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diff --git a/old/55609-0.txt b/old/55609-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d893883..0000000 --- a/old/55609-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4858 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Squirrel's Pilgrim's Progress, by J. D. Williams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Squirrel's Pilgrim's Progress - A Book for Boys and Girls Setting Forth the Adventures of - Tiny Red Squirrel and Chatty Chipmunk - -Author: J. D. Williams - -Illustrator: H. Wood - -Release Date: September 23, 2017 [EBook #55609] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS *** - - - - -Produced by MFR, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from images made available by the HathiTrust -Digital Library.) - - - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - -Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. - - * * * * * - -Tiny Redsquirrel - - * * * * * - - - - -_The_ SQUIRREL’S PILGRIM’S PROGRESS - - - _A Book for Boys and Girls_ - - BY J. D. WILLIAMS - - Setting Forth the Adventures of Tiny Red Squirrel and Chatty Chipmunk - - And describing Miss Hare’s School; Red Squirrel, Chipmunk, Reynard - Fox, Pussy Cat, and Other Students, as well as Mr. Wise Owl, a - Director of the School, and Billy Beaver, the Janitor. - - FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. WOOD (FIVE COLORED PLATES) - - [Illustration] - - CHICAGO LAIRD & LEE, Inc., PUBLISHERS - - * * * * * - -[Illustration: COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY LAIRD & LEE, Inc.] - - * * * * * - - And Nature, the old nurse, took - The child upon her knee. - Saying, “Here is a story-book - Thy father has written for thee.” - --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. - -Once on a time a little boy was taken from the noise and bustle of city -life to a sparsely settled land where a great forest stretched away in -every direction. To this land his parents came to make a home in the -heart of the deep wood. A large log house had been built in an open -space from which great oaks, beeches, maples and other trees had been -removed, and here, surrounded by nature’s forms and activities, they -lived many years. - -What a delightful experience this was to this little boy! How wonderful -this new world seemed to him! Here were flowers of every hue, bees, -birds, butterflies, and many other interesting things to excite his -childish wonder. He soon learned the names of the shrubs, the trees, -the wild fruits and the flowers; and the habits of the honey gatherers, -the feathered folk, and the little animals of the wood. - -This story has its foundation in these experiences and was written -in the hope that it will prove interesting and instructive to many -children. It teaches its young readers to see material things as they -really are, so that the early impressions shall always be the true -ones; it teaches them to apply the same habit of careful observation -to language forms and constructions, so they shall know how thoughts -must be expressed, and more than that, how they may be expressed -beautifully. It is believed that it will influence them to observe -nature’s works closely--the beauty in the dense foliage of spring, -in the myriad forms of life, in nest building and bird music, in the -vitality of growth, in the sweet beneficence of the universal mother, -so that they may come to know - - “There are tongues in trees, - Books in the running brooks, - Sermons in stones, - And good in everything.” - -Acknowledgments are due to Wilber Hershel Williams for assistance -in the preparation of this volume; to Frances Squire Potter, James -S. Greenwood, and Z. C. Spencer for literary criticism and helpful -suggestions. - -J. D. W. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. INTRODUCING TINY REDSQUIRREL 7 - - II. TINY GOES TO SEEK WINTER STORES 12 - - III. HIS FIRST ADVENTURE 17 - - IV. INTRODUCING MR. WISE OWL 23 - - V. A LESSON FROM THE ANTS 30 - - VI. MEETING MR. FROG 34 - - VII. HIS ADVENTURE WITH QUEEN BEE 37 - - VIII. THE PORCUPINE SCARES TINY 44 - - IX. MEETING WITH THE BLACK GIANT 49 - - X. TINY THE HERO OF SQUIRRELTOWN 58 - - XI. THE MAYOR CALLS ON TINY 65 - - XII. MR. OWL INTERRUPTS A SPEECH 69 - - XIII. HE TAKES TINY TO SCHOOL 77 - - XIV. TINY GETS ACQUAINTED 85 - - XV. SCHOOL DAYS EXPERIENCES 95 - - XVI. MR. OWL VISITS THE SCHOOL 101 - - XVII. TINY’S CORRESPONDENCE 108 - - XVIII. MISS HARE ON GRAMMAR 116 - - XIX. STUDYING NATURE 124 - - XX. TINY HELPS WITH TEACHER’S LETTERS 134 - - XXI. OPOSSUM AND CATERPILLAR 140 - - XXII. GRADUATION EXERCISES 147 - - XXIII. THE STUDENTS START FOR HOME 158 - - XXIV. TINY IS APPOINTED MAYOR 168 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - Squirreltown _Frontispiece_ - - Go Away! 9 - - How Can You Sleep On a Day Like This? 12 - - Splash! Chatty Fell Into the Creek 16 - - Tiny and Chatty Meet the Raccoon 19 - - Tiny Meets Mr. Owl 23 - - Watching the Ants Build a House 31 - - Learns a Lesson from the Spider 34 - - Meeting with Mr. Toad 36 - - Rescues the Queen Bee 37 - - “Hist!” Cried the Ogre 45 - - Tiny Conquers the Porcupine 47 - - The Bear Falls from the Tree 51 - - The Bees Rescue Tiny from the Bear 54 - - Tiny Returns to Squirreltown 58 - - Brings Food to His Hungry Mother 60 - - Tiny Is Ill--The Mayor Calls 65 - - The Story of the Fable 68 - - Tiny Makes a Speech 69 - - Mr. Owl Lectures Tiny 71 - - He Takes Tiny to School 78 - - Mr. Beaver