Indian, you know, Mrs. Frazer. After the boy went away, the gentleman set
to work and made a little log-house for his beaver to live in, and set it
in a corner of the shanty; and he hollowed a large sugar-trough for his
water, that he might have water to wash in, and cut down some young
willows and poplars and birch-trees for him to eat, and the little beaver
grew-very fond of his new master; it would fondle him just like a little
squirrel, put its soft head on his knee, and climb upon his lap; he taught
it to eat bread, sweet cake, and biscuit, and even roast and boiled meat,
and it would drink milk too.

"Well, nurse, the little beaver lived very happily with this kind
gentleman till the next fall, and then it began to get very restless and
active, as if it were tired of doing nothing. One day his master heard of
the arrival of a friend some miles off, so he left Mister Beaver to take
care of himself, and went away; but he did not forget to give him some
green wood, and plenty of water to drink and play in; he stayed several
days, for he was very glad to meet with a friend in that lonely place; but
when he came, he could not open his door, and was obliged to get in at the
window. What do you think the beaver had done? It had built a dam against
the side of the trough, and a wall across the door, and it had dug up the
hearth and the floor, and carried the earth and the stones to help to make
his dam, and puddled it with water, and made such work! the house was in
perfect confusion, with mud, chips, bark, and stone; and, oh nurse, worse
than all that, it had gnawed through the legs of the tables and chairs,
and they were lying on the floor in such a state, and it cost the poor
gentleman so much trouble to put things to rights again, and make more
chairs and another table! and when I laughed at the pranks of that wicked
beaver, for I could not help laughing, the Major pinched my ear, and
called me a mischievous puss."