52 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



dist miuister, wishing to exemplify to liis auditors a 

 lesson of perseverance in well-doing, once compared 

 the true Christian to an opossum hanging by the tail 

 to the summit of a tempest-tost oak : — 



"Yes, my beloved brethren," said he, " take that 

 for your model. The wind, whose violence may tear 

 you from the tree of the Gospel, on which you rely 

 for your salvation, is composed of the corrupt atmos- 

 phere of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Don't 

 let go ! Hold on like the 'possum in a storm ! If the 

 hind feet of your passions give way, hold on by the 

 forefeet of your conscience ; but if that support fails 

 you, there is one final means of catching hold, 

 which will be the anchor of your salvation, and b}' 

 means of which you may rejoin those saints in 

 heaven who persevered to the very end — hold on, 

 like the 'possum, hy your tail." 



Many persons consider that, as edible game, there 

 is none better than the opossum. It is exactly like 

 very tender pork, with rather a gamey flavour. The 

 Indians cook the opossum by hanging him up by 

 his tail upon a piece of wood, upon which he is 

 turned before the fire. Although the flesh of the 

 opossum is really very eatable, I must confess that, 

 the first time I tasted it, the musky flavour of the 

 meat somewhat turned my stomach ; but the second 

 time my teeth met in " 'possum meat," I was less 

 fastidious. This time, the dish was prepared by 

 blacks, who are usually very excellent cooks, and 



