"Bella," repeated Mr. Morris, "that is a very pretty name. If you
keep her, boys, I think you had better stick to that."

"Yes, father," they all said; and then Mr. Morris started to go back
to his study. On the doorsill he paused to ask the cabin boy when
his ship sailed. Finding that it was to be in a few days, he took out
his pocket-book and wrote something in it. The next day he asked
Jack to go to town with him, and when they came home, Jack said
that his father had bought an oil-skin coat for Henry Smith, and a
handsome Bible, in which they were all to write their names.

After Mr. Morris left the room, the door opened and Miss Laura
came in. She knew nothing about the parrot and was very much
surprised to see it. Seating herself at the table, she held out her
hands to it. She was so fond of pets of all kinds, that she never
thought of being afraid of them. At the same time, she never laid
her hand suddenly on any animal. She held out her fingers and
talked gently, so that if it wished to come to her it could. She
looked at the parrot as if she loved it, and the queer little thing
walked right up and nestled its head against the lace in the front of
her dress. "Pretty lady," she said, in a cracked whisper, "give Bella
a kiss."

The boys were so pleased with this and set up such a shout, that
their mother came into the room and said they had better take the
parrot out to the stable. Bella seem to enjoy the fun. "Come on,
boys," she screamed, as Henry Smith lifted her on his finger. "Ha,
ha, ha come on, let's have some fun. Where's the guinea pig?
Where's Davy, the rat? Where's pussy? Pussy, pussy, come here.
Pussy, pussy, dear, pretty puss."