94 Eclectic series. not belong to him; and Tom’s suspicion interfered sadly with his enjoyment. 6.  Finally, it became such a torment to him, that he had serious thoughts of burning it, or burying it, or giving it away; but a better plan suggested itself. 7.  “Tom,” said he, one day at recess, “did n’t you say you thought you knew who owned that knife I found?” 8.  “Yes, I did; it looked like Doctor Perry’s.”  And Tom ran off to his play, without giving the knife another thought. 9.  Dr. Perry’s!  Why, Fred would have time to go to the doctor’s office before recess closed:  so he started in haste, and found the old gentleman getting ready to visit a patient.  “Is this yours?” cried Fred, in breathless haste, holding up the cause of a week’s anxiety. 10.  “It was,” said the doctor; “but I lost it the other day.” 11.  “I found it,” said Fred, “and have felt like a thief ever since.  Here, take it; I’ve got to run.” 12.  “Hold on!” said the doctor.  “I’ve got a new one, and you are quite welcome to this.”

Third reader. 95 13.  “Am I?  May I?  Oh! thank you!” And with what a different feeling he kept it from that which he had experienced for a week!

Lesson XXXVII.

Bats. 1.  Bats are very strange little animals, having hair like mice, and wings like birds.  During the day, they live in crevices of rocks, in caves, and in other dark places. 2.  At night, they go forth in search of food; and, no doubt, you have seen them flying

96 Eclectic series. about, catching such insects as happen to be out rather late at night. 3.  The wings of a bat have no quills.  They are only thin pieces of skin stretched upon a framework of bones.  Besides this, it may be said that while he is a quadruped, he can rise into the air and fly from place to place like a bird. 4.  There is a funny fable about the bat, founded upon this double character of beast and bird, which I will tell you. 5.  An owl was once prowling about, when he came across a bat.  So he caught him in his claws, and was about to devour him.  Upon this, the bat began to squeal terribly; and he said to the owl, “Pray, what do you take me for, that you use me thus?” 6.  “Why, you are a bird, to be sure,” said the owl, “and I am fond of birds.  I love dearly to break their little bones.” 7.  “Well,” said the bat, “I thought there was some mistake.  I am no bird.  Do n’t you see, Mr. Owl, that I have no feathers, and that I am covered with hair like a mouse?” 8.  “Sure enough,” said the owl, in great surprise; “I see it now.  Really, I took you

Third reader. 97 for a bird, but it appears you are only a kind of mouse.  I ate a mouse last night, and it gave me the nightmare.  I can’t bear mice!  Bah! it makes me sick to think of it.”  So the owl let the bat go.

9.  The very next night, the bat encountered another danger.  He was snapped up by puss, who took him for a mouse, and immediately prepared to eat him. 10.  “I beg you to stop one moment,” said the bat.  “Pray, Miss Puss, what do you suppose I am?” “A mouse, to be sure!” said the cat.  “Not at all,” said the bat, spreading his long wings. 11.  “Sure enough,” said the cat:  “you seem to be a bird, though your feathers are 3,7.