Page:An account of a savage girl.djvu/45

Rh any company visited M. d'Epinoy at Songi, he used to send for the girl, who soon became more tame, and began to discover much good humour, and a softness and humanity of disposition, which the savage life she had been obliged to follow for self-preservation, had not been able altogether to efface; for when she did not appear apprehensive of any harm, she was very tractable and good humoured. One day then that she was present at a great entertainment in the castle, observing none of the delicacies she esteemed, every thing being cook'd, she ran out like lightning, and traversing all the ditches and ponds, returned with her apron full of living frogs, which she spread very liberally on the plates of all the guests; and quite overjoy'd at having found such good cheer, cried out, tien man man, donc tien, (hold man man, hold then) almost the only syllables she could then articulate. We may easily figure to ourselves the confusion and bustle this occasioned among the guests, every one endeavouring to avoid or throw away the frogs that were hopping all about. The little savage quite surprised at the small value they seem'd to set on her delicate fare, carefully gathered up the scattered frogs, and threw them back again on the plates and table. The same thing has happened several times. in different companies.