THE WISE BEAVER. 115

sprang across after them, and soon led her charges beyond
the reach of the hunter’s bullets.

Trust your mother; she, in most cases, will find means
to help you out of trouble.

 

THE WISE BEAVER.

You have often heard of the wonderful way in which
beavers in America build their houses and dams. They
seem, however, to be guided by instinct rather than by reason.
I will tell you of a beaver that lived as a captive in France.

To supply him with food, all sorts of things—fruits,
vegetables, and small branches of trees—were thrown to him.
His keepers, knowing that he came from a cold climate, took
no means to keep him warm. Winter coming on, one night
large flakes of snow were driven by the wind into a corner
of his cage. The poor beaver, who, in his own country,
forms a warm house for himself, almost perished with the
cold. I£ man would not help him, he must try to help
himself to build a cell which would shelter him from the icy
blast. The materials at his disposal were the branches of
trees given him to gnaw. These he wove between the bars
of his cage, filling up the spaces with the carrots and apples
which had been thrown in for his food. Besides this, he
plastered the whole with snow, which froze during the night ;
and next morning it was found that he had built a wall of
goodly height, which perfectly answered his purpose.

Make the best of the means at your disposal, as well as
of the talents you possess.