62 MOOSWA 



&quot;look how thin I arn. Perhaps miles and miles 

 of river bank, and not even a Frog to be had.&quot; 



&quot; Alas ! it s the Plague-year/ declared Wa- 

 poos ; &quot; and my whole family were stricken with 

 the sickness. They died off one by one &quot; 

 Here he stopped, and covered his big, sympa 

 thetic eyes with soft, fur-ruffed hands. His 

 tender heart choked. 



Mooswa sniffed through his big nose, and 

 browsed absent-mindedly off the Gray-willows. 

 My ! but they were bitter he never ate them 

 at any time ; but one must do something when a 

 Father is talking about his dead Children. 



&quot; Did they all die, Wapoos ? &quot; asked Otter ; 

 and in his black snake-like eyes there actually 

 glistened a tear of sympathy. 



&quot; Yes ; and our whole city was almost depopu 

 lated.&quot; 



&quot; Dreadful ! &quot; cried Carcajou. 



&quot; The nearest neighbor left me was a Widow 

 on the third main Run-way two cross-paths 

 from my lane. All her family died off, even the 

 Husband. We were a great help to each other 

 in the way of consolation, and became fast friends. 

 Yesterday morning, when I called to talk over 

 our affliction, there was nothing left of her but a 

 beautiful, white, fluffy tail.&quot; 



&quot; Horrible ! oh, the Wretch ! &quot; screamed Black 



