THE CAPTURE OF MOSES 79 



wooden spoon, but he did not like to use the latter, 

 and seemed to think that it was pure affectation for 

 any one to eat with such an awkward thing. He 

 always held it in one hand, while he ate with the 

 other, or drank his soup out of the plate. 



It was such a task to get washing done in that 

 part of the world, that I resorted to all means of 

 economy in that matter, and for a tablecloth I used 

 a leaf of newspaper, when I had it. To tear that 

 paper afforded Moses an amount of pleasure that 

 nothing else would, and in this act his conduct was 

 more like that of a naughty child than in anything 

 he did. 



When he would first take his place at the table, 

 he behaved in a nice and becoming manner ; but 

 having eaten till he was quite satisfied, he usually 

 became rude and saucy. He would slily put his 

 foot up over the edge of the table, and catch hold of 

 the corner of the paper, meanwhile watching me 

 closely, to see if I was going to scold him. If I 

 remained quiet he would tear it just a little and wait 

 to see the result. If no notice was taken of that, he 

 would tear it a little more, but keep watching my 

 face to see when I observed it. If I raised my 

 finger to him, he quickly let go, drew his foot down, 

 and began to eat. If nothing more was done to 

 stop him, the instant my finger and eyes were 

 dropped, that dexterous foot was back on the table 

 and the mischief resumed with more audacity than 

 before. 



When he carried his fun too far, I made him get 



