UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 109 



tering into conversation, observed how much 

 his pale countenance brightened at the interest 

 with which a stranger listened to his anecdotes of 

 Henri Arnaud. Mr. Maude indulged himself by 

 giving a small sum, which was sufficient to pay 

 the tax. And having thus enabled the little 

 Janetta to keep her valued Bible, he returned, I 

 aim sure, with a happy mind, to finish his sketch 

 of the picturesque Arch.'' 



Mary readily guessed that word, and my 

 aunt therefore whispered one to her. After con- 

 sidering for a moment, she proceeded " The 

 Alpine Marmot, you know, is one of those 

 animals that pass a portion of the year in a 

 torpid state. It delights in cold mountainous 

 regions, where it burrows in the ground, and pre- 

 pares its wintry residence with great art, lining it 

 with the finest grass. To collect this grass, the 

 whole family, it is said, act in concert ; some are 

 employed as sentinels, to give notice of ap- 

 proaching danger ; others cut it ; and when a 

 sufficient quantity is gathered, one of them acts 

 the part of a waggon, to carry it home. This 

 marmot lays himself on his back, stretches his 

 legs upward, and suffers himself to be loaded 

 just like a waggon of hay. One set then take hold 

 of him by the tail, and drag him along on his 

 back; while another set act as guides, to pre- 

 vent accidents, or to remove any roughness in 



VOL. II. L 