Shows Tiny to His Room 80 - - Tiny Meets Mr. Redfox 82 - - The Janitor Awakens the Pupils 85 - - Miss Hare’s School 87 - - Tiny Gives Miss Hare an Acorn 90 - - Tiny and Winkie Run a Race 95 - - Tiny Prepares for Graduation 101 - - The Owl Prophet Visits the School 103 - - He Hardly Knew Tiny 106 - - The Pigeon Mail Carrier 108 - - Reynard Is Sick 116 - - Chatty Chipmunk Appears 125 - - The Panther Gives Them a Scare 126 - - Mrs. Badger and the Bees 128 - - Tiny Assists the Teacher 134 - - Mr. Opossum 141 - - Shifty Woodchuck Wants Help 148 - - Sammy Rabbit’s Composition 151 - - Tiny’s Speech Wins the Prize 155 - - The Encounter with the Lynx 162 - - In Deertown 164 - - Running from a Wildcat 166 - - Celebration in Squirreltown 172 - - * * * * * - -[Illustration: SQUIRRELTOWN.] - - * * * * * - -Tiny Redsquirrel - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -Have you ever heard of Squirreltown? It is a town of quaint homes in -the woods, in which little animals live together as contentedly as -though they were human beings. The whole town is roofed over by leafy -bowers, and carpeted with wild flowers. All day long butterflies flit -about in the shimmering sunlight, and by night thousands of fairies -come out to dance in the pale moonlight. - -In this town there once dwelt a young red squirrel named Tiny. He lived -with his mother near the top of an oak tree. Mrs. Redsquirrel was a -poor but industrious widow. Although red squirrels are said to be the -most mischievous animals of the forest, she had taught Tiny to conduct -himself in a proper way. In fact, he was much better behaved than -Chatty Chipmunk, who lived in the ground at the foot of the tree. - -One morning early in the autumn, while the weather was yet warm, Tiny’s -mother said to him, “You must bestir yourself, Tiny! Now is the time to -gather acorns, seeds, and other food for the winter.” - -As he sat sipping water from a hollow acorn, he observed how anxiously -his mother gazed at him. “Why do you look so sad?” he asked. - -“I am getting too old to work,” she answered, and she wiped the tears -from her black eyes. Then abruptly she turned to look through the -window. It was a small hole covered with a silken curtain that had been -woven by a spider. - -“Please don’t cry, mother,” implored Tiny. He put down his acorn, went -over to his mother and drew her down upon a little couch made of moss. -“I am willing to work hard to support you. Perhaps some day I shall -become great. Who can tell?” - -“But I want you to have a fine education,” said his mother, looking -with pride at her son, “and we have no good schools!” - -“Perhaps a fairy may find me a good school. I can work to pay my way!” -cheerfully suggested Tiny. “I have heard that those who do this make -the best students.” He fanned his mother with a small peacock feather. -He thought that she might drop into a doze, for he knew that she had -not been sleeping much of late, but just then a persistent rapping at -the tree began. - -“It must be Mr. Woodpecker,” said Mrs. Redsquirrel with a sigh. “Every -day he comes over to rap this tree. The noise makes my head ache.” - -“Please sit still. I’ll go outside to see what he wants,” said Tiny, -hastening from the room. - -“Hello!” he cried lustily. - -Mr. Woodpecker did not answer. He was digging his long, straight, -pointed beak into the bark of the tree. His stiff tail was spread out -to prop his body, for woodpeckers would not be such good climbers if -they had no tails. He was black and white, and wore a jaunty scarlet -cap. - -“Sir,” said Tiny, “You annoy my mother. Furthermore, Mr. Graysquirrel, -who owns this tree, will make you pay dearly for all the damage you are -doing to his property.” - -“Ha, ha!” laughed Mr. Woodpecker, turning his head to one side and -looking down at the squirrel. “I am not destroying property. I am -digging into the bark to find insects. Mr. Graysquirrel, your landlord, -told me that I might have all I could find. He said it was they who -greatly annoy his tenants. Pardon me for disturbing your mother.” - -[Illustration: “GO AWAY AND DO NOT COME BACK AGAIN,” COMMANDED TINY.] - -“Go away! and do not come back again,” commanded Tiny, vexed at the -bird’s display of good humor. “Hush, Tiny!” called Mrs. Redsquirrel, -thrusting her dainty nose through the window. “I am glad that Mr. -Woodpecker is so kind as to destroy those horrid insects. I thought at -first that he was tapping the tree because he wished to trouble me. We -animals are always ready to imagine disagreeable things.” - -Tiny came back into the house and to cover his chagrin began to get the -storeroom in order. - -His mother gathered up the nut-shell cups and placed them in a -hollow gourd. As they worked she talked. “Mr. Woodpecker is a clever -creature,” she said. “I never before saw a bird that could use his bill -with such ease and swiftness.” - -Tiny did not reply. He was thinking very hard, and the idea that he was -going to support his mother made him feel very important. - -“Woodpeckers do a great deal of good by destroying grubs and insects,” -his mother went on. “I have heard that in a far-away land there lives -one kind that feeds chiefly on acorns, and stores them away for the -winter as squirrels do. They make small holes in the soft bark of dead -trees and place the acorns in these holes by pounding them with their -bills.” - -“Now I am ready to start,” interrupted Tiny. “Perhaps I can get Chatty -Chipmunk to go with me.” - -“If you