220 MY PET FOX. 



eagerness of appetite is controlled hy the proprieties 

 of the table and a proper self-respect ; and she is sat- 

 isfied to prolong a feast in which she finds so much 

 enjoyment. She does not like highly seasoned food ; 

 indeed, she prefers to take it au naturel, so I have a 

 few little bits of venison served for her on a separate 

 plate. She has her own fork ; but she has not yet 

 advanced sufficiently far in the usages of civilization 

 to handle it for herself, so I convey the delicate mor- 

 sels to her mouth. Sometimes she exhibits too much 

 impatience ; but a gentle rebuke with the fork on 

 the tip of the nose is quite effective in restoring her 

 patience, and saving her from indigestion. 



Her habits greatly interest me. I have allowed her 

 to run loose in my cabin, after a short confinement 

 in a cage had familiarized her with the place ; but 

 she soon found out the "bull's-eye" over my head, 

 through the cracks around which she could sniff the 

 cool air ; and she got into the habit of bounding 

 over the shelves, without much regard for the many 

 valuable and perishable articles which lay thereon. 

 From this retreat nothing can tempt her but a good 

 dinner; and as soon as she sees from her perch the 

 bits of raw venison, she crawls leisurely down, sneaks 

 gently into my lap, looks up longingly and lovingly 

 into my face, puts out her little tongue with quick 

 impatience, and barks be wi tellingly if the beginning 

 of the repast is too long delayed. 



I tried to cure her of this habit of cUmbing by 

 tying her up with a chain which Knorr made for me 

 of some iron wire ; but she took it so much to heart 

 that I had to let her go. Her efforts to free herself 

 were very amusing, and she well earned her freedom. 

 She tried continually to break the chain, and, having 



