Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-04
q QUEER PET.

Lively Times for Its Owner.
People make pets OF all sorts Of
things; snakes, and lizards, and porcu-
pines, and almost any queer creatures
you can think of. Indeed, some people
like queer animals for pets better than
the ordinary kind, such as cats and
dogs. Oddly has it's charms, you know.
Many people are attracted by thing
just because it is unlike anything else.
Did you ever know any one who kept
q turtle for pet? Turtles are not very
uncommon. You have found them
yourself perhaps, in the country. They
can be bought in many places in the
city for very little money. Ten, fifteen,
or twenty cents will buy nice little
turtle. He will sit and sun himself on
the carpet in the bright spot of sun
shine; catch flies quicker than you
would believe possible of such a stupid
looking little creature, and sleep in the
corner, or under the baby's crib, when
ever he thinks it time to retire for the
night.
About ten years ago there lived
little turtle in acertain house in Brook
lyn; and this same animal made me get
out of bed on many a cold winter night
Think Of getting up for the sake Of
turtle! Yet did it often. l do not
know whether Mr.. Turtle kept up his
funny trick deliberately and enjoyed
the joke, laughing under his shell when
he saw me jump out of bed; but often
thought he did, and was provoked
enough to wish him anywhere-but
where / found him.
He was a little fellow, not more than
six inches long, but he had a deter
mined mind of his own. If he had been
sensible turtle he would have settled
himself every night in a corner and
been heard of no more until the next
morning. But he never did that. He
spent the night wandering up and down
the room where he lived And his
favorite exploring place was under the
treadle of the sewing machine. Every
night regularly he walked about, and
finally worked himself into that place
and apparently could not get out again.
Then his fun would begin-and mine
In his struggles to get out he knocked
his head back against the iron work
Thump! thump! thump! 1t always
woke me instantly. | knew what had
happened to Mr.. Turtle, and | knew he
would keep up that noise and keep
every human being in the room awake,
so long as he was stuck under that sew
ing machine. I knew he could not get
out himself, and / would have to get up
and take him out. And / did it, night
after night And, after I had taken
him out very often he would go back,
and do the same thing over again.
What finally became of Mr.. Turtle?
Well, not long after that little boy
who lived in the same room with the
turtle had a visitor, and he and the Wis
itor wanted to take the turtle down
stairs to play with. That little boy
is a big boy now, and objects
to seeing his name in print, SO
l will only say that he and his
small visitor finished up Mr.. Turtle
that day-most decidedly. They left him
on the dining table, and in his efforts
to get down Mr.. Turtle fell off the ia
BILE and broke mis- back all across,
which accident caused his untimely
death.
Except for his affection for getting
stuck under the sewing machine, he
was a quiet, harmless little fellow, and
gave the family much amusement. 1t
was a pity that same little boy should
have treated him so carelessly.
have lately heard of a turtle who
lives peacefully with two kittens. He
watches their gambols, and enjoys
their sports until they become too
familiar when he resents the freedom
by nip on the tail of the offending kit
ten. This turtle, too, likes to catch
flies. and lie in the warmest corner of
the hearth.
Turtles do not seem odd pets; but
they are the most unobtrusive, harm
less and least Objectionable of any pets
know. They can be kept in an upper
room. They require little feeding; and
their funny, staid ways make them in
teresting to any little boy or girl who
may like to try something new in that
line.-Eva Lovett Carson, in \. Y. indie
pendent.
Little Girl (reading)-" Nature un-
adorned is adorned the most What
does that mean?" Little Brother latter
deep Thoughtful guess it means a
roast chicken is nicer than a chicken
Wit its feathers ou."-Good News.
Miss Flora \. Jones, South Bend, Ind.