298 THE COMMON HARE. 



account of its length,) I may be allowed to intro- 

 duce it here. 



"In the year 1774, being much indisposed both 

 in mind and body, incapable of diverting myself 

 either with company or books, and yet in a con- 

 dition that made some diversion necessary, I was 

 glad of any thing that would engage my attention 

 without fatiguing it. The children of one of my 

 neighbours had a Leveret given them for a play- 

 thing ; it was at that time about three months old. 

 Understanding better how to tease the poor crea- 

 ture than to feed it, and soon becoming weary of 

 their charge, they readily consented that their 

 father, who saw it pining and growing leaner every 

 day, should offer it to my acceptance. I was wil- 

 ling enough to take the prisoner under my pro- 

 tection; perceiving that, in the management of 

 such an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, I 

 should find just that sort of employment which my 

 case required. It was soon known among the 

 neighbours that I was pleased with the present; 

 and the consequence was, that in a short time I had 

 as many Leverets offered to me, as would have 

 stocked a paddock. I undertook the care of three, 

 which it is necessary I should here distinguish by 

 the names I gave them: Puss, Tiney, and Bess. 

 Notwithstanding the two feminine appellations, I 

 must inform you that they were all males. Imme- 

 diately commencing carpenter, I built them houses 

 to sleep in ; each had a separate apartment, so con- 

 trived 



