I dont dispize musk rat—oh, no!—but i dont worship him.
He haz but phew sins tew answer for; the chief one iz digging holes in the bank of the Erie kanal, and letting the water brake out. He will hav tew answer for this sumtime.
I luv all the animals, all the bugs, all the beasts, all the insex, all the katterpillars, bekauze they are so natral. They are az mutch, if not more, an evidence tew me ov the existance, the power, and the luv, ov an overruling Providence, as man iz.
I kan see az mutch fust klass natur in an angleworm, akording tew the square inch, az i kan see in an elephant.
I luv tew go phooling around amung the animiles ov all kinds in a warm day; i had rather set down bi the side ov an ant hill and see the whole swarm pitch onto a lazy kuss who won’t work, and run him out ov the diggins, than tew set six hours at the opera and applaud what i don’t understand, and weep at the spot whare the rest do, and pay 3 dollars for the privilege ov doing it.
THE MINK.
The mink iz about fourth cuzzin tew the musk rat, and haz sum things in common with him; they both smell alike.
He iz one ov yure land and water citizens, and kan dive deeper, do it quicker, and kum out dryer than enny thing i kno ov.
His phur iz one ov the luxurys ov the present generashun and iz worth az mutch akording tew its size as one dollar bills are.
He haz no very strong pekuliarity ov karakter except hiz perfume, which iz about haff way in its smell between the beaver and the musk rat.