Squirrel--squirrel hung his head; "Oh! speak not thus," he sadly said, "Heav'n gave me once a woodland home Where I the livelong day might roam, And gaily leap from branch to twig As blithe and merry as a grig; Then came a wicked man who laid The snare by which I'm captive made, And now 'twill be my mournful doom Instead of in the forest free, To live pent in a narrow room By way of bush or stately tree! What wonder if, thus sad and lorn, From all my dearest habits torn, A-foraging I sometimes go And get a snubbing or a blow? Child, should you on some summer's day, Within the greenwood chance to stray, I pray you that from me you greet The happy creatures that you meet, The fawns, ants, sparrows and the hares And tell them how with me it fares, That while they leap, creep, sing and fly. In chains and prison I must lie." [Illustration] A STROLL IN THE COUNTRY Put on your hat and let us take A stroll amidst the rural scene-- The boat is gliding o'er the lake, [Illustration] The cows are browsing pastures green, The herdsman's horns the echoes wake, And holiday like Nature's self we'll make! [Illustration] Into the garden next let's come To pluck a pear or downy plum, And hear the bird's sweet trilling-- [Illustration: ] While all around, on fragrant beds, The flowerets lift their little heads, The air with perfume filling. [Illustration: ] The merry kid is leaping gaily, And soberer Nanny gives us daily Sweet milk to make us cheese; While all our tastes to please, His nets the busy fisher flings, And eels and carp for dinner brings. THE OTTER. The Otter belongs to a class of animals which we may call the Weasel tribe. Their bodies are long and lithe, and their legs short. This family includes the weasel (its smallest member), the stoat, the ferret, the pole-cat, the marten, and the otter (its largest member). You may then think of the Otter as a water-ferret, or water-weasel. He can swim most elegantly, and he is a beautiful diver. Let a fish glide underneath him, and he is after it in a moment; and as the fish darts here and there to escape, the Otter follows each rapid movement with unerring precision. When the fish is caught, the Otter carries it to the bank and makes a meal. But the Otter is like naughty Jack who leaves a saucy plate--he spoils much more fish than he eats. The trout and other fish are so much alarmed at the appearance of an Otter, that they will sometimes fling themselves on the bank to get out of his way. [Illustration] THE MASTIFF.