Evening star., 1937-10-10

IHOllleS But Ine
Collingswoods began to tell about
Toms other pets and the stories were
so good we thought we'd like to pass
on a few of them.
AS long as he can remember, it
seems, Tom has been making pets
out of all sorts of creatures that came
his way His fair for tanning I'M
domesticated animals and birds into
nice, agreeable pets has become well
known among his friends. with the
result that he is Immediately called
to the scene when any unusual cap
ture or find is made.
For instance, as Tom himself said
"Whenever any of his neighbors are
troubled with squirrels in their attic
there is an immediate consultation
with Tom. If the squirrels are babies
and their eyes open-hell take them
home, feed and watch after them
until they are strong enough to fend
for themselves. and then turn them
out into the trees.
That is, used to feed them my
self unless I could get the mother to
do so, as in the case of Jessie the
bluejay," Tom said
jessie" he went on, like most
of my pets. was brought to me by
friends. Some of the children in the
neighborhood discovered her when
she was very young-still wearing
pin feathers. There was a cat in
the neighborhood that seemed to be
threatening her life. so 1 agreed to
the responsibility of looking after her
AT that time I tn .ught Jessies
life depended on my efforts. I took
her home and fixed up cage for
her on the back porch, so she could
sleep undisturbed at night. In the
daytime. however, Jessie was allowed
to remain free up on a branch of
a tree, and her mother soon dis
covered her.
The funny thing about it was that
Jessie's mother never seem.d d to resent
our presence. But she thought she
knew more about feeding her baby
than we did, so every day she'd come
into our back yard with something
for Jessie to eat.
Jessie made a grand pet. From
the very first she'd curl her claws
about my finger and seemed to enjoy
the admiration she aroused.
Il kept her until she was strong
enough to fly we'll out of Kitty's
reach Then she was released, but
she never seemed to forget us. She
used to come back for visits and we'd
catch her and hold her for while
and then she'd be off again!"
Then there was the time Tom made
q pet out of 'possum, but this story
has tragic end.
Uncle Billy" as the opossum was
called, was also a gift from some one
who knew of Toms interest in ami
however, his mother, for once, was
little dubious about having him
around. She allowed Tom to keep
him only on the condition that Uncle
Billy give her absolutely no trouble.
Unfortunately, Tom became i'll
shortly after he'd made friends with
Uncle Billy and was forced to bed.
Then Uncle Billy, who was impris-
oned in the basement, made his escape
and crawled into the walls of the
Collingwoods' house. He seemed to
be looking for his young master, how
ever, for he crept into the wall right
outside of Toms bed. And there he
died!
Skunks make wonderful pets, Tom
declared. He's had two.
They are pretty and interesting, if
you fool with them he said. And
then they make wonderful watch-dogs,
because people don't dare to come too
close to them!"
Toms pets have occasionally been
the center of great excitement. His
mother recalls with amusement-now
the time she was giving tea, and
member of the family rushed in.
Have you seen those two snakes
that were out in the box," he asked.
They've gotten loose"
Fortunately, the party was almost
over" Mrs. Collingwood laughed. I'm
afraid I'd have had no receiving line!"
A rabbit that used to attack dogs
who ventured into the back yard, squir-
rels that he carried around in his
pocket, tiny copperhead he discov-
cred recently on trip, dozens of tW-
ties he used to find out in the lakes
when he lived in Michigan have been
included among Toms pets.
And most of them have had inter-
esting personalities and have caused
many mild adventures.
His fish, however, manage to keep
Tom busy enough these days.
He has one aquarium filled with a
variety of guppies, head and tail light
fish. angel fish, black tetra, zebra and
black mollies. In another aquarium
he is raising about Is black mollies
and about IL of the guppies.
Animals are just hobby with him,
however, since, when he completes his
course at Roosevelt High School he ex-
poets to study commercial art.