that they would voluntarily lick the milk from the teaspoon, and finally gather round the saucer, helping themselves freely to the milk and bran, and without any further invitation, nibble a morsel of bread from our hands, or eat parsley or any other tender herb we chose to offer them.

With such encouragement to persevere, no wonder if we entertained lively hopes respecting our young leverets. Without further delay we set about feeding Tots and Browny, for so we named our adopted favourites, but not without many remonstrances on their parts. Never having been accustomed to be served out of silver, the little hares did not seem to know what to make of these shining pap-boats, which we so unceremoniously forced between their teeth, and many were the attempts they made to escape from our hands; but generally speaking, they evinced their displeasure by preserving a sullen and stupid de

meanour.

Perseverance will overcome many difficulties, and we had at length the satisfaction of perceiving Browny beginning to suck the milk from the spoon, and Tots soon follow his sister's worthy example, and several teaspoonfuls were demolished to our delight. I must however notice, that part of the milk was spilled on their breasts, which circumstance sadly distressed the cleanly creatures. Their first movement, when released from our laps, was that of washing their breasts and feet, till they had reduced the refractory fur to a tolerable degree of smoothness.

The difference in character between these two little hares was very decided. Though by far the smaller, and more weakly of the two, Browny was the more lively and engaging her love of order formed a striking feature in her disposition. As soon as the tidy little thing (to use an expressive provincial term) had carefully cleaned her own fur, she would go to her companion,

and diligently assist in recomposing his ruffled coat, licking his head, ears, breast, and back, with the greatest care and tenderness, which good office Tots never considered it incumbent on him to perform in return; a want of gratitude that served to endear Browny the more to me, though Tots had been the object of my more peculiar care. Browny was not only more cleanly in her general habits, but of a more docile and tractable temper, and soon learned to ingratiate herself, by licking our hands, and greeting us with various tokens. of regard.

After having fed our little nursling, our next care was to prepare them a habitation, and a commodious wooden box was soon selected from the lumber-yard, into which, having comfortably lined it with soft hay and moss, we introduced our little hares; and as the night promised to be cold, they were permitted to remain in a distant corner of the school-room; an indulgence for

which we were very grateful, as it gave us an opportunity of watching all their manœuvres, which were of a most amusing description.

As night drew on, these little creatures, which had before appeared so sullen and mopish, seemed to awaken into life and glee. Without betraying the smallest dread of our persons, they skipped about, playing a thousand wanton and gamesome tricks; leaping over one another, racing and chacing all over the room like two lively kittens. Then, when tired with these exertions, they would sit down, side by side, as demurely as possible; nestling closely together, licking each others ears and noses. with the most caressing affection; then separating, they would make the tour of the room, examining every object with minute scrutiny and apparent curiosity. They seemed mightily well pleased with the gay hearth-rug; and having attentively examined it, came and squatted down in

front of the fender, or seated themselves on the hem of one of our frocks, without the least apprehension of danger. They were, in fact, the most innocent and engaging little animals you could imagine. When they ran, they perched up their ears, (which at other times laid flat to their heads,) and sprang forward with a sort of bound, sometimes cutting the most comical capers sideways. These little creatures became so much attached to us, that if we only moved across the room, they would run after us, skipping across our path, and raising themselves on their hinder feet, as if to solicit our regard. One of Browny's favourite seats was between my feet, as I sat before the fire of an evening, when she amused herself by nibbing my shoe-ribbons, or biting the hem of my gown; but these frolics were only of an evening. During the day they kept closely together in their box under the hay, and never moved, or appeared to take the least interest in any