's Note + + +The following typographical errors were corrected: + +Page Error +4 LECTROTYPED changed to ELECTROTYPED +98 and was then changed to "and was then + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Minnie's Pet Parrot, by Madeline Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINNIE'S PET PARROT *** + +***** This file should be named 26617.txt or 26617.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/1/26617/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |