s spied me, and winked at young Howard, who, mounting the
table which stood under the glass, made me once more his prisoner.
I was then put into my cage and exercised, but presently taken
out again, and my chain fastened on, to hinder my escape if I
attempted it a second time. Mr. Howard told Tom that he was sure,
by having me out so soon after my fright, I should certainly get
loose; however, Tom began to play with me, till a lucky accident
put an end to his joy, and gave me my liberty. A nice plate of
apples was placed between young Howard and Wilkins. Now there
happened to be one among them much finer than the rest; on this
apple they had both fixed their eyes, and both tried which could
finish eating what they had begun, that they might take the fine
one, which had so charmed them only by looking at it. But Miss
Wilkins, who had likewise seen it, and most likely longed for it
as much as they did, asked her brother to hand her the plate. He
seized, (or tried to seize, for Howard was as quick as he,) the
favourite apple, and a skirmish ensued; in which glorious skirmish
I was knocked off the table. The maid coming in at the very
moment, I ran down stairs and out at the street door, where the
milkman was standing; which was, I suppose, the reason the maid
came up stairs. I continued running as fast as I could, (for my
chain sadly hindered me,) till I came to some fields, where I
climbed a tree and stayed in it all night.

_CHAPTER II._

When night came I found myself very hungry, so ventured to come
down. My chain rattling at my heels, hindered me from running;
but, however I got, on a good way, when I felt myself stopped,
and found I was entangled in a gooseberry bush, in a very handsome
garden. Fortunately, the owner used to walk in it every morning
before breakfast; I saw her pass me once or twice, (for I waited
very patiently till morning,) but one time, as she was walking by,
I made an effort to get loose, which made her turn, and perceiving
me, she called her servant to extricate me. She then carried me
into the parlour, and put me into a cage; not such a one as I had
inhabited before, it was a very nice one, without any bells. In
the parlour was a young lady about fourteen years old; between
whom and the lady I heard the following dialogue.

[Illustration: _I made an effort to get loose._]

_Niece._ Dear, aunt! what have you got another squirrel? What a
pretty one it is! where did you get it?

_A