Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/15

 Posy went up to the parrot's cage and looked in.

"How do you do? How's your mother?" asked the parrot, with her head on one side.

"Pretty well, I thank you, Mrs. Polly," answered Posy; and she couldn't resist the temptation of trying to seize the red feathers in Mrs. Polly's tail and give them a little tweak. Mrs. Polly always resented such liberties, and made sudden dives at the chubby fingers; but Posy had learned to be careful, and drew them out in time.

"You wouldn't really bite Posy, would you?" asked the canary.

"No," said Mrs. Polly, "I wouldn't; but I guess you wouldn't like to have your tail pulled every time she gets a chance. It doesn't hurt, you know, but it's very disagreeable. She steals the peanuts out of my cage, too, and eats them. She's a very mischievous child."