3© MY HORSE; MY LOVE, 



their enemies. The poor little industrious creatures, 

 so valuable for their pretty fur, fancying themselves 

 secure in their hidden dams, reveal by this freak of 

 Nature their hiding-places, and thus become easy 

 victims to covetous man. " 



Are not foxes an easier prey for the same reason? 



"When the hunted fox is sore bested and the 

 hounds are gaining upon him steadily and surely, he 

 will be seen suddenly to turn himself round and 

 round, v^^ith bewildering rapidity, and with his head 

 and tail in close proximity. After several of these 

 revolutions, he makes a sudden spurt and soon gains 

 a great advantage of distance between himself and 

 his pursuers ; and if luck be with him he may escape. 

 Many a huntsman through a long life has chased the 

 fox with enthusiastic ardor, who would be surprised 

 to know, that in the very tip of his tail or brush is a 

 little bunch of hairs, from twenty-five to thirty in 

 number, which gives forth to the despairing and 

 almost vanquished beast, the refreshing and stimu- 

 lating odor of violets." 



How very wonderful ! 



"With this choice vinaigrette of Nature's furnish- 

 ing the hunted creature is sustained. " 



Then this simple fact may explain why the hunters 

 return in such unsatisfied humor? 



" Ah, I have laughed to hear them making the air 

 blue, with vengeful threats against the sly old fellow 

 never yet run to earth, and who again and again has 

 outwitted them. " 



But does not the fact help the hounds also? 



" Doubtless the hounds with their keen scent, fol- 



