FINDING NATURE’S TREASURES 95 
She did not even open her eyes when Uncle Jack picked 
her up. After they sat down, Uncle Jack turned Mother 
Opossum over on her back. 
“What is that on her stomach?" asked Bess. 
“That is her pocket full of treasures/' said Uncle Jack. 
Just then a sharp little face with bright eyes peeped 
at them through an opening in Mother Opossum's skin. 
The girls clapped their hands and laughed with joy. 
The baby jerked its head back inside. 
“Oh, do let us take one out of the pocket, Uncle Jack," 
begged Marylee. 
“Yes, please do," begged Bess. 
Uncle Jack took out one of the babies and put it on 
Marylee's hand. 
At first, the little thing was frightened, but Marylee 
held her hand very still. Soon the baby seemed to think 
that Marylee was a friend. It stood on its feet and walked 
around on her hand. She put one finger of her other 
hand down by the baby opossum. The little tail wrapped 
around her finger and held on tightly. Marylee raised 
her finger, but the little opossum did not let go. Higher 
and higher Marylee lifted it until the opossum was hang¬ 
ing with its head down and its feet waving in the air. 
“See its funny little front feet!" cried Bess. “They 
have a thumb and four pink fingers almost like a baby's 
hand." 
Marylee put the opossum down in her lap. It made a 
queer noise almost like a puppy trying to bark. 
“Why does it make that noise?" asked Bess. 
