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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



istence, they must have the tenderest leaves, and, 

 at all times, the greatest attention must be paid 

 to cleanliness. Be careful never to touch a cater- 

 pillar with warm hands, and never give it its food 

 when wet. I generally rear about a couple of 

 hundred Potatoria, and never otherwise than on 

 JBromus Sterilis and Arvenis. May I, in con- 

 clusion, ask you, Sir, to tell me how you bring up 

 Potatoria — by feeding them with water f I have 

 never heard of this plan, and should be extremely 

 curious to know it before next season, in order 

 that I might compare it with my own. — Bombyx 

 Atlas, Tottenham* 



A Happy Mouse. — Knowing how ably and how 

 kindly you advocate the cause of all domestic 

 pets, I venture to give you a brief history of my 

 happy life ; hoping it may be the means of some 

 other of my dear little relations being equally 

 fortunate and happy- I must premise that I 

 belong to a very amiable mistress, whose name is 

 " Anne" [all ladies named " Anne " are amiable], 

 and she is one of the younger daughters of" Bom- 

 byx Atlas," whom for shortness I will call " B." 

 Now, it happened rather more than two years 

 ago, that "B." was fluttering about Great St. 

 Andrew Street, Holborn (a strange locality at such 

 a strange season of the year, for such a large 

 exotic as "B." to choose), when he suddenly stopped 

 opposite a window, in front of which my miserable 

 cage was placed. I did not escape his eye. Ever 

 accustomed to watch all Nature's creatures, my 

 funny little body was soon perceived ; and I saw 

 by the twinkle of his optics, that my fate was 

 sealed ; so, fearing to excite more of his curiosity 

 (being perfectly ignorant as to what my fate might 

 be), I ran in-doors and hid myself. But it was 

 too late. " Show me that little fawn-colored 

 mouse, if you please," said " B.," and my cruel 

 mistress brought me out, as well as my little 

 brother and sister. The business was soon settled. 

 I was purchased, packed up, and taken home. 

 When my cage was opened, I saw a large black 

 dog called " Fino," and he opened such a dreadful 

 mouth ! I thought it was all over with us — cage 

 and all. Judge of my surprise, then, at finding 

 myself placed in a nice new cage ; so clean and 

 so neat ! with some delicious bread and milk. I 

 was coaxed too, and played with, by " B." and my 

 dear new mistress. Well, though I trembled so 

 much when first I saw him, yet did I soon get 

 accustomed to the old gentleman, who himself 

 cleaned out my cage regularly every morning before 

 he had his own breakfast. After a time, 1 had a 

 little family ; and "B." was so pleased with my 

 children, that he bought a new house for us, and 

 made us quite happy. Bless his old heart, Mr. 

 Editor ! After I had been six months in the 

 family, I was named " Little Downy," my sister 

 "Velvet," and my brother " Silkes." These 

 names were taken from a very interesting little 

 volume, entitled "The History of Little Downy ; 

 or, the Life of a Field Mouse," by Susannah Strick- 

 land, which " B." gave my little mistress some 

 six years ago, at Lausanne, in Switzerland. I am 

 now two years old, as are also my sister and 

 brother ; and 1 am dignified by the name of Queen 

 Downy. My dear old master never eats his break- 

 fast until he has made my cage clean, sweet, and 

 comfoitable; and my fond little mistress feeds me, 



and brings me all kinds of dainties. This kindness 

 does not end with me. I have seven children of 

 different ages, and the same care is equally ex- 

 tended to them. Their names are " Wilful," 

 "Sprightly," "Fawny," "Snowdrop," "Pink- 

 Eyes," " Brown-Paw," and " Crocus." I have 

 also a numerous progeny in this neighborhood, and 

 at Wyckham Market, Suffolk. Myself, my brother, 

 and my sister, inhabit a beautiful palace ; and my 

 seven children another, and a more capacious one, 

 close by me. We occupy a nice corner in " B.'s " 

 little study, and a snug corner it is too ! There 

 sits my old master, writing to the Editor of our 

 Journal, on one side of the cosy table ; and his 

 favorite Fino on the other — a large black cat 

 stretched before the fire, and a dear little redpole 

 opposite to my palace. Nay, Mr. Editor, I once 

 saw your own smiling countenance in the said 

 little room, when you drank Fino's health in a 

 glass of ale. [Hush !] Now some people object 

 to us poor little mice, because we are " dirty 

 things." This is libellous. Only let them follow 

 the kind example of my master and his daughter 

 Anne, and clean our palaces regularly every day — 

 giving us sweet wholesome food, and I am certain 

 you will not find that we deserve such abuse. No ; 

 and we will enliven your apartment very much 

 indeed, by our merry, active, cheerful movements. 

 Ought I not to bless the day when first my master 

 caught sight of my tiny body in St. Andrew St. ; 

 and am I not a happy mouse ? In conclusion, let 

 me recommend the " History of Little Downy ; or, 

 the Field Mouse," by Susannah Strickland, to 

 every kind-hearted young lady ; and may it induce 

 them to keep a pair of pet mice ! May they afford 

 as much amusement to their mistress as I do to 

 mine ; and may they be as happy as your affec- 

 tionate — Little Downy, Tottenham, March 15. 



What is " the cause " of the various Fogs that 

 arise ? — Will you, Sir, be so kind as to explain to 

 me the origin of fog ? Does it ascend or descend ? 

 Please tell me, as I have heard conflicting opinions. 

 — A Youthful Inquirer. 



[The very common, but mistaken idea that the 

 fog which we see of an evening hanging over low 

 meadows, and by the sides of streams, is ascending, 

 arises very naturally from our first observing it 

 in low places; and, as the cool of the evening 

 advances, remarking that it ascends to higher 

 land. The fact is, however — not that the damp is 

 ascending, but that, from the coldness of those 

 situations, they are the first places which con- 

 dense the before invisible vapor. As the cold of 

 the evening advances, the condensation takes place 

 at a higher level. A large 'portion of the vapor 

 ascends to the upper regions of the atmosphere, 

 where it cools, and becomes visible to us in the 

 form of clouds ; and increasing in density by 

 cooling, they gradually descend nearer to the 

 earth— until at last, becoming too condensed by 

 the loss of heat, they fall in rain, to be again 

 returned in endless succession.] 



Gold Fish. — The beautiful little fish, called in 

 this country " gold and silver fish," were originally 

 natives of China and Japan. In these countries 

 they are held in great estimation, and are called 

 Kingu. From China, the English carried some of 

 them to St: Helena ; and from thence the captain 



