Clara Dillingham Pierson Nature Reader Part II

AMONG THE POND PEOPLE Bachelor backed carefully out through the opening and stood there, looking tired and hungry and very much rumpled.

“You are a fine young Mink,” said he. “We will get something to eat, and then we will see about making you lucky.”

They went to the river bank and had a good dinner. The Bachelor ate more than Big Brother, for his mouth was not sore. But Big Brother was very happy. He thought how handsome he would look with a white-tipped tail, and how, after he had that, he could surely marry whoever he wished. It was the custom among his people to want to marry the best looking and strongest. Indeed it is so among all the pond people, and that is one reason why they care so much about being good-looking. It is very hard for a young Mink to have the one he loves choose somebody else, just because the other fellow has the bushiest tail, or the longest fur, or the thickest pads on his feet.

“Now,” said the Bachelor, “we will talk about luck. We will go to a place where nobody can hear what we say.” They found such a place and lay down. The Bachelor rolled over three times and smoothed his fur; he was still so tired from being in the trap. Then he looked at the young Mink very sharply. “So you want my tail?” said he.

“You said you would give me your luck,” answered Big Brother, “and everybody knows that your luck is in your tail.”

The Bachelor smiled. “What will you do with the tail you have?” said he.

“I don’t know,” answered Big Brother.

“You wouldn’t want to wear two?” asked the Bachelor.

“Oh, no,” answered Big Brother. “How that would look!”

“Well, how will you put my tail in place of yours?” asked the Bachelor.

“I don’t know,” answered the young Mink, “but you are 260