THE KIN K A JO U. 



5 



Evidently he was my gentle pet no longer, 

 but a wild beast trying to escape. Yet, even 

 then, when his pranks were wildest, if I lifted 

 the blanket and spoke to him, he quickly thrust 

 out a cold hand to be warmed, and gently rubbed 

 a soft nose against my hands, though two min- 

 utes after I left, the strange sounds were resumed. 



The morning showed signs of his deeds : paper 

 that had covered the floor torn to bits ; sawdust 

 (which at first I kept on the bottom) scattered 

 far and wide out on the carpet ; his much prized 

 nest box gnawed, pulled from its fastening if 

 possible, and upset on the floor ; water cup bot- 

 tom up, and the cage flooded ; heavy woollen 

 blanket that covered the door torn to ribbons, 

 or made into " drawn work," more intricate than 

 any designs in the pattern-book. These were 

 the results that proclaimed his night's amuse- 

 ments. Woe to the household, I thought, if he 

 succeeded in opening his door. 



