Mrs. Frazer was very much entertained with the story, and she told Lady
Mary that she had heard of tame beavers doing such things before; for in
the season of the year when beavers congregate together to repair their
works and build their winter houses, those that are in confinement become
restless and unquiet, and show the instinct that moves these animals to
provide their winter retreats, and lay up their stores of food.

"Nurse," said Lady Mary, "I did not think that beavers and racoons could
be taught to eat sweet cake, and bread and meat."

"Many animals learn to eat very different food to what they are
accustomed to live upon in a wild state. The wild cat lives on raw flesh;
while the domestic cat, you know, my dear, will eat cooked meat, and even
salt meat, with bread and milk and many other things. I knew a person who
had a black kitten called 'Wildfire,' who would sip whiskey-toddy out of
his glass, and seemed to like it as well as milk or water, only it made
him too wild and frisky."

"Nurse, the racoon that the gentleman had, would drink sweet whiskey-punch;
but my governess said it was not right to give it to him; and Major
Pickford laughed, and declared the racoon must have looked very funny when
it was tipsy. Was not the Major naughty to say so?"

Mrs. Frazer said it was not quite proper.

"But, nurse, I have not told you about the racoon,--he was a funny
fellow; he was very fond of a little spaniel and her puppies, and took a
great deal of care of them; he brought them meat and anything nice that
had been given him to eat; but one day he thought he would give them a
fine treat, so he contrived to catch a poor cat by the tail, and drag her