The Springfield Fox 



length of the chain and never again was brought 

 up by its cruel jerk. 



As night came down the little fellow became 

 very uneasy, sneaking out of his box, but going 

 back at each slight alarm, tugging at his chain, 

 or at times bitimr it in furv while he held it 

 down with his fore paws. Suddenly he paused 

 as though listening, then raising his little black 

 nose he poured out a short quavering cry. 



Once or twice this was repeated, the time 

 between being occupied in worrying the chain 

 and running about. Then an answer came. 

 The far-away Yap-yurrr of the old fox. A 

 few minutes later a shadowy form appeared on 

 the wood-pile. The little one slunk into his 

 box, but at once returned and ran to meet his 

 mother with all the gladness that a fox could 

 show. Quick as a flash she seized him and 

 turned to bear him away by the road she came. 

 But the moment the end of the chain was 

 reached the cub was rudely jerked from the old 

 one's mouth, and she, scared by the opening of 

 a window, fled over the wood-pile. 



An hour afterward the cub had ceased to run 

 about or cry. I peeped out, and by the light 



215 



Slunk b&U Mo his bo* 



