'THIS COMES HOPPING' 



5 



a sort of crusade against us in our parts. Farmers 

 offered bribes for our tails. Much obliged to them, 

 I am sure ! Very considerate indeed ! They got 

 most of my troublesome little nephews and nieces, 

 but they did not get me. I had long been intending 

 to take a trip to town, so I seized the opportunity, 

 and for once in my life turned my back on danger. 

 I do not mean to say that I have never done so 

 since. I should not be here to tell the tale if I had 

 not made discretion the better part of valour now 

 and then. Anyway, I went to town, and my fourth 

 year saw me 'Mr. Samuel, T.,' and before a month 

 of it was gone the loss of a paw made me H.T. So 

 now, when you write to ask me how I am getting 

 on, please address my letters 'Mr. Samuel, H.T.'; 

 and if you want any further address, ' Culverlea, 

 Winchester,' will do. 



Whether I shall ever reach five years I cannot 

 say, and I am not sure that I very greatly care. 

 It is a trying life, and, provided always that I am 

 not shot, I am safe now to be a ghost for a year, 

 and that is better fun than being a very old rat, I 

 expect. One does get so battered about, you see. 

 A¥ell, well, I shall gain nothing by lamenting. 

 You don't care. If you saw me now you would 

 throw something that might hurt my aged bones. 



