IT is very nice for all little children to have what they call pets. It matters not if it is a bird, a dog, or a kitten to look after, feed and care for. These pets help boys and girls to be kind to all dumb animals, and afraid of none, because they know God has formed them all. Fancy a girl of twelve or fourteen years of age turning pale if a spider suddenly falls on the table! or screaming at the sight of a black-beetle on the floor within a yard of her frock. Whenever you hear of children who do this, I think you will often find they have no pet little creatures of their own.
One of the most amusing pets to have is a poll parrot: it is very sly, but affectionate in Polly’s way, you know, to those who treat it kindly; but its chief attraction is being able to repeat, after a good deal of training, all it hears said, and mimic to a nicety even the tone and expression with which those who are about it speak. Did you ever think how wonderful it is that a bird should talk as we do? We must mind not to teach them naughty things.