40 Random Recoi^lections of the 



and off into the manger, and play all sorts of 

 pranks. As it grew older, a young lady from 

 school, who was spending her holidays at our 

 house, made a great pet of '' Topsy," for that 

 was the name we bestowed upon our vulpine 

 protege. With ^^Topsy" across her shoulder, the 

 girl would parade through the garden into the 

 house, and seat herself in an arm-chair, when, on 

 being released, the fox would watch its oppor- 

 tunity, and stealthily stealing underneath, give 

 a tug at her dress, and as she sought to retaliate 

 by making a clutch, ^' Topsy " would sprint to 

 the other side of the room with a cunning leer, 

 as much as to say ^^ not caught so.'' By-and-bye, 

 she discovered that her playmate was very 

 fond of sugar. This seemed so unnatural 

 that on first being told I could scarcely believe 

 it, until the young lady convinced me by offer- 

 ing some lumps in her hand, when the effect 

 was most ludicrous. The fox would take them 

 one by one, and half shutting its eyes, suck 

 them slowly with the greatest relish. Nor was 

 this all, for " Topsy " next found out where 

 the sweetmeats were kept, and would gnaw 

 and scratch at the side-board until the door 

 was opened, and then help herself. This must 

 have been a singular taste in a fox, but perhaps, 



