Q£>o6 an* ^ome €)t§tx Qgftrte 



eral seconds, and gave me a little alarm. I was 

 relieved when out of it tumbled an aggressive 

 rooster, which advanced a few steps, flapped, and 

 crowed lustily. " He was brought in to get thawed 

 out; I suppose you will next be wondering where 

 we keep the pig," said my hostess as she advanced 

 to stir the fire, after which she examined " two 

 little cripples," birds in a box behind the stove. 



I moved to a cooler seat, by a door which led 

 into an adjoining room. After I had sat down, 

 " Bob," a pet quail, came from somewhere, and 

 advanced with the most serene and dignified air 

 to greet me. After pausing to eye me for a mo- 

 ment, with a look of mingled curiosity and satis- 

 faction, she went under my chair and squatted 

 confidingly on the floor. Bob was the first pet 

 quail I had ever seen, and my questions concern- 

 ing her brought from my hostess the following 

 story : — 



" One day last fall a flock of quail became 

 frightened, and in their excited flight one struck 

 against a neighbor's window and was badly 

 stunned. My husband, who chanced to be near at 

 the time, picked up the injured one and brought 



161 



