DUSKY GEORGE AND HIS COON. 



125 



time to hide. The dog Sam soon learned to protect the coon, and 

 took him into his bed at night. 



The little creature made many friends among the neighbors, and 

 one enemy. A lady set a custard pie on her door-step to cool, and 

 Mr. Coon found it in his travels and ate it up. This lady did not 

 like him. 



His greatest pleasure was to ride. If he saw any one harnessing 

 the horse he would climb to the seat and wait patiently until all 



was ready. His most famous ride was when he went to the city. 

 Dusky George harnessed the horse to the sleigh foi-Mr. Wilkenson. 

 When he was ready the little coon was ready, too. When they 

 reached the principal street Mr. Wilkenson went into a fur store, 

 taking the coon under his arm. The man said, " Let us put him 

 in the window." They did so ; and as it was a bright, sunny day 

 the coon lay down on a bear-skin, and in a few minutes was fast 

 asleep. A crowd soon gathered around, and it was amusing to 

 hear the children wondering whether he was alive or not. There 

 was quite a shout among them when, all at once, the coon yawned 

 and turned over. 



The longest day has an end, and the coon at last reached home. 

 I believe he has never been to the city since. 



