Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-02-09
rel in the cage, and said, with the utmost
i l. IL

1.-TWO dollars" said the Oldest, at ven
ture, and then opened his eyes in astonish
ment, as much at his own audacity as al
my silence-which seemed to imply assent
to his extortion.
You see, l had opened the cage, and
bunny had slipped out, scrambled up or
my arm, and lodged himself close around
my neck, where lay with his little head
tucked under my chin. How could LEI
the little thing go? So gave the boy hi:
two dollars, for which he generously of
clined, intending to make house-dog Of
bunny. The sagacity, gentleness and play
fulness of little Fritz are beyond all de
scription though his bump of destructive
ness, must acknowledge, was also very
largely developed. He was still young
and 1 could keep him on window-sill
quite safely, till I felt sure of his attach
ment to me, and his disinclination to make
his escape. The window-sill and the open
window remained his favorite post to the
end of his life; though, when he grew
older, he would occasionally jump from my
bedroom window, in the second story
to the grass and flower-beds below. He
had not been in the house more than
week befoIe he followed me about like
a dog, and took his place close by al
the table, eating and drinking anything
had mind to offer him. He drank coffee
out of cup, and ate the meat l gave him
holding it in his paws, as little children
hold strip of meat In their hands-nib
bling and sucking it with great gusto.
I cannot conceal that the woodwork
the furniture, and all the books, through.
out the house, soon displayed ragged
edges and torn surfaces and mother (whO
had taken up her abode with us), who
punished Fritz for his depredations some
times, was held in high disfavor by him
in consequence. When / was not at
home, he would hardly allow her to
touch him, and would hide under the pill
lows on my bed, at her approach, barking
and scolding with great vehemence. To
me he never said an "unkind word !" on
the contrary, could hardly secure myself
from his caresses. Sometimes | would
place him on the top of a tall cupboard OF
high wardrobe, to get him away from un-
der my feet; but the moment passed any,
where within reaching distance, he would
fly down ON me, and, settling on my hand,
face, or shoulder, would fall to licking my
face, and nibbling at my ears and nose, to
assure me of his favor. l fear l have
slarped him more than once for marking
my face with his little sharp claws, when
making one of these sudden descents. AT
night, he slept under my pillow and early
in the morning he would creep out, nibble
at my eyelids, and switch me with his
bushy tail. Without opening my eyes, !
would reach out for handful of nuts
opened and placed within reach the night
beforehand with these he would amuse
himself for long while, always cleaning
his face and paws after disposing of his first
breakfast. With sundown he went to sleep
but, ofwarm nights, when I went to bed late
would carry his little drinking-cu to
him, filled with ice-water. Half asleep
sometimes with his eyes closed, he would
take long drink; but never once, of all
those nights, did he return to his pillow
without first gratefully passing his little
tongue over the hand that held him That
he knew it was my hand, | am quite GER
tain; for if the Captain ever attempted to
tonch him, in the middle of the night
when Fritz was ever so sound asleep, he
would Immediately start up with snarl
and snap at the Captains fingers whereas
if thrust my handunder the pillow, in the
dead of night, he would lick it and rub
his nose against it.
With nothing but little basket to carry
him in, took him with me for Journey
ON Mississippi steamer. 1 left him in
the basket, while looking after my bag
gage; but when I returned to my state
room, he suddenly jumped on my head
from above, having eaten his way out
through the lid of the basket, and climbed
to the top berth. The stewardess on the
steamer tried to steal him, when near port
but Fritz had made such good use of his
sharp claws and teeth that she was fain to
own: She had on'y wanted to tech the
lilly bunny-hadn't wanted to hurt'm.
t ALL"
1t makes me sad, even now, to think OF
the closing scene of Fritz's short but, lei
me hope, happy life. One day lady, the
mother of a terrible little boy, had come tC
spend the day with Us, and soon dis
covered that either Fritz or the little boy
must be Gagged "up and away" So, pre-
tending to be afraid that the boy might
get hurt, but in reality fearing only fol-
Fritz's welfare, carried the squirrel w
into the lumber-roOm, where / brought
to him nuts without number, apples, sugar
crackers, and water to bathe in and drink
from. There was a pane broken out o.
the window sash, but this l covered with {
piece of pasteboard, and then went dowr
to entertain the lady and her detestablt
little boy. Seated at the window, not long
after, l saw an urchin come running
around the next corner, and, when barely
within speaking distance, he shouted al
the top of his voice: "Say, Missis, they's
got him, round here in the cooper-yard
and he's dead-the SQUIRREL" he added, il
explanation.
Though by no means IN a toilet repre-
senting "street dress"-in fact, with only
one slipper on-I started off on a run, an6
never stopped till my youthful mentor
pointed to circle of men and boys, gath
cred around an object lying on the ground
1t was Fritz writhing in the last agonies o
death, while the boys were calling eacl
others attention to the poor little body
In moment, was among them, and hat
lifted Fritz in my arms, and held him t.
my face.
"Who did that ?" asked, with pain an,
| anger struggling in my heart (which O
| you little brutes killed the poor, harmless
thing?"
The little ragamuffin who had led me t,
the spot pointed to two boys making in
effectual attempts to hide along stick, the,
were carrying behind them.
"They was a-hitting m like fury, an,
then 1 runned to tell you; please, Missis
gimme dime"
Poor little Fritz! He knew me, even il
1 e1AN NASSoAA oeAuSolS, AOl iIO EtaooCO LII
tongue over my hand once more, Just be
fore the last convulsive shudder RAJ
through his body, and his little limb
grew stiff and cold. l don't feel, in tn
least, ashamed to own that I cried-criec
many tears-cried bitterly; and l fel
dreadfully lonesome when / woke up a
night, and, from sheer force of habit, pu
my hand under my pillow, without findin,
Fritz there.-OverEGnd Monthly.
| THE Boston IFaUezer says: CA lad,
who had been boarding at Southeri
Hotel, among sick and dying Northerl
people, writes Indignantly to her friend
about the cruelty of sending hopeless in
valids away from the convenience and com
forts of home, to suffer and die amon
strangers, without any home comforts an
alleviations. And yet, physicians are cor
tinually doing this same thing. Having
patient for whom they can do nothing
they send him South, with the delusiv
hope of recovery, when there is nothin
before him but sad and solitary deatl
away from home and friends. In the il
cipient stages of disease, and when th
patient is well enough to take care of hin
self, and to bear without great sufferin