Musk-rats and beavers are used for food, but the flesh of the
otter is too fishy to be eaten."
"Nurse, can people eat musk-rats?" asked Lady Mary, with surprise.
"Yes, my lady, in the spring months the hunters and Indians reckon them
good food. I have eaten them myself, but I did not like them, they were
too fat. Musk-rats build a little house of rushes, and plaster it, they
have two chambers, and do not lie torpid, they build in shallow, rushy
places in lakes but in spring they quit their winter houses and are often
found in holes among the roots of trees. They live on mussels and shell
fish. The fur is used in making caps, and hats, and fur gloves."
"Nurse, did you ever see a tame beaver?"
"Yes, my dear, I knew a squaw who had a tame beaver, which she used to
take out in her canoe with her, and it sat in her lap, or on her shoulder,
and was very playful." Just then the dinner bell rang, and as dinner at
Government House waits for no one, Lady Mary was obliged to defer hearing
more about beavers until another time.
CHAPTER VIII.
INDIAN BOY AND HIS PETS--TAME BEAVER AT HOME--KITTEN, WILDFIRE--PET RACOON
AND THE SPANIEL PUPPIES--CANADIAN FLORA.
"Nurse, you have told me a great many nice stories; now I can tell you one,
if you would like to hear it;" and the Governor's little daughter fixed
her bright eyes, beaming with intelligence, on the face of her nurse, who
smiled, and said she should like very much to hear the story.
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