

336 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:8— Nov., 1918 



low branches! All this time I kept growing until now I looked 

 like a grown up fox. I began to be very proud of my fine bushy 

 tail and my eyes seemed to grow brighter every day. One day 

 toward fall I heard the children talking about me. "Let's allow 

 him to go," they said. We do not want to keep him always. 

 We must go to school now." My heart bounded with joy and 

 what a good fox I was. One day when the children were gone 

 the farmer put me into a sack and put me into his wagon. I was 

 carried far. I did not know where I was going or what would 

 become of me. At last he opened the sack and I skipped out. 

 I saw a wooded bank not far away and wondered if I could ever 

 reach it. Yes, my legs would carry me and how happy I was. 

 I bounded away and soon entered the friendly patch of under- 

 brush. I looked back and wondered which life would be the best. 

 After looking about for awhile I saw that I was not far from my 

 old home on the sandy bank. Would my mother still be waiting 

 for me? But alas when I reached the den I found it in ruins. 

 As soon as my legs grew stronger, I roamed about searching 

 for a new home. I must not stay on this side of the valley for 

 many hunters must have heard of my freedom. I would live 

 and learn to overpower every foe which foxes may have. I knew 

 so many things which other foxes did not, that I was able to 

 defend myself and live happily. Before winter came I found a 

 snug warm place for a den on the south side of this hill. At first 

 the snow was terrifying but soon I found it an aid in finding the 

 whereabouts of my enemies. Many a time I obtained my food 

 only through a hard struggle as in the chase for a rabbit or a 

 partridge. When the great ice froze the swamp and brook 

 and creasted the white fields I had a hard time hunting, but some 

 foolish wood mouse, or often a dead crow, if nothing else, was to 

 be had. If I felt the pinch of famine I did not mind, for I was 

 free. So the seasons passed and many an adventure came into 

 my life. Twice I was followed by the dogs, but how I enjoyed 

 the chase ! I would stretch myself and soon leave them far behind. 

 I knew many tricks and ways by which I fooled my followers. 

 I often laughed from some sunny rock while dogs and men puzzled 

 gravely over my trail. I could tell you many stories of tricks 

 which only a fox can know but I do not wish to tire you. So I 

 have grown to be a wise old fox and now must lie down to rest. 



