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On twigs of hawthorn he regaled,

On pippins' ruffet peel,

And, when his juicy falads failed,
Sliced carrot pleased him well.

A Turkey carpet was his lawn,
Whereon he loved to bound,
To skip and gambol like a fawn,
And swing his rump around.

His frifking was at evening hours,
For then he loft his fear,

But moft before approaching showers,

Or when a ftorm drew near.

Eight years and five round-rolling moons
He thus faw fteal away,

Dozing out all his idle noons,
And every night at play.

I kept him for his humour' fake,
For he would oft beguile

My heart of thoughts that made it ache,
And force me to a smile.

But now beneath his walnut shade

He finds his long laft home, And waits, in fnug concealment laid,

Till gentler Pufs shall come.

He, ftill more aged, feels the fhocks, From which no care can fave, And, partner once of Tiney's box, Muft foon partake his grave.

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The following Account of the Treatment of his Hares was inserted by Mr. Cowper in the Gentleman's Magazine, whence it is transcribed.

In the year 1774, being much indisposed both in mind and body, incapable of diverting myself either with company or books, and yet in a condition that made fome diverfion neceffary, I was glad of any thing, that would engage my attention without fatiguing it. The children of a neighbour of mine had a leveret given them for a plaything; it was at that time about three months old. Understanding better how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and, foon becoming weary of their charge, they readily confented that their father, who saw it pining and growing leaner every day, should offer it to my acceptance. I was willing enough to take the prifoner under my protection, perceiving that, in the management of fuch an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, I should find just that fort of employment which my cafe required. It was foon known among the neighbours that I was pleased with the prefent; and the consequence was, that in a short time I had as many leverets offered to me, as would have stocked a paddock. I undertook the care of

three, which it is neceffary that I should here diftinguish by the names I gave them—Pufs, Tiney, and Befs. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellatives, I must inform you that they were all males. Immediately commencing carpenter, I built them houses to fleep in ; each had a separate apartment, fo contrived that their ordure would pass through the bottom of it; an earthen pan placed under each received whatfoever fell, which being duly emptied and washed, they were thus kept perfectly sweet and clean. In the day-time they had the range of a hall, and at night retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of another.

Pufs grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would fuffer me to take him up and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen faft asleep upon my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows, that they might not moleft him (for, like many other wild animals, they perfecute one of their own species that is fick), and by conftant care, and trying him with a variety of herbs, reftored him to perfect health. No creature could be more grateful than my patient after his recovery; a fentiment which he moft fignificantly

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