102 



was put in a dark place, and promptly hung itself 

 up and went to sleep. 



The sisters of the boy were disgusted. They 

 said that if he wanted a pet he might get some- 

 thing better than a horrid bat. They were afraid 

 it might get out and crawl about the room, too. 

 But, in spite of all they said, the boy kept the bat 

 and set himself to taming it. 



He fed it every evening. When he brought the 

 food he always called to the bat with a peculiar 

 whistle. Soon the bat knew this whistle and would 

 answer him when he called. 



After awhile Flitters grew so tame that its master 

 let it out of the box. It would come when he called 

 it, even in the daytime, though then it moved very 

 slowly and uncertainly. It was hard for it to see in 

 the light. 



After nightfall it would grow more lively. 



All the family, even the girls, became used to 

 Flitters after a time. They never could understand, 

 though, how the boy could bear to handle the bat 

 as he did, or to let it creep up his sleeve or hide in 

 his pockets. Sometimes the bat would hang itself 

 from his open hand, hooking its little feet over the 

 skin between his fingers. 



