148 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



At this moment, one of my sisters opened 

 the door. This so alarmed him, that he made 

 the best of his way to his box, and could not 

 be induced to come out again during the re- 

 mainder of the day, even by the offer of a 

 whole cob of corn. 



The suceess that attended my first attempt 

 made me exceedingly anxious to tame him 

 completely ; and for several days I continued 

 to cultivate his good opinion. In this I 

 succeeded so well that, before the week ex- 

 pired, he would as soon as his box was open, 

 leap from it on to my hand, which 1 held out 

 for that purpose. More than this, after a 

 few trials he would sit and eat on my shoul- 

 der, or on the palm of my hand. We next 

 put bread and milk into his trough ; and in a 

 short time he became very fond of it, and 

 would lap it up like a kitten, either out of 

 his trough, or a saucer, which we generally 

 used when he came out into the room. In 

 the course of a few days we let him out of 

 his box, when we sat down to breakfast ; and 

 just befQre I fed him, he ran round the room, 

 examining everything, but not making the 

 least attempt to escape. At last, he found 

 the window curtains, up which he dashed at 

 a tremendous rate, and soon ensconced him- 

 self on the cornice. Here he remained very 

 quietly until dinner-time ; when we had some 

 difficulty in getting him down. It was only 

 by attaching a pocket-handkerchief (to which 

 he had a great dislike), to the end of a stick, 

 and flanking him with it, that we were able 

 to make him quit his position. When I en- 

 tered the room, early in the morning, he 

 would stop his " revolver," and watch me 

 with great attention, expecting his morning 

 meal (for I always fed him). If lie saw me put 

 my hand to my waistcoat- pocket, he would 

 get into his box, and try to push open the 

 lid, with a view to get out ; for Iwa« anxious 

 to make liim as friendly as possible, and let 

 him have as much liberty as I possibly could. 



He now began ; when let out at meal-times, 

 to mount the table, and help himself to what- 

 ever he liked best ; and would fight despe • 

 rately to retain what he had taken. The 

 butter attracted his particular attention ; and 

 it was difficult to prevent him from taking a 

 whole pat at a time. One morning, he had 

 been sitting on the table by my side, eating 

 acorns ; and having consumed as much as he 

 eared for, jumped on my father's shoulder, 

 holding more than half an acorn in his mouth. 

 This he endeavored to tuck away into his 

 neckcloth, just under his ear. Vastly amused, 

 we felt desirous to see what he wanted to 

 do. Now -at the bottom of the table, in front 

 of my father, was a cold roast pheasant, one 

 of the drumsticks of which was lying in the 

 dish and had attracted his attention. On 

 this he made a most determined assault ; and 

 catching it by one ^nd, tried to carry it off, 



chattering vociferously, even before a hand 

 was stretched out to prevent him. Query. 

 Did he know he was doing wrong? [Most 

 assuredly he did !] My brother took hold of 

 the other end ; but he was determined not to 

 give in, and pulled away most energetically. 

 Nor would he drop it, fill I caught him by 

 the tail. He then attacked me, and seemed 

 rather disposed to bite. But at the sight of 

 my handkerchief, which I drew from my 

 pocket, he ran to his box, remaining there 

 till dinner-time. 



C. F. T. Y. 



StocJJeigh Pomeroy, Devon. 



(To he concluded in our next.) 



[As a companion to the above very inte- 

 resting tale, we refer those who are fond of this 

 amusing little rogue — so full of love and 

 affection where his heart is lodged, to an ar- 

 ticle from our own pen, entitled " Domestic 

 Pets." (See Vol. I., p. 113.) The squirrel 

 there described, was the major domo in a 

 large house of ours ; and pretty havoc he 

 made with some of the furniture and orna- 

 ments when our back was turned ; cunningly 

 hiding himself in the curtains, to mark our 

 surprise on entering the room ! We were then, 

 it hardly needs be said, a bachelor; having 

 every thing our own way, and also our own 

 v;ay of having it. Delightful privilege ! A-hem ! 

 From boyhood upwards, we were never with- 

 out " something " to love and lavish our affec- 

 tions on, — so Skuggy and a very choice pair 

 of goldfinch-mules had the free range of our 

 rooms. " We four " formed a droll but 

 happy quartette. Such breakfasts did we 

 discuss together; and such pranks did we 

 play up the while ! But. alas ! our little 

 friends have perished. We alone survive. 

 Yet does memorv fondlv cherish all their 

 little endearments, and look back delighted 

 with the innocence and disinterestedness of 

 that early friendship.] 



NATURE'S OWN CHILD. 



A FRAGMENT. 



(From the Sanscrit.) 



And when she spoke — upon the maiden's tongue, 

 Distilling nectar, such rare accents hung ! 

 The sweetest note that e'er the Koil pour'd 

 Seem'd harsh and tuneless as a jarring chord. 

 The melting glance of that soft liquid eye, 

 Tremulous like lilies when the breezes sigh ; 

 Which learnt it first — so winning and so mild — 

 The gentle fawn ? or Mena's gentler child ? 

 And oh, the arching of her brow! so fine 

 Was the rare beauty of its pencill'd line — 

 Love gazed upon her forehead in despair, 

 And spurn'd the bow he once esteem'd so fair. 

 Her long bright tresses too might shame the pride 

 Of envious antelopes on the mountain side. 

 Surely her Maker's care had been to cull 

 From all that's lovely the most beautiful; 

 As if the world's Creator would behold 

 All beaut* centked in a sjngle mould. 