do, don’t let him lead you into bad company!” warned Mrs. -Redsquirrel. “He is very mischievous. He causes his parents much -trouble.” - -At that moment Peggy and Bushy Graysquirrel came running into the -room, without stopping to knock at the door. - -“Good morning, Mrs. Redsquirrel,” said Peggy. - -“We are going over to the Beech Hotel to spend the day with the -Blacksquirrel family,” said Bushy, too much excited to draw a long -breath. “Come along with us, Tiny. We will play ripple.” - -“What is ripple?” asked Mrs. Redsquirrel. - -“Oh, it is a fine game!” exclaimed Peggy. “All the squirrels get out on -the bough of a tree. Each one throws a nut or a pebble into the brook, -and the one that makes the biggest circle gets the prize.” - -“Do you want to go, Tiny?” asked his mother. - -“No, mother,” said Tiny bravely. “I like to play ripple, but I must -gather our winter store before the cold rains begin.” - -“Please come with us,” coaxed pretty Bushy, flashing her dark eyes -straight into his own. - -“I cannot go,” he declared stolidly, turning his back upon her. - -“Is he really going to work?” asked Bushy, looking from one to the -other in a bewildered way. - -“Yes, I am going,” replied Tiny, and he took down his hunting bag from -the wall. - -Another moment a little red squirrel ran down the tree and was lost to -view. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Tiny went to the home of Chatty Chipmunk. The Chipmunks do not like the -trees or the air or the sunshine as the Redsquirrel family do. Like -most animals of their kind, they live in the ground. - -Tiny entered the door and passed through a hall several feet in length. -At the further end of the hall was a small opening which led to a room -but little larger than the shell of a cocoanut. Chatty was alone, fast -asleep. - -[Illustration: “HOW CAN YOU SLEEP ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY LIKE THIS?”] - -“How can you sleep on a beautiful day like this!” cried Tiny, playfully -pulling Chatty’s whiskers. - -“I was only taking a nap,” sleepily responded Chatty. “My parents and -brothers are out in the beech trees. I wanted to have a good rest, so -I stayed at home. I cannot sleep well at night, because our house is -crowded.” - -“I am going out to gather our winter store,” said Tiny. “Don’t you want -to come with me?” - -“I should very much like to go, thank you,” returned Chatty, although -he had refused to go with his family. “But you see, I cannot work hard -when I work, though I can work hard when I play.” - -They soon left the chipmunk home and started forth on their journey. -They had not gone very far before Chatty began to complain. - -“The sun is very warm, and it makes me drowsy,” said he. “How I do -dislike to work! I am glad that I am not a beaver, for beavers work all -the time.” - -“I should think you would wish to help your family,” said Tiny. “What -will become of you in the winter if you do not have plenty of food?” - -“I will sleep all the time,” replied the chipmunk, yawning drowsily. - -He was about to lie down to rest, when he espied a great yellow -butterfly with wings that shone like gold. She was fast asleep upon a -thistle. - -Chatty dashed after her, but she flew from thistle to bush and flower, -not at all frightened. After he had tired himself running, he sat down, -panting. - -“Your winter store will soon be gathered if you spend as much energy -in working as you have in running,” said Tiny, his eyes twinkling. - -“It is great sport to chase butterflies,” said Chatty. “They are such -stupid creatures, yet they are very pretty. Who ever heard of sleeping -on a thistle?” - -“I think it would be much more comfortable than to sleep in a hole in -the ground,” replied Tiny. “Mother said that butterflies always seem -to match the seasons.” Tiny, without knowing it, began to imitate his -mother’s voice and her way of talking. He spoke more slowly than she -did, however, for he was trying hard to remember all she had told him -about the pretty things. “When the world is still brown and bleak and -the spring sun is beginning to warm things into life, the brown and -black butterflies come. Then, when the violets spread carpets over the -vales and in the woodlands, the blue butterflies appear. In summer -come the queenly swallow-tail butterflies, clad in red, copper, and -burnished silver. Often one dressed in pure white may be seen, for -white is very comfortable to wear in warm weather. It reflects the hot -rays of the sun. In the autumn the yellow and orange butterflies are -more numerous. They are the color of the goldenrod and the sunflowers -and the brown-eyed Susans. The yellow butterflies like to sip the honey -from the yellow flowers, but the white butterflies seem to prefer the -white clover. They are the most beautiful of all insects. Their four -wings are colored on both sides. When they rest, their wings stand -straight up and do not fold.” - -“Butterflies are very queer animals,” said Chatty ungraciously. He was -vexed with butterflies, because he knew so little about them. “Why do -they sleep with their wings held high above their heads? I should think -they would get so sound asleep that they would forget to hold them up.” - -“It is natural for them to hold up their wings,” laughed Tiny. “Do you -forget to breathe when you are sound asleep?” - -“Of course not,” retorted Chatty, “nor do I forget to eat when I am -hungry. However, I cannot see why the butterfly sleeps in such a silly -position.” - -“Some