I have another story about an otter, which lived in the Zoological
Gardens in London. The otter-pond, surrounded by a wall, was on one
occasion only half-full of water, when the otter for whose use it was
intended had a pair of young ones. They, happening to fall into the
water, were unable to climb up its steep sides. The mother, afraid that
they would be drowned, endeavoured in vain, by stooping over the wall,
to drag them out. At last she jumped in, and after playing with them
for a short time, was seen to put her head to the ear of one of the
little creatures. This was to tell her child what she wanted it to do.
Directly after, she sprang out of the pond, while her young one caught
hold of the fur at the root of her tail; and while it clung tightly to
her, she dragged it out, and placed it safely on the dry ground. She
then again plunged in, and in the same way dragged out her other young
one.
I am very sure that your parents will help you out of any difficulty
into which you may fall; but then you must do as they tell you, thus
following the example of the young otters.