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On twigs of hawthorn he regal'd,

On pippins' ruffet peel,

And, when his juicy falads fail'd,

Slic'd carrot pleas'd him well.

A Turkey carpet was his lawn
Whereon he lov'd to bound,

To skip and gambol like a fawn,
And swing his rump around.

His frisking was at evening hours,
For then he loft his fear,

But most before approaching show'rs,

Or when a ftorm drew near.

Eight years and five round-rolling moons

He thus faw fteal away,

Dozing out all his idle noons,

And ev'ry night at play.

I kept him for his humour' fake,
For he would oft beguile

My heart of thoughts that made it ache,
And force me to a smile.

But now, beneath this walnut shade
He finds his long, last home,
And waits, in fnug concealment laid,
Till gentler Pufs fhall come.

He, ftill more aged, feels the fhocks
From which no care can fave,
And, partner once of Tiney's box,
Muft foon partake his grave.

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NOTE to Line 7, Page 85.

In the year 1774, being much indifpofed both in mind and body, incapable of diverting myself either with company or books, and yet in a condition that made fome diverfion neceffary, I was glad of any thing that would engage my attention without fatiguing it. The children of a neighbour of mine had a leveret given them for a plaything; it was at that time about three months old. Understanding better how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and, soon becoming weary of their charge, they readily confented that their father, who faw it pining and growing leaner every day, should offer it to my acceptance. I was willing enough to take the prifoner under my protection, perceiving that, in the management of such an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, I fhould find just that fort of employment which my cafe required. It was foon known among the neighbours that I was pleased with the prefent; and the confequence was, that in a short time I had as many leverets offered to me as would have ftocked a paddock. I undertook the care of three, which it is neceffary that I should here diftin

guish by the names I gave them-Pufs, Tiney, and Befs. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellatives, I must inform you that they were all males. Immediately commencing carpenter, I built them houfes to fleep in; each had a separate apartment, fo contrived that their ordure would pass through the bottom of it; an earthen pan placed under each received whatsoever fell, which being duly emptied and washed, they were thus kept perfectly sweet and clean. In the day-time they had the range of a hall, and at night retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of another.

Pufs grew prefently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would fuffer me to take him up and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen fast asleep upon my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows that they might not moleft him (for, like many other wild animals, they perfecute one of their own fpecies that is fick), and by conftant care, and trying him with a variety of herbs, restored him to perfect health. No creature could be more grateful than my patient after his recovery; a fentiment which he moft fignificantly

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