of them slowly open and shut their wings all the time they are -asleep,” explained Tiny. “I never knew another creature that sleeps -so gracefully as the butterfly does. I would rather take a nap on a -thistle in the sunshine than roll up in a fluffy ball and sleep in a -dark hole in the ground. You must not criticise those whose customs are -different from yours. Perhaps the butterfly is quite as much amused at -you.” - -“There she goes again!” cried Chatty, suddenly. “I wish I were a -flying-squirrel, that I might catch her. Wait a moment until I frighten -her again.” - -Chatty began to chase the butterfly once more. He was accustomed to -running without looking where he was going, so he did not see the -danger that awaited him. - -[Illustration: SPLASH! CHATTY FELL INTO THE CREEK AND DISAPPEARED FROM -SIGHT.] - -Splash! Chatty fell into the creek and disappeared from sight. The -butterfly flew safely across the stream. - -Tiny was not alarmed, for he knew that his companion could swim. Soon -the chipmunk’s little nose appeared above the water. After a great deal -of splashing, he reached the bank of the stream, very much chagrined. - -“I think I must have been more scared than the butterfly was,” he -admitted, as he shook his fur. “I am as tired as I can be and as wet as -a fish. Where is the butterfly?” - -“Over on yonder blue-flag, fast asleep,” said Tiny. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -Chatty smiled foolishly and Tiny laughed heartily. The butterfly rested -a long time. Then she flew away. The birds chattered gayly as the sun -smiled brightly. The brook gurgled with glee and flowed merrily on. -The chipmunk seemed wide awake after his drenching. For a half hour he -scurried briskly along. - -“Not far away some fine blackberries grow on low bushes,” he said. “We -will find them and feast until dusk. When we become sleepy we will nap -for a while.” - -“We have wandered from our path,” protested Tiny. “We are lost!” - -“Nonsense!” exclaimed Chatty. “Someone will show us the way home. -Squirreltown is the greatest city in the world.” - -“Do you remember those hunters who passed through Squirreltown not long -ago?” asked Tiny. “They said that London is the largest city in the -world. The East contains many great cities.” - -“You are dreaming,” laughed the chipmunk. “I have heard of every large -city. Squirreltown has the most inhabitants, and Gray Fox Center comes -next. How many squirrels live in London?” - -“London is filled with people, not with squirrels. Those hunters that -frightened us the other day are people. They live in houses,” explained -Tiny. - -“How I should dislike London!” cried Chatty. “Do all people look as -fierce as those hunters? I thought that hunters dwelt in holes in the -ground. I supposed that they played in the trees and wandered about -with huge guns and frightened little animals for amusement. I imagine -that people must look very much like bears.” - -“Many of them do,” assented Tiny with a wise nod. “However, they do -not walk on four legs, but straight up like storks. We must roam no -farther. Let us gather these beech nuts and collect them in little -heaps.” - -“No, indeed,” said his companion, as he rose from his couch. “I want -some blackberries.” - -“O Chatty, an odd-looking animal comes from the trunk of that hollow -tree. It is a bear!” cried Tiny. - -“Oh!” gasped Chatty. His eyes opened wide with fear and surprise. “We -must hide.” - -For a moment they gazed at the stranger who stood before them. He -sniffed the grass that grew around a stump, but watched them steadily. -The little foragers remained quite still and struggled for courage. - -[Illustration: THE LITTLE FORAGERS REMAINED QUITE STILL AND STRUGGLED -FOR COURAGE.] - -“Be calm,” said the queer creature in a friendly voice. “I am hunting -for something green and tender. Fear not, for I never attack such small -creatures as you.” - -“What are you, sir?” asked Tiny, remembering his mother’s instructions -to speak courteously. - -“I am a raccoon and I live in that hollow tree,” said the animal. “I -once dwelt in a village which lies a hundred miles away. Leachburg is -its name. The inhabitants called me Brother Raccoon. My given name -is Sambo, my wife’s name is Serena, and we named our sons Simon and -Solomon. Formerly I was a pet in a family of people. While with them I -learned a number of pretty names for children, as well as many other -things.” - -“Tell us something about people,” requested Tiny, drawing nearer. At -last he stood face to face with the raccoon. - -“People live a long time if they take good care of their health,” -began Brother Raccoon. “The baby of this family was four years of age.” - -Tiny and Chatty laughed outright. The speaker smiled good-naturedly. - -“He was surely a backward baby,” chuckled Chatty. “The mayor of -Squirreltown is four years of age and he is very old.” - -“Little people are generally happy,” continued the raccoon. “They have -everything their hearts desire. I wish that my little ones had such -good fortune. Alas! we watch Simon and Solomon all the time. They -seldom go out of the house except after night. Little people stay -indoors all night, but little raccoons do not.” - -“What lovely times little raccoons must have!” cried Chatty. “If I -were one of them I would run about all night, especially when it is -moonlight. Mother sends me to bed before sunset.” - -“No one has more anxiety than a raccoon,” declared the stranger. He -blinked his eyes, which