Dickey Downy: The Autobiography of a Bird

ields, where Joy

il

ernoons we were hiding in the treetops from the rays of the sun he told us s

came to look at his trap he was overjoyed to find he had snared two redbirds, and forthwith carried them to the villag

es for anybody, but he thought he'd change Bonaparte's name to Teddy Roosevelt, as being easier to pronounce, and the two birds were accordingly given these titles then and there. Not having any

e without his leave. Poor Teddy died the next day. Admiral Dewey stood the battle better than his unfortunate friend, but he too was pecked at in a way so threatening that the groce

u hadn't much grit," he said. "I would better take your high-soundin' name

led by it, the grocer would have been much more grieved at the loss, for he had heard him say the sparrow was l

of a probable customer for it in a gentleman named Morris, who had been advertising in the papers for a redbird. He soon found the

e scarlet plumage. "My boy wants a redbird, and I promised him one if he would get the highest grade in ari

e powerful nice singers, but bein' as it's for your boy that has earned it by studying his lessons s

d more redbirds to sell at the same handsome profit. After he had gone, Mr. Morris went to a box hanging against the wall, and turning a handle began talking to the box as if it were a human being. Though it was just a plain wo

to the front entrance that evening when Mr. Morris and the admiral arrived. They were Johnny Morris and his mother, who had already learned that Mr. Morris had bought the bird and would bring it when he came to dinner. The admiral discovere

xuberance of his joy at receiving the redbird that all the w

on a stand in the bay window he pranced around it, whistled and chirped, threw the bottom of the cage floor full of seed

don't," plea

t," commanded his fat

't-Johnny's" as made it almost unintelligible. Of course these expostulations made not a bit of impression on Johnny Morris. To be sure, he

to the boy world. He also had a machine to ride on, which they called a "wheel." On this he went out occasionally, although Mrs. Morris declared she never felt at ease a minute while he was gone, because he never came back at the hour he promised he would. Besides this, he had a dear little pony, named Jock, on whose back he often cantered about the

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

with her bill in the air and her head cocked disdainfully on one side, pretending not to hear or see

Strangers usually accosted her as Polly,

uld scream, so angrily that it always made

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

ings always followed the performance. These Bessie accepted with an air of studied indifference. But if for the purpose of teasing her they did not

smartest bird that ever breathed. But if these soothing assurances were not quickly forthcoming, she wou

admiral one day when he was te

be the center of attraction herself, which showed she was a vain creature. No matter how silent she had been or how firmly she might have refused to talk only th

she happened to be already out of her cage and walking about the room, she endeavored to get him t

attract notice, and said Bessie reminded her of some people s

at's a large word. I don'

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 ta

, when the parrot pushed herself into notice by her loud jabbering. 'Neither of

was a great pet in the house. A very striking-looking cat he was too. He was jet black with a flat face and long white whiskers. Joh

ed to take a ride, however, he never was quick enough to get away from her. With a shrill laugh of triumph she would fly upon his back, and holding on by digging her claws into his fur, a

get up, you lazy thing,' she refused to be shaken off till his body was actually dragging on the floor, a sign of his complete humiliation. As soon as he threw off his unwelcome burden, Jett always ran away to hide. With his tail sl