CHAPTER IX.
THE PARROT BELLA I often used to hear the Morrises speak about vessels that ran between Fairport and a place called the West Indies, carrying cargoes of lumber and fish, and bringing home molasses, spices, fruit, and other things.
On one of these vessels, called the "Mary Jane," was a cabin boy, who was a friend of the Morris boys, and often brought them presents.
One day, after I had been with the Morrises for some months, this boy arrived at the house with a bunch of green bananas in one hand, and a parrot in the other.

The boys were delighted with the parrot, and called their mother to see what a pretty bird she was.
Mrs.Morris seemed very much touched by the boy's thoughtfulness in bringing a present such a long distance to her boys, and thanked him warmly.

The cabin boy became very shy, and all he could say was, "Go way!" over and over again, in a very awkward manner.
Mrs.Morris smiled, and left him with the boys.
I think that she thought he would be more comfortable with them.
Jack put me up on the table to look at the parrot.

The boy held her by a string tied around one of her legs.

She was a gray parrot with a few red feathers in her tail, and she had bright eyes, and a very knowing air.
"The boy said he had been careful to buy a young one that could not speak, for he knew the Morris boys would not want one chattering foreign gibberish, nor yet one that would swear.