were black and shiny. There were white rings -around them. “Our midnight prowls often cause us great trouble. -Sometimes the raccoons go into the cornfields. While they are eating -corn, a pack of dogs appears and drives them back to the woods. Before -the poor raccoons can hide, the men with their guns attack them.” - -“You should not steal the farmer’s corn,” reproved Tiny. “Thieves -deserve punishment.” - -“Yes, but the farmer does not treat us right,” replied the raccoon -bitterly. “He steals our fur and eats our flesh. He deceives us and -slays us. He does all sorts of mean things.” - -“I am sorry for you,” said Tiny. “Why should little animals of the -forest suffer from the acts of mankind? Are you never safe from harm?” - -“No,” continued the raccoon. “Our flesh and fur are so fine that these -terrible people hunt for us by day and by night. One evening I was in a -field of corn which was green and tempting. A party of noisy creatures -called boys came to the field. They chased me back into the forest. -I was so little that I stumbled and fell. A dog caught me. Before he -could hurt me, a small boy seized me and carried me in a bag to his -home. He placed me in a cage. - -“The boy’s name was Teddy Root. He greatly admired my dainty feet and -grayish-brown fur. I became so tame that they gave me much freedom. I -soon lost my fear of people. Sometimes they scolded me, because I stole -into the pantry and helped myself to milk, sugar, lard, and butter. I -did not know that I had done wrong. Teddy took cookies from the pantry -without first asking his mother’s permission, so I thought I could do -so, too. However, I yearned for my home in the deep forest. One day I -ran away. - -“I wandered a long time before I found the stump that had sheltered me -during my early days. My family had departed. I was alone, but I made -the old house comfortable, and soon forgot my troubles. I preferred a -stump to a gilded cage. One night a party of raccoons went out on an -excursion to a cornfield. They took me with them. It was then that I -met my mate, Serena. Life is happier now than it ever has been before.” - -“We thank you for the story of your life,” said Tiny. “Now show us the -way to Squirreltown.” - -“I have never heard of such a place,” replied the raccoon, after he had -thought hard for a few moments. - -“It is the largest city in the world and it is a very important one, -too,” snapped Chatty. He was vexed at the stranger’s ignorance. - -“You are wrong,” said the raccoon as he shook his head doubtfully. “I -know that Coontown is much larger. You must ask some other animal to -show you the way.” - -“Thank you,” said Tiny. He never forgot the value of politeness, -although Chatty often did. “We must hasten home.” - -“Oh, why did you speak about those blackberries?” he continued, as he -turned to Chatty. “We have lost our way. I fear dear mother grieves for -me.” - -“It was no fault of mine that Mr. Raccoon stopped us to tell the stupid -story of his life,” retorted Chatty. “See the acorns under the tree. -Some kind fairy knew that we were coming and threw them down.” - -Chatty ate greedily, while Tiny swiftly climbed to the top of a huge -oak tree and gazed all about him. Nowhere could he see the friendly -treetops of Squirreltown. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -Tiny sat for a long time in the top of the tree and looked away as far -as his eyes could see. In the distance rose the big yellow moon. It -shone brightly upon the treetops of the great forest, yet he could not -see Squirreltown. - -At last he began to descend slowly, almost frightening to death a tree -toad that was hopping about on its little velvet toes among the green -branches. - -[Illustration: TINY’S BUSHY TAIL STIFFENED WITH FRIGHT.] - -Tiny’s bushy tail stiffened with fright when he heard a loud, whirring -sound and a shrill cry from the branch over his head. Two big yellow -eyes glared at him through the dense foliage. They scared him so that -he could not scamper away. - -“Hoot! hoot!” cried the dreadful creature. “Why are you prowling around -my castle at this time of night? Don’t you know that I am a horned owl? -I like to eat rabbits, squirrels, and mice.” - -“I did not mean to disturb you, sir,” said Tiny politely, although -his teeth chattered and his limbs refused to move. “My name is Tiny -Redsquirrel. I have lost my way. Can you tell me where to find -Squirreltown?” - -“I wish I knew where it is,” said the owl, “for it wouldn’t take me -long to put an end to it. Come closer that we may have a little chat. I -like squirrels.” - -“Mr. Owl, I know that it would not be prudent for me to get closer to -you,” said Tiny, without moving a step. “I want everyone to like me, -but I do not want them to like me well enough to eat me.” - -“Well spoken!” cried the owl, clapping his wings and screeching loudly. -“A fairy told me, Tiny, that you were coming to my castle. I promised -her that I would not hurt you. Tell me what gift you desire above all -things else.” - -“A good education,” replied Tiny promptly. - -“Fine!” exclaimed the owl. “Of course, squirrels cannot expect to know -very much. Red squirrels are too mischievous to learn a great deal. -They worry robins in their nests, frighten field mice, steal from the -farmer’s granary, and spring the traps that hunters set for martens. -Can you tell me who is the wisest of all living creatures?” - -“I think it must be the donkey,” said Tiny after hesitating a few -moments. - -“The