THE OCELOT. 



171 



mistress. The deer was startled, of course, but 

 very quickly saw that it was only fun, and day 

 after day the queer little play at wild life was 

 reenacted, the deer seeming to enjoy it as well 

 as his playfellow. 



The story of the little tiger is like the story of 

 all wild pets. At first they are very interesting, 

 and the people about them, in trying to make 

 them contented and happy, really become slaves 

 to them. As they grow older they expect the 

 same treatment. A tiger held in the lap when 

 he is the size of a cat will expect the same 

 when he is as big as a calf. 



The happy life in the corridor, like everything 

 else that is pleasant, — and no less everything 

 unpleasant, which we sometimes forget — came 

 at last to an end. The ocelot grew exacting as 

 well as cunning with age, until in his twelfth 

 month his demands became so troublesome that 

 it was resolved, in solemn family conclave, to 

 put him out in the country to board till the ap- 

 proaching vacation, when he should accompany 

 his doting mistress to New England. That land, 

 however, he was destined never to shock with his 

 own lawless manners and customs, for in a mo- 

 ment of playfulness he tried the hunting trick 

 on a big dog. The beast did not like it, he re- 

 sented the liberty, and the baby tiger paid for 

 his joke with his life. 



