to have had his
great toe cut off, and then he might have been better able to
judge, by the pain he felt, how the squirrel liked the cutting
off his tail. I think I never heard any thing so barbarous.

_James._ I say, Jack, let us have some fun with this lop-tail
squirrel: while they are talking, they will not see us.

_John._ Ay, so we will.

They then proceeded to action. The young ladies were so busy,
they did not see these two mischievous boys, till they had set me
on Eliza's head; who giving a violent scream, alarmed the whole
company. Emily, in getting up in a hurry, overturned Fanny, who
was not sitting quite steadily in her chair; she gave her a blow,
which Emily returned, and confusion was the word for near an hour;
when peace was restored by the entrance of the alderman and his
lady, who, after having in vain tried to learn the cause of the
bustle, proposed a game at cards. James and Caroline desired to
set out, so, while the rest of the company were at cards, they
amused themselves by tormenting me. At last tired by constant
exercise, and irritated by James, who pricked me with his
toothpick whenever I attempted to rest, I waited for a good
opportunity, and as he laid his finger close to my cage, (while
he was talking to some of the card party) I gave him a bite he
has remembered ever since, I dare say. It so exasperated him,
that he pricked me now more than ever; and Caroline joined him in
persecuting me. I had once or twice attempted to bite her, which
she was aware of; but James dropping his toothpick into my cage,
made me watch well, as I knew one of them would try to take it
out. At last Caroline ventured, and just as she put her finger
in, somebody spoke to her, and she forgot to take it out, till
the pain she felt from one of my bites made her withdraw it rather
hastily. The scream she gave so startled the alderman, that he
overset the card table upon his lady; the girls jumped up, the
boys laughed, I went round and caused a violent ringing: so that
they, who before were so desirous that I should do it, were now
more desirous I should stand still. The alderman often attempted
to speak, but my ringing entirely drowned his voice; till at
length enraged, he came to my cage, and having pulled me out, and
flung me into a corner of the room, where I staid very quietly,
he began to pull off the bells, which hung over the cage; which,
when he had done, he tossed them, one by one, to the company,
telling