OUR COUNTRY HOME 



Had an adventurous mouse been caught in a water jar ? No, none of 

 these things; a sensible mink, quick to adapt herself to new condi- 

 tions, had built her nest in the terrace drain-pipe near the lake, and 

 here she had naturally stored a fine supply of dead fish for her 

 interesting family of four young daughters. We were loath to 

 disturb so charming a household, but there are limits within which 

 even the wild creatures of the wood must be kept. 



I am very fond of pets, but I never strained my affections to the 

 extent of including goldfish among them. So it was with rather 

 a sinking sensation that one evening I received by express a pail 

 of water with holes pierced in the cover and six small goldfish gaily 

 swimming around therein. I put them in the fountain in the 

 formal garden, arranging some flat rocks over the gravel in order 

 that they might have secluded corners. They did look pretty 

 under the softly dropping water, with the sun reflecting back from 

 their golden scales. I began to feel my old prejudices fast disap- 

 pearing. The Constant Improver brought out a collection of fish 

 food, and I must acknowledge that our new pets were no more 

 trouble. When I had to be away I am sure they were never forgot- 

 ten, as my little maid felt so sorry for them. " They cannot come up 

 and beg for their food like those fat squirrels and pert young chip- 

 munks ! " Of course when the Ice King appeared something had 

 to be devised for the goldfish. We put a cork in one of the big 

 terra-cotta saucers thirty inches across and, with the aid of gravel 



and rocks and sea-weed, made an excellent imitation pond, where, 



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