Mamma said it was
drawn so, to show it while it was in the act of flying; but it is not
pretty--it does not show its beautiful tail, nor its bright eyes, nor soft
silky fur. I heard a lady tell mamma about a nest full of dear, tiny
little flying squirrels, that her brother once found in a tree in the
forest; he tamed them, and they lived very happily together, and would
feed from his hand. They slept in the cold weather like dormice; in the
daytime they lay very still, but would come out, and gambol and frisk
about at night. But somebody left the cage open, and they all ran away
except one; and that he found in his bed, where it had run for shelter,
with its little nose under his pillow. He caught the little fellow, and it
lived with him till the spring, when it grew restless, and one day got
away, and went off to the woods."
"These little creatures are impatient of confinement, and will gnaw
through the woodwork of the cage to get free, especially in the spring of
the year. Doubtless, my dear, they pine for the liberty which they used to
enjoy before they were captured by man."
"Nurse, I will not let my little pet be unhappy. As soon as the warm days
come again, and my governess has taken his picture, I will let him go
free.
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