concertina at the same moment, and scrambled up the nearest tree.

The Fox's fury then knew no bounds; he trampled on the concertina, he
bit it, he tore open the bellows, and having reduced it to a shapeless
mass, bore it away to his hole.

When the coast was quite clear, FRANK descended, and slunk home.

The next morning one of the keepers found a dead fox. It had
apparently died of suffocation, as sixteen ivory concertina-stops were
found in its throat.

FRANK now has entirely ceased to believe in Ancient Mythology, and
has been even heard to hint that he considers Dr. LEMPRIÈRE a bit of
a humbug.

* * * * *

"LOST TO SIGHT, TO MEMORY DEAR."--An animal very difficult to secure
again when once off ... and that is ... "a pony," when you've lost it
on Newmarket Heath.

* * * * *

LETTERS TO ABSTRACTIONS.

NO. IX.--TO CROOKEDNESS.

I dispense with all formal opening, and I begin at once. I want to
tell you a story. Don't ask me why; for, even if I answered the truth,