The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
VA Is OF A PET B1DG Err.
A Somewhat Rare Animal brought Up
Under Close Observation.

hs.h A%Nuo Nhhnnot " "
Under Close Observation.
From the Youths Companion.
George found our badger. nearly two years ago,
at the bottom Of n rnvine one day while out
hunting. Apparently the little thing had fallen
over the cliff. but landing In a soft bed Of dead
leaves had not been hurt. Aqueer. fiat. furry
creature he was. with a gray coat beautifully
striped with pure white from near the tip of his
nose to the middle of his back, where the stripe
broke. to begin again a little further down and
continue to the base Of his stubby tail.
There were other white stripes from his dainty
black nose back to his ears; his feet were black
and armed with claws that even then looked
formidable. but his eyes were fast shut, and
there was not n tooth in the little mouth that
opened feebly and emitted n faint cry when
George picked him up. The little thing was al
most nat, with the Queerest legs-surely the
shortest and most comical Of any animal.
George dropped the baby badger into a pocket
OF his shooting-jacket and comforted by the
warmth and darkness II at once went fast asleep.
There was quite a sensation when the baby
badger was introduced into the family circle.
Midnight the cat at once betook herself out Of
doors and up a tree; Naylor aud Poncy. the bea-
giles. retired growing: and even Ben ard Bonnie,
the two Irish settlers. circled ~Ringerly around
the stranger. making feints and then retiring.
as though experience with this kind had taught
them to be wary.
None of the human members Of the family
knew what the creature was. Its like had not
been seen by any one in the vicinity before, and
there was a good deal of speculation as to what
1t might be.
1T can't hurt any one now. that's certain
SAID grandmother Storm. FOR Il has no teeth"
Whatever tits. it's too beautiful to be killed"
was Grandfather Storms verdict: and George
A nursing bottle was procured and the queer
baby took to it readily, In q few days the
teeth began to appear in the small mouth.
That Is a badger" said u mighty hunter from
up the canon. WHO came down to see the un-
in hn"yyeeaurs years. They never wers very c con mere
Sure enough, the little fellow proved to be a
badger kind. .Meies iseradoried. seldom seen out
side OF California and Texas. and not now com
mon in either OF those States.
Having plenty of good Jersey milk. Badge"
waxed fat apace. and became as mischievous AS
kitten. he was constantly under foot. His I'm.
expected appearances In sitting room or parlor.
when he was supposed 10 be securely excluded
from the house. alarmed more than one visitor.
He looks like an animated door mat" ono
said. and the description was not inapt. Who
queer s%colding. Badges voice is like that Of a
VERY young, crying baby. but a baby with the
as though a hundred pins were pr:cking that
baby all at once. Sometimes. IL very angry,
Badge will squeal like a pig. and then. although
ne has never but once attacked any one, 1t Is
deemed discreet to leave him unmolesied.
He is really the best natured OF creatures.
his is to secure a certain rubber ball. the cher
ished property Of Bess, n young fox terrier. and
Quick and eager Bess Is more than a match
for the badger. who is as yet no fighter. and can
only manage TO retain the ball by stratagem.
forepaws and roll himself into a hard, compac
furry ball. IL Is too heavy for Bess to move.
and the long. thick. shining hair is as good as a
coat of mail against her teeth, so she can do
nothing but dance barking around it. in an
ecstasy OF impotent fury. until Badge may
~Theu-presto! Bess has him by the head,
snddK bea, h a ret urSil @hi IS f bs us 10 nr" dn a.s S 6a"ty
ward. for he can run almost as we'll backward
as forward. His hind legs are shorter, II posi-
ference in his getting about.
Badge is 80 fat that it is impossible to feel his
tempted To- believe he has none. When he sees
n distant object thar takes his fancy. instead OF
with astounding rapidly. until he reaches it.
He will also do this at the word 81 command:
and the sight Is worth witnessing. for one would
almost as readily expect u platter to roll over as
Badges fiat body.
! have seen him lie fiat on his back. then raise
apparently standing on RkRs stump OF a tail. ard
then drop on all fours without SO much as wink
The creatures strength is amazing. He is
scarcely two feet long. but he shoves with ease
Weights a load for two men. In ike he
once moved the heavy Kitchen range from its
corner to the middle of the floor.
lie Is not to be trusted alone near the stove.
for it is his greatest delight to open the door
and rake. with his long claws. all the ashes and
would be u terrible foe, for his claws are three
or four inches long, while his teeth are sharp
more to be dreaded than that Of the bulldog.
ne owes this ZIP TO- a peculiar formation OF
other mammals. The lower jaw is jointed with
the upper by a transverse knuckle OF bone that
locks Iirmly into a long cavity IN tho skull. 40
With his sharp teeth badge can bite clean
through a good-sized bone.
badge In q model housekeepcr In, his way. He
Is very fond of cherries. nihhlinp the food daInt-
ny ana rejecting the, pit. When he has finished
to "A knothole In the floor of tho porch and drops
them through it TO the ground.
Every morning when he gets up ne carries his
ana throws 1t over the boards that fence him In.
A. night he always carries IL back, but through
TIE day u gets thoroughly aired.
He vii! beg ami ecold vociferously IL he is not
given his daily bath. This he taxes in q large
then getting 10. first On his, belly; then turning
on, his back. When n mere baby he fell into u
any large, amount OF water VIII sill f%righten
nm; but he enjoys his shallow pan immensely.
which he uses AS cIcvcrly a. does u bear or n
m Fl. bSid I,fhI hin fd II " n I h n"Rp pm1s. i " nnd is yerv
gentlemanly indeed in his table manners. Nor
con!d any line gentleman be more particular ns
to his diet. He il fond of game. and Inns 10 be
vigorously Kept from tho chicken yard. lie is
particularly fond OF squirrels. and always ex-
poets George to bring him one when he goes out
with his gun. IL the squirrel Is not forthcoming
a scoldlng Ia sure 10 be.
Milk toast liz a favorite Injury with him, AS
are most fruits, for the badger Is both carniror-
Gus and graminivorOu|. one morning, standing
by Tn, kitchen stove. he daintily ate nine buck
wheat cakes. but could never again be persuaded
to taste one.
Grandm0the Storm Is the only one who VEN
lures Ia correct the badger for his mtschievous
acts. No one else would dare strike him; hut
nhe spanks him ign0mi niously when his mis-
deeds are ~iiaarant.. lie always stands perfectly
hlIl! and tax es his chaStlsement, Hrunting in
the funniest fashion mt every blow, and, Lie or
deal over. usually offers 70 kiss and make up.
Badge does not seem Ia be In the lea, 4 treach-
erous. Any i'll treatment awRkons his prompt
resentment, ana the offender will do we'll TO re-
tire for the time being: but he Is peAreable and
forgiving and rarely holds, resentment. When
strangers appear he will shake hands sooiAbly.
and 10 always glad Of company.