FIELD MICE 



veloped thought that have since aided me to 

 surmount many a difficulty and to pass safely 

 over many a rough place in the path of my 

 own life's experience. "Aunt," as I was accus- 

 tomed to address our noble guest, entered into 

 all my childish pleasures and at once seemed to 

 love and to understand my animal pets quite as 

 well as I did myself. 



One fall evening, just at sunset's hour, we 

 were walking through a meadow with Mongola, 

 my pet skunk trotting along between us or run- 

 ning along in the lead in his dainty mincing 

 way, his beautiful pompon-like tail gracefully 

 sweeping the ground. Occasionally he would 

 stop and with his tail held high above his back 

 walk up to me, then stand on his hind legs and 

 scratch at the hem of my skirt and look at me 

 with the most pleading expression possible in 

 his little black eyes. This was his way of say- 

 ing " I am tired and I want you to carry me ! " 

 I would take him up and place him on my 

 shoulder where he would proudly sit while I 

 carried him safely over the rough places or 

 through the tall grass. The very human ways 

 of my pet pleased and amused Aunt very 

 ["3] 



