UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 129 



admit a finger, and so compact, that it might be 

 rolled along the floor without injury. The 

 burrowing owl is said to inhabit these plains 

 also, dwelling in burrows of the same description 

 as those of the prairie-dog. 



24th. This day, our good friend, Mrs. P. 

 left us I am very sorry to lose her; and, so in- 

 deed, is every person in the house. 



She had promised, you know, to tell me her 

 history, but circumstances induced her to put it 

 on paper, and I shall lose no time in transcribing 

 it for your amusement, my dear mamma. 



She was anxious to return to her father and 

 mother, as her boys spent this vacation with Mr. 

 Crispin, a very old friend. 



To-morrow, as soon as the Lumleys go away, 

 I shall begin to copy her history. 



. My indulgent uncle had requested the 

 gardener, or any one who happened to find a 

 dormouse, to bring it to him ; and Franklin, in 

 stubbing up an old hollow root of a tree, luckily 

 found one of those little fat creatures fast asleep. 

 It is more plump, but very like a common mouse ; 

 the nose is blunter, and its tail is not so pointed ; 

 it is of a dun red all over, except the throat, 

 which is white. It lay in a most comfortable 

 little nest of woven grass, which has not been 



