GLIMPSES OF WILD LIFE 181 



when safe in its den, and the farm-dog is fiercely- 

 baying outside. We took the youngster home, and 

 my little boy was delighted over the prospect of a 

 tame woodchuck. Not till the next day would it 

 eat. Then, getting a taste of the milk, it clutched 

 the spoon that held it with great eagerness, and 

 sucked away like a little pig. We were all im- 

 mensely diverted by it. It ate eagerly, grew rapidly, 

 and was soon able to run about. As the old one had 

 been killed, we became curious as to the fate of the 

 rest of her family, for no doubt there were more. 

 Had she moved them, or had we intercepted her on 

 her first trip ? We knew where the old den was, 

 but not the new. So we would keep a lookout. 

 Near the end of the week, on passing by the old 

 den, there were three young ones creeping about a 

 few feet from its mouth. They were starved out, 

 and had come forth to see what could be found. 

 We captured them all, and the young family was 

 again united. How these poor, half-famished crea- 

 tures did lay hold of the spoon when they got a taste 

 of the milk ! One could not help laughing. Their 

 little shining black paws were so handy and so 

 smooth; they seemed as if encased in kid gloves. 

 They throve well upon milk, and then upon milk 

 and clover. But after the novelty of the thing had 

 worn off*, the boy found he had incumbered himself 

 with serious duties in assuming the position of fos- 

 ter-mother to this large family ; so he gave them all 

 away but one, the first one captured, which had out- 

 stripped all the others in growth. This soon be- 



