and walking about the room, she endeavored to get him to leave me by
saying: 'Here, Johnny, boy, put me on your finger. Kiss poor
Bessie--p-o-o-r Bessie.'

"Mrs. Morris used to laugh at these schemes of the parrot to attract
notice, and said Bessie reminded her of some people she had met who
always wanted to monopolize the conversation."

"Monopolize?" said I. "That's a large word. I don't know the meaning
of it."

"Well, I think it means getting the most of anything and crowding other
people out," replied the admiral; "and it was true in Bessie's case,
for she always wanted the most attention. A gentleman friend of the
Morrises had this habit too. He had been a general in a war that took
place in the South a good many years ago, and was often entertained at
dinner at the Morrises'. Though he was a well-informed, genial man, he
was almost rude in making himself heard, so determined was he that
people should listen to his jokes and stories, which were generally
something about himself. At a large tableful of guests, General
Peterson's voice was always heard above that of every one else. He
seemed to compel the rest of the company to listen. His big voice
drowned the others out. Though Mr. and Mrs. Morris liked him very
much, when they were alone they often ridiculed this disagreeable habit.

"'Bessie and General Peterson are just alike,' Mrs. Morris used to say
jokingly, when the parrot pushed herself into notice by her loud
jabbering. 'Neither of them can endure to have any one else receive
attention when they are present.'