254



Mrs. Ella. M. Innes,



They kissed me and petted me. They nestled at my neck and

used to go to sleep there. Daintier and more affectionate little

pets one could not have. If I mourned they mourned with me ;

if I was inclined for fun they were as eager for a game as a

kitten. They never missed our meal hours, although free to

go where they wished. We often used to try and dodge them,

taking afternoon tea in different rooms, but they always found

out. It was very quaint to see the two looking for us. “Where

are you?” “where are you?” they would call, till at last we

were discovered. After three years one of them met with an

accident and died; the other lived just two weeks longer, it

literally died of a broken heart. It used to go about calling

“Where are you?” “Where are you, my sweet?” but no

answering call came. It scarcely left my shoulder during the

day, and at night it was so lonely in its cage that I was really

glad when it also died one morning in my hand. After that

I vowed I would never make such pets of any animal.


However, one day, a little bundle of fluff, and eyes and

beak was brought to me. and I, of course, took it and reared it

also. It was a jolly little fellow, and used to have great fun

with the cats and dogs. One big cat especially loved a game.

He would lie down on his back and the bird would take a

header into the soft fur, and the fun used to be very great as

they rolled over and over. The cat would play for a long

time with it. How often have I wished I had had a camera in

those days of fun and frolic. After I had this one a year,

mates came round, and my little fellow could not make up his

mind which he would have. He treated all alike, but at last

he decided, and then he hunted all the other little flirts most

unmercifully. To this favoured one he kept true year after

year. They were always together and brought many families

to my care. Now I have so many that I cannot say if he is

still true to his first love. We had some very wet weather

after he chose his mate, and every evening they had a few

words, rather heated at times, over the camp for the night.

Jenny wanted to go to the trees, but Joey preferred the comfort

of his snug cage. Very often his word was law 7 , and Jenny

very shyly dropped into the cage, which was never closed all



