I left her and did not see her till
the next day, when the boys had got a fine, large cage for her.
The place for her cage was by one of the hall windows; but everybody in
the house got so fond of her that she was moved about from one room to
another.
She hated her cage, and used to put her head close to the bars and
plead, "Let Bella out; Bella will be a good girl. Bella won't run away."
After a time the Morrises did let her out, and she kept her word and
never tried to get away. Jack put a little handle on her cage door so
that she could open and shut it herself, and it was very amusing to hear
her say in the morning, "Clear the track, children! Bella's going to
take a walk," and see her turn the handle with her claw and come out
into the room. She was a very clever bird, and I have never seen any
creature but a human being that could reason as she did. She was so
petted and talked to that she got to know a great many words, and on one
occasion she saved the Morrises from being robbed.
It was in the winter time. The family was having tea in the dining room
at the back of the house, and Billy and I were lying in the hall
watching what was going on.
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