asserted was the smartest bird in the world. She was a highly educated
parrot, and much time had been spent on her training, and she was
usually very willing to show off to company all her various
accomplishments. Occasionally she assumed an air of offended dignity
when asked to display her talents, and no amount of threats or coaxing
could change her purpose. At such times she impatiently flapped her
wings and croaked "No, no" in her harshest tones.

Her favorite retreat when her temper was ruffled was on the back of an
armchair, where she would sit with her bill in the air and her head
cocked disdainfully on one side, pretending not to hear or see any one.
In her affable moods, however, no one could be more complaisant and
entertaining than Bessie.

Her name was an uncommon one for a parrot. Strangers usually accosted
her as Polly, at which mistake she was greatly displeased.

"No, no--not Polly; call me Bessie," she would scream, so angrily that
it always made people laugh, which angered her still more.

Bessie could sing a verse of an old-time song, at least she thought she
could. The admiral said nothing could have induced him to sing for
company if his voice had been as harsh and cracked as hers, but he said
it was a fact that everybody seemed to enjoy her noise more than his
music; that when she took up her position on top of the piano to sing,
they crowded around and called her "nice Bessie," "nice lady," and
praised her, and gave her bits of sugar, as if she were the finest
singer in the world. The admiral thought they showed very poor taste,
for her music was simply horrid and couldn't compare with the warblings
of the woods birds. It is well, however, to make allowance for the