She'd thought a good deal of the bird when he was alive, an' he was stuffed real handsome, an' settin' on a little green sprig.

She use to keep him on her parlor shelf; he was jest the right size.

It's a pity your bird is quite so big, ain't it ?" "I s'pose he's jest the way he was made," returned Amanda shortly.
"Of course he is.

I ain't findin' no fault with him; all is, I thought he was kind of big for the shelf; but then birds do perch on dreadful little places." Mrs.Babcock, full of persistency in exposing herself to rebuffs, was very sensitive and easily cowed by one.

"Let me see--he's quite old.