Lady Mary and her Nurse | Page 8

prey is found in the still waters, and
not on the land; it can neither climb nor leap. So I do not think he
would hurt your squirrel, if you had one."
"See, nurse, my dear little squirrel is still where I left him, clinging to
the wires of the cage, his bright eyes looking like two black beads."
"As soon as it grows dark he will begin to be more lively, and perhaps
he will eat something, but not while we look at him--he is too shy for
that."
"Nurse, how can they see to eat in the dark?"
"The good God, Lady Mary, has so formed their eyes that they can see
best by night. I will read you, Lady Mary, a few Verses from Psalm
civ.:--
"Verse 19. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his
going down.
20. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the
forest do creep forth.
21. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them
down in their dens.
23. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made
them all: the eath is full of thy riches.
"Thus you see, my dear lady, that our heavenly Father taketh care of all

his creatures, and provideth for them both by day and by night."
"I remember, nurse, that my dormice used to lie quite still, nestled
among the moss and wool in their little dark chamber in the cage, all
day long; but when it was night they used to come out and frisk about,
and run along the wires, and play all sorts of tricks, chasing one another
round and round, and they were not afraid of me, but would let me look
at them while they ate a nut, or a bit of sugar; and the dear little things
would drink out of their little white saucer, and wash their faces and
tails--it was so pretty to see them!"
"Did you notice, Lady Mary, how the dormice held their food?"
"Yes, they sat up, and held it in their fore-paws, which looked just like
tiny hands."
"There are many animals whose fore-feet resemble hands, and these,
generally, convey their food to their mouths--among these are the
squirrel and dormice. They are good climbers and diggers. You see, my
dear young lady, how the merciful Creator has given to all his creatures,
however lowly, the best means of supplying their wants, whether of
food or shelter."
"Indeed, nurse, I have learned a great deal about squirrels, Canadian
rice, otters, and Indians; but, if you please, I must now have a little play
with my doll. Good-bye, Mrs. Frazer,--pray take care of my dear little
squirrel, and mind that he does not fly away." And Lady Mary was
soon busily engaged in drawing her wax doll about the nursery in a
little sleigh lined with red squirrel fur robes, and talking to her as all
children like to talk to their dolls, whether they be rich or poor--the
children of peasants, or governors' daughters.

CHAPTER III
.
LADY MARY READS TO MRS. FRAZER THE FIRST PART OF
THE HISTORY OF THE SQUIRREL FAMILY.
One day Lady Mary came to her nurse, and putting her arms about her
neck, whispered to her,--"Mrs. Frazer, my dear good governess has
given me something--it is in my hand," and she slily held her hand
behind her-- "will you guess what it is?"
"Is it a book, my lady?"

"Yes, yes, it is a book, a pretty book; and see, here are pictures of
squirrels in it. Mrs. Frazer, if you like, I will sit down on this cushion
by you and read some of my new book. It does not seem very hard."
Then Mrs. Frazer took out her work-basket and sat down to sew, and
Lady Mary began to read the little story, which, I hope, may entertain
my little readers as much as it did the Governor's daughter.
THE HISTORY OF A SQUIRREL FAMILY
It must be a pleasant thing to be a squirrel, and live a life of freedom in
the boundless forests; to leap and bound among the branches of the tall
trees; to gambol in the deep shade of the cool glossy leaves, through the
long warm summer day; to gather the fresh nuts and berries; to drink
the pure dews of heaven, all bright and sparkling from the opening
flowers; to sleep on soft beds of moss and thistle-down in some hollow
branch rocked by the wind as in a cradle. Yet, though this was the
happy life led by a