36 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



time, the goose generally sat in the kennel, and 

 would not suffer any one to approach it, except 

 the person who brought the dog's or her own 

 food. When the dog died, she would still keep 

 possession of the kennel; and, a new house- 

 dog being introduced, which in size and color 

 resembled that lately lost, the poor goose was 

 unhappily deceived, and, going into the kennel 

 as usual, the new inhabitant seized her by the 

 throat, and killed her, before any of the famity 

 could come to her assistance. 



A most amusing scene, in which several 

 geese and a couple of foxes Avere the principal 

 actors, is described by Mrs. Child, one of the 

 most entertaining writers of her sex on this side 

 of the Atlantic. Mrs. Child heard the story 

 from a Quaker residing in New Jersey, to whom 

 it was related by a friend — ^himself a member of 

 the same serious sect — who was an eye-witness. 

 Perhaps some apology is due from me, as the 

 story has a rather more intimate relation to the 

 fox than to the goose, for introducing it among 

 my stories about birds. I have only to say, 

 that when my book relating to quadrupeds 

 went to press, I had not heard Mrs. Child's 

 story, which is certainly a sufficient excuse for 

 not having served it up at that time ; and, for 

 the rest — it is a capital story, and I cannot af- 



