FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 



75 



to bo entirely acquitted, since the strange coinci- 

 dences which tliey sometimes produce, are merely 

 the result of accident, like those which are 

 often set down as the accomplishment of modern 

 dreams or prophecies. We remember a Parrot 

 which belonged to a lady, which was the inno- 

 cent means of getting his mistress into a very 

 unfortunate scrape. A friend of hers having called 

 one forenoon, the conversation of the two ladies 

 took that turn towards petty scandal, to which, 

 we grieve to say, it is but too frequently bent. 

 The friend mentioned the name of a lady of 



their acquaintance. Mrs ! " exclaimed the 



owner of the Parrot, " Mrs drinks like 



a fish." These words were hardly uttered, w hen 

 the footman, in a loud voice, aimounced " Mrs 



! " and as the new visitor, a portly, proud 



dame, came sailing into the room, " Mrs ! " 



exclaimed the Parrot, " Mrs drinks like a 



fish." Mrs wheeled round, with the celerity 



of a troop of heavy dragoons, furiously to confront 



her base and unknown maligner. " Mrs ! " 



cried the Parrot again " Mrs drinks like a 



fish." " Madam," exclaimed Mrs to the 



lady of the house, " this is a piece of wickedness 

 towards me which must have taken you no short 

 time to prepare. It shews the blackness of your 

 heart towards one for whom you have long pre- 

 tended a friendship ; but I shall be revenged." It 

 was in vain that the mistress of the Parrot rose 

 and protested her innocence ; Mrs flounced 



