TRUE STORIES ABOUT PETS, ANECDOTES, &c.

AN AFFECTIONATE PARROT.

DEAR Mr. Editor,— The little anecdote I am going to tell you is about a parrot my aunt once had—named, of course, Polly. She had been taught many funny and amusing speeches, among which she used to say to a canary that hung in the same room, "Pretty Poll, shabby canary;" and when the canary sang she would cry out, "Oh, what a noise! what a noise!" My aunt having been very ill, had not seen Polly for a long time, not being able to bear her noisy talking; but one day feeling better, she asked to see her. She was brought to her room, but seemed very quiet. My aunt, who could not understand why she was so unusually quiet, called to her, "Polly, come and kiss me!" The poor bird flew to her mistress, laid her beak on her lips, and died, it is supposed, of her great joy at again seeing her mistress, after grieving so long at her absence.

Emily F. Woolf. (Aged 15.)

138, Edgware Road, London, W.

TWO FUNNY CATS.

DEAR Mr. Editor,— The following little stories are quite true. A friend of mine told me of a cat of hers which was in the room with its master (my friend's father), who was asleep sitting on an arm-chair. The cat wanted to go out of the room, but could not, as the door was shut. So she went and patted her master on the ear, then walked away to the door and scratched at it until it was opened for her. She is a very clever cat, and can learn anything you teach her in a few minutes. I also know of another cat who never laps her milk, but always puts her paw in the saucer and then licks the milk off of it again.

A. E. Green (Aged 12.)

Hainault Lodge, near Chigwell.

AN INGENIOUS RAT.

DEAR Mr. Editor,— A London carpenter whom I know for a long time constantly found the oil-bottle attached to his lathe emptied of its contents. Various plans were devised to find out the thief, but they all failed. At last the man determined to watch. Through a hole in the door he peeped for some time. By-and-by he heard a gentle noise; something was creeping up the framework of the lathe. It was a fine rat. Planting itself on the edge of the lathe, the ingenious creature popped its tail inside of the bottle, then drew it out and licked off the oil. This it continued to do until nearly every drop of oil was taken from the bottle.

Edwin Rippin. (Aged 14.)

Osbournby, Lincolnshire.

A CANARY PLAYING HIDE-AND-SEEK.

DEAR Mr. Editor,— One day a few months ago we had let one of our canaries out of his cage, and forgetting that he was out we left open the door of the room where he was. When we remembered the bird we were much afraid lest he should have flown out of the room. We hunted high and low, calling his name, "Carmen," to which he often answers with a chirp. At last I happened to push aside a little low stool, and there, crouching down so as not to be found (as he dislikes being put into his cage) was Carmen. He has tried since then to hide; but we know his tricks, so he is unsuccessful.

Constance Barkworth (Aged 13¼.)

3, Ilchester Gardens, Bayswater.

Note.—Each Story, Anecdote, &c., when sent to the Editor, must be certified by a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, as being both True and Original.

The "Little Folks" Annual for 1885.

The Editor desires to inform his Readers that the "Little Folks" Annual for 1885 will be published, as usual, on the 25th of October. Further particulars will be shortly announced.