OUR SENTIMENTAL GARDEN 



nothing is to be slain at Villino Loki except the Green 

 Fly and the Rose-Beetle. The birds may devour all our 

 buds, strip up our crocuses, and denude our 

 raspberry canes <if they get a chance). The / 

 mole may tunnel and burrow and raise his con- ) 

 vulsive mounds in our most 

 cherished lawnand that is 

 certainly a test of garden 

 endurance we will have no 

 traps ! As for the squirrels, 

 we are afraid we have 

 cleared too much in our 

 wilderness to tempt them 

 now. But one of the family 

 actually bought little green 

 tables in order to spread 

 repasts for them near their 

 favourite haunt. 

 In certain wild corners of 

 Dorsetshire squirrels be- 

 come almost familiars in 

 such households as are 

 kindly enough to set forth a dainty, now 

 and again, for the frolicsome company. 

 One understanding person of our acquaintance was given 

 to spreading nuts on a certain window-sill, where every 

 day the squirrels used to come and fetch them. One 

 morning she was a little later than usual in this attention / 

 on coming into the room, she was startled by a knocking 

 on the window, and there on the sill sat a thing, all fur and 

 bright eyes, knocking with its fairy paw ! We think Loki 

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