THE RACCOON.
Come, child, and see our pet Raccoon,--
The Raccoons live in the woods, you know;
But ours was caught,
And caged, and brought
From old Virginia, long ago.
Oh, no, you need not be afraid.
See, he is fastened with a chain;
For ropes enough
He has gnawed off,
And he is hard to catch again.
He e'en will climb this ten-foot fence,
And, careless where his feet may strike,
He tumbles, bang!
And there will hang,
His rope being caught by vine or spike.
And once the rascal ran away;
Was gone for days, and maybe weeks ;
When children came,
And charging blame,
Said, "Your Raccoon has caught our chicks."
"He's on our roof a-making mouth,
And chatters when we would go near.
We wish you'd come
and take time home,
So that our chick need not fear." [{187}]
So now he's chained; yet up he'll climb
The stake to which he's fastened tight,
And mutter low,
So pleading, Oh!
'T would make you sorry for him, quite.
Just see his nose, so pointed, sharp,--
His ears as keen as keen can be,--
His eyes so bright,
So full of light,
And see him leap right merrily!
His fur, you see, is yellowish gray,--
And he is nearly two feet long;
He lives on roots,
And nuts and fruits,
When he's his native woods among.
But here we give him bread and milk;
He never eats like dogs or lambs,
But takes it up
From out the cup
With his fore-foot, as we use hands.