LITTLE ATTENTIONS. 
SI 
paws and open mouth, pretending he was about 
to pounce upon and bite his friends. 
He was quite fond of climbing up into Mrs. 
Maxwell’s lap for dainties and caresses. These 
latter had to be given with a good degree 
of caution, as it was a serious matter to stroke 
him the wrong way — not on his account 
at all ! 
She found it no small art to show her regard 
for him without injury to herself! 
His spines stood on his back so nearly perpen- 
dicular, and came out so easily, it was necessary, 
if one would not exchange a caress for a wound, 
to begin the petting stroke as near the nose, where 
the spines were neither hard nor long, as possible, 
and continue it with sufficient pressure to keep 
them close to his skin. Then, it was quite im- 
portant to know when to stop. 
His back had a most unusual arch, and if 
one’s hand went too far, the spines came out and 
were carried away in its skin. 
Such trouble, to pet a porcupine! But, then, 
he was so fond of a little attention ! 
His feet, and the underside of his body and 
of his tail, were free from spines. This caudal 
appendage served him for a kind of balancing- 
pole when he wished to walk upright, as well as 
for a weapon of defence. 
He had a most unmistakable way of informing 