donkey is as stupid as a stump,” said the owl impatiently. “What -makes you think that the donkey is the wisest of all creatures?” - -“An animal that makes so much noise must be very wise,” answered the -innocent squirrel. - -“When you are older, you will learn that the wisest creatures seldom -make any noise at all,” said the owl with a sage toss of his head. “The -donkey is most unlike the animal that represents wisdom, and he--” - -“Perhaps the wisest animal is the loon,” interrupted the squirrel. - -Tiny had never heard the expression “crazy as a loon,” or he would not -have made such an absurd guess. - -The owl laughed again. “Poor little squirrel,” he continued, “you are -much in need of an education, and I will help you to realize your wish. -An old loon lives two hundred yards from here in some dry muck on the -ruins of an old muskrat house. Whenever she tries to avoid danger, she -always runs the wrong way and jumps into it. Her legs are placed so -far back beneath her body that she cannot walk very long at a time -without toppling over. When she swims, she makes more noise than a -family of beavers. She screeches all the time, and consequently gets -no opportunity to think. You know that to be wise one must be a quiet -thinker. No, the loon is as dull as the donkey.” - -“Then who is the wisest of all creatures?” asked Tiny, growing more and -more interested. - -“Have you never heard that the owl is the symbol of wisdom?” asked the -curious creature. “There is nothing I do not know.” - -“Then perhaps you can tell me where Squirreltown is situated,” said -Tiny, eagerly. - -“I do not know,” replied the owl, glaring at Tiny until he again lost -courage. “I do not fill my mind with useless knowledge, since there are -so many important things to know. How ridiculous of you to ask me such -a question! You might just as well ask why the moon, although not so -large as a pumpkin, can light up this great world of ours. There are -many things that learned students cannot explain so ordinary creatures -can understand. I believe, however, that if you live long enough and -keep traveling all the time, you may find Squirreltown one of these -days.” - -“This is no time for jesting,” burst forth Tiny, his heart sinking. “I -greatly desire to get home. I started out to gather our winter store in -this hunting-bag, but I got lost. Mother must be quite tired looking -for me.” - -“Your mother need not wear her eyes out _looking_ for you, since you -are surely old enough to _see_ for yourself,” retorted the owl. - -Tiny said that he must hasten on. - -“Do not be in a hurry, my restless quadruped,” said the owl. “Squirrels -are always in a hurry. You are very nervous animals. It makes me dizzy -to look at you. I am the wisest creature of the forest, yet you do not -choose to tarry long enough to get some useful information. Do you -still desire an education, or have you changed your mind?” - -“I want to get home,” sobbed Tiny. - -“I will see that your wish is granted,” said the owl, more kindly. -“What else do you wish?” - -“I wish to grow up to be a useful squirrel. I want to make my mother -and everybody else happy.” - -The owl asked him what more he desired. - -“That is all,” was the reply. - -“Then do as I say,” commanded the owl. “Before you can become truly -wise, you must learn the lessons of patience and industry, and, as you -struggle, you must sing the song of contentment. I am a wise prophet, -and I will see that your wishes are fulfilled. - -“To-night you must sleep out in one of those hazel bushes. Be sure to -hide yourself, for sometimes I fly about while asleep. In that case -perhaps I might eat you without knowing it. To-morrow at dawn, follow -the path that leads to the brook. Then turn to your right. If you -should turn to your left, you would soon find yourself in Big Bear -City. Keep your eyes wide open, and when you least expect it, you will -be taught the lesson of patience. - -“Follow the footpath till you come to a lovely dell, where a fairy -princess will teach you the lesson of industry and the value of doing -good to others. She probably can show you the way to Squirreltown, for -she knows all about geography. But, ere you reach home, you will have -two dreadful encounters. A four-legged giant with hundreds of darts -will rush upon you when you least expect it. Do not be frightened. Be -calm and cautious. Lie close to the ground so that his darts will pass -above you, should he throw them at you. Seize one of his darts, jab -him; he will then run away. - -“Soon you will find yourself in the heart of a jungle that almost all -tame beasts fear to enter. Another giant, a big black one, will try to -hurt you. However, you will be protected. Do as I command, or you will -never get back home.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Owl,” said Tiny, willing to endure any hardship if he -could only see his mother again. “Should you come to Squirreltown, the -Mayor will tell you where to find me. He is stopping at the Beech Tree -Inn.” - -“What kind of stops does he use?” asked the owl, much amused. - -Tiny stared at him in wonderment. - -“I suppose you mean that he is _staying_ at the Beech Tree Inn,” said -the owl. “I hope you have enjoyed your visit in my castle. If you will -stay a while longer I will sing. I have a most beautiful voice. I can -sing twice as loud as a village of sparrows.” - -The little red squirrel did not insist upon hearing the owl prophet -sing, for that would have been bad manners. - -With a polite goodnight, he scurried down the tree to a clump of hazel -bushes, where he hid himself as securely as possible. He slept very -little, for he feared that the wise owl might fly about in his sleep -and possibly devour him. