i8 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



was studied in German ; mathematics, geography, 

 French, and Spanish, all from German text-books, 

 and both at school and at Mr. Deghuee's house 

 German was the language spoken. The exacti- 

 tude in method and absoluteness of discipline 

 were characteristic. 



When I was perhaps rather more than four years 

 old, among my many pets was a water spaniel, 

 " Prince," the first dog-friend I recall. He was a 

 beautiful dog, orange and white in color, with fine 

 silky hair, large expressive eyes, and great general 

 intelligence. I know that he did many tricks. The 

 cats and kittens of my boyhood were many, but 

 from them I cannot select any particular favorite. 

 I became much attached to a common water-turtle, 

 which my brother and I caught while we were on a 

 visit near Perth Amboy. We used it as a draught 

 horse in our plays, having bored small holes 

 through the back of the rim of the shell to attach 

 the harness, a small paper box answering for a 

 cart. We were at Perth Amboy only a few days, 

 and returning from that point to Brooklyn, the 

 turtle was carried in a basket. When we arrived 

 at Wall Street Ferry, and were on the boat, I 

 looked in the basket, the turtle was gone. I knew 

 that it was safe only a little while before, in the 

 street-car, and was so much concerned at the loss 

 that we left the boat and went to look for the 

 turtle. We found him just outside the ferry house 



