FOXES AND SNOW-SHOES 211 



" They make a gift to }'ou of the Coon to be your 

 ami, your friend, to take a la maisoti, to your 'ouse," 

 exphiined Toinette. 



The boys were delighted, of course. "Mammy Bun 

 Avill think Ave have brouglit lier an old friend ; but I'm 

 not sure what your mother and the dogs will say," said 

 the Doctor in an undertone. 



* * » * * 



The journey home passed like a flash, and six o'clock 

 saw Rap seated by the stove in his mother's little 

 kitchen chattering of all the wonders of the trip, end- 

 ing by telling her that her mink muff had once killed 

 chickens, while she listened as eagerly as if he had 

 made a voyage round the world. 



i\leanwhile the Doctor decided that the Coon was to 

 go in the barn, and not be introduced to the family 

 until next day. Dodo was being entertained by Nat, 

 and was so interested that she almost forgot to eat her 

 supper, and afterward coaxed her uncle into bringing 

 the portfolio of pictures into the wonder room, that 

 she might look at all the Foxes and other little fur 

 bearers. But when she came to the picture of the Por- 

 cupine and heard its story, she gave a little shiver and 

 exclaimed, " I'm glad now I stayed at home, for if I had 

 seen him in the dark, I should have jumped up and 

 screamed, and then you wouldn't have heard him sing, 

 and most likely he Avould Iiave stuck me so full of 

 prickles that I couldn't sew my Christmas presents ! " 



