The Cockatoo's Story

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21685

Title

The Cockatoo's Story

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a charming tale for young readers, a young cockatoo named Polly recounts his history to his kind owner, Herbert, and his wise gray parrot companion. Through magical intervention, Herbert learns to understand the birds' speech, uncovering Polly's journey from a neglected hatchling to a beloved pet. The story blends whimsical fantasy with moral lessons on kindness, patience, and the consequences of greed, all delivered through the lively voices of the avian characters.

Summary up to 500 words

In Mrs. George Cupples' *The Cockatoo's Story*, a sulky white cockatoo named Polly feels misunderstood by his young owner, Herbert. Encouraged by his elderly gray parrot friend, Mrs. Polly, Polly eventually shares his history after a fairy grants Herbert the ability to understand their language. Polly reveals he was born the youngest of four in the Indian Islands, where his slow feather growth and large head led to teasing by his brothers. Despite his mother's warnings about the dangers of the wild and the cruelty of men, Polly remained in his home, cherishing the safety of his nest and the freedom of the forests, which he deeply misses while in captivity. Polly's narrative takes a turn when his singing inadvertently causes chaos in the household. He accidentally reveals a servant's secret by singing a song about a 'bold soldier boy' to a maid, Emma, who was dressed in her finest clothes. Although he intended to help her, the incident leads to her humiliation. In a moment of self-defense after Emma pinches him, Polly bites her arm, leaving a permanent mark that serves as a reminder of the bitterness of revenge. Now a pet, Polly fears cats and prefers the security of his cage, though he longs for his native home. The story expands to include Herbert's cousins and a new, greedy macaw named the 'Great Mogul,' who learns bad words from sailors. Through the birds' conversations, the text explores themes of kindness versus cruelty, the value of patience, and the importance of understanding different perspectives. Herbert learns that treating creatures with respect brings its own rewards, a lesson reinforced by the children's admiration for the animals. The narrative highlights the contrast between the birds' past lives of freedom and their current domestic existence, emphasizing that even in captivity, the bonds of friendship and the lessons of empathy can bridge the gap between species. The tale concludes with the children vowing to be kind to all living creatures, hoping to earn the ability to understand their voices.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21685.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21685.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Animals