MISCHIEVOUS IMAGINATIONS 



was tempted by hunger into one of those brick 

 traps myself, thinking that I could soon burrow 

 my way out if anything did happen. I forgot that 

 the ground was frozen as hard as iron, and 1 made 

 such slow progress that the boy came before I was 

 halfway through. He put his hand in without 

 looking, expecting to find a sparrow or a blackbird, 

 and when I bit his finger to the bone he luckily 

 gave such a start that he upset the bricks, and I 

 made good my escape from yet another very tight 

 place. He carries the mark of my teeth to this 

 day, you may be sure. But I hope that I have 

 told you enough about the dangers which lie in 

 wait for us to awaken your tenderest sympathy. I 

 cannot think that you will ever try to increase the 

 burden which we bear so bravely and so cheer- 

 fully. 



7—2 