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -The sunbeams shine through the boughs of the trees and the winds rustle -gently. The dewdrops glitter on the grass. The brook bounds joyously -along. The birds sing gaily and the little animals of the wood come -forth to listen to the sweet music. The wild flowers open their pretty -cups. - -Now the forest is ringing with glad shouts and songs. The sunbeams -are growing brighter. The winds are dying down and the dewdrops are -passing away. The brook is bounding along more joyously. The birds are -singing more gaily. The little animals are running hither and thither. -The flowers are spreading their pretty cups wide open to catch the -sunlight. At last Tiny is waking. - -When Tiny awoke from his slumbers in the hazel brush, he scampered down -to the edge of the brook, washed his face, and combed out his long, -bushy tail. Then he began to call for Chatty, but no answer came. He -finally decided to start alone. He remembered to take the path leading -to the right as the owl had directed him. For a long time he sauntered -along, admiring the elder, oak, and buckeye trees, and occasionally he -darted his piercing gaze at some low-hanging black haw or pawpaw bush, -fearing some animal might attack him. - -At last he came to a sandy plain, where he sat down to rest in the -sunshine. Not far away he saw a city. Its streets were filled with busy -inhabitants. Hundreds of them were hurrying to and fro, working with -all their energy. Many little workers were erecting buildings. To lift -a single grain of sand each was toiling with all his might. They did -not stop to rest or to visit, but kept working, working, working. Tiny -thought it would take them a long time to build houses from grains of -sand. - -[Illustration: THEY DID NOT STOP TO REST OR VISIT, BUT KEPT WORKING, -WORKING, WORKING.] - -While the architects were busy building new homes, some soldiers in -shiny, red clothes moved about as if they were giving orders to the -workers. A crowd of watchmen stood at the gates of the city, ready to -give warning at the approach of an enemy. - -Not one of the little creatures was alarmed by the squirrel. They -heeded him no more than Tiny did the tree beneath which he was -crouching. He drew nearer and saw that there were many little rooms -near the surface of the city and that below them was a great public -dining-room and storeroom. Evidently they all ate their meals together. -These rooms were kept in order by a host of servants, who were very -busy all the time carrying out shells, seeds, and the remains of -insects. Others collected all the rubbish and carried it out into a -heap outside the city limits. Scores of nurses were looking after the -babies, and teaching them that the time would soon come when they must -labor like their elders. - -Suddenly there was a great commotion in the street. Some food providers -were struggling along with a fly they had found. They were taking it -to the storeroom. The load was so heavy that several household workers -rushed out to lend their help. They toiled along together, slowly, with -one united effort, and with great difficulty; but, finally, they stowed -the fly headlong into the public storeroom. Tiny breathed a sigh of -relief when their hard task was done. - -But they did not stop to rest. They turned out to help others bring -in a locust. The workers in the storeroom cleared a place for other -provisions; the watchmen guarded the gates, without taking their eyes -from their work; the architects, steadily and patiently, carried grain -after grain of sand to the tops of their buildings. - -“How full of energy they are!” exclaimed Tiny. “By their combined -efforts they can build and support a great city. If something destroys -it, they build it up again. I wish squirrels would work together as -these insects do. Oh, I see! It is as the owl prophet said. I have -learned the lesson of patience. I do feel glad that I was permitted -to study this wonderful city. However, I am surprised to learn such a -noble lesson from the smallest of all creatures--ants!” - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -Not far from the city of ants, Tiny halted to refresh himself with an -acorn. - -“This country is delightful,” he said to himself. “A squirrel does -not often see such a beautiful scene. He has little knowledge of the -great world. I was discontented not long ago, but now I am happy. I -am glad that I saw the ants and their city. They are very industrious -creatures. All have much work to do, yet they do it willingly. They -don’t seem to wish to be idle. Ants never before were interesting to -me, but now I admire them very much. You have taught me a lesson, -friend ant.” - -[Illustration: SUDDENLY HE SAW A SPIDER BUSY AT WORK UPON HER COUNTRY -HOME.] - -He sat still for a few moments gazing around him. Suddenly he saw a -spider busy at work upon her country home. She wore a snuff-brown -jacket dashed with purple, and her legs were striped like those of a -tiger. - -She had just finished digging a tunnel seven inches long in the earth, -and had lined it with a substance that looked like silk. Now she was -spinning a web to cover the outer door, which was really a dry oak -leaf. She left an opening large enough to pass through. Then she pulled -some blades of grass and fastened them across the leaf so securely that -the entrance to her home could not be seen. She worked very busily, -although occasionally a rude wasp came along and tried to sting her. -In spite of disturbing insects, the spider finished building her home. -Then she twined some tiny vines about the entrance, making a green -bower that looked very pretty. When her difficult task was completed, -she crawled into her silk-lined hall and went to sleep. - -“Plucky wood spider!” cried Tiny in admiration. “Although the -wasps threaten her life, she never gives up. You work diligently, -little friend. I admire you very much. I have learned a lesson in -perseverance.” - -[Illustration: HE SAW A DARK OBJECT SITTING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM.] - -Tiny did not hunt a place in which to sleep until it was quite late. -Indeed, the moon was beginning to shine before he thought of rest. Just -as he was about to leave the path turning to the right, he saw a dark -object sitting directly in front of him. It was singing in a clear and -plaintive voice: - - “Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, wur-r-r, - I never complain nor demur, - Though the fox and the bat and the weasel and cat - Are waiting to seize me and roll me out flat, - And swallow me down like a great lump of fat, - Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, wur-r-r. - - “Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, wur-r-r, - I have neither feathers nor fur; - I am dusty and wrinkled and warts to me cling, - Yet I’m never unhappy, for Nature, kind thing, - Gave me such a sweet voice; so I constantly sing - Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, wur-r-r.” - -“How fortunate it is that an ugly creature may have the power to sing!” -exclaimed Tiny so loudly that the toad who had been singing grew -frightened and leaped into the tall grass. - -“You have taught me the song of contentment, Mrs. Toad,” he continued. -“I have many privileges that you do not enjoy, for you only venture -forth at night. Although hundreds of animals are waiting to destroy -you, your song never loses its vigor. Your only recreation is to catch -a few insects and to sit in the moonlight, singing ‘Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, -wur-r-r’.” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -Tiny spent the night in the fork of a wild plum tree. For some time -he sat thinking of his mother and Squirreltown, but his lessons in -patience and contentment had made him satisfied with his lot. - -The next morning he started upon his journey, bravely following the -narrow, twisting path, ever ready to avoid danger. - -[Illustration: HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A DRINK WHEN HE SAW WHAT HE TOOK TO -BE A FAIRY STRUGGLING IN THE WATER.] - -At length he came to a brook. He was about to take a drink when he saw -what he took to be a fairy struggling in the water. She had been trying -to get out for a long time; but, finally, her wings ceased to move and -she lay very still. - -Tiny, who was a good swimmer, hurried out to rescue her. He placed his -nose under her and lifted her from the water. Holding his head high, he -swam to the shore. - -The fairy crawled upon a lady’s-slipper close by and flapped her wings -until they were quite dry. - -“You have done me a great service,” she said. “I’ll repay you some time -when you least expect it. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.” - -“Don’t try,” said Tiny, with a polite bow. “I’ve been taught to protect -the helpless, provided they are not too big for my protection. I hope -you are quite dry now.” - -“Yes, I shall be able to fly back to the city as soon as I get my -breath,” she said. “I am a queen bee and I should not be out of my -hive. I left the palace this morning with several thousand followers -and was on my way to a far-off country, when, in some peculiar manner, -I fell into the water. I could not swim, so it is lucky for me that you -came by.” - -“I hope that your followers will find you. They must be greatly -distressed.” - -“Oh, I hope they’ll find me,” said the queen bee, as she flapped her -wings. “You see, I have thousands and thousands of children; but they -have good nurses and are never much bother. It is not hard to govern -them.” - -Tiny gazed at her in surprise. - -“I have been queen of a place called the City Wonderful,” she -continued. “I ruled fifty thousand subjects. We lived in a great city -with narrow streets, protected by a beehive. You don’t know what a very -busy place it was all summer long.” - -“But it doesn’t seem possible that so many creatures could live -together. Just imagine fifty thousand red squirrels in one tree!” -gasped Tiny. - -“That’s different,” responded the queen. “We live together in -co-operation. Each of the workers knows her work and does it without -having to be watched all the time. The workers are females, and they -are very industrious; but the drones are males, and they do not work. -They have to be driven out of the city before winter sets in, or they -would eat all our provisions. The workers toil from morning till night, -stopping up cracks in the hive with wax, carrying food to the baby -bees, and storing it away for winter. They haven’t time to play in the -summer. Each worker has six little pockets which she fills with pollen. -She uses this in making wax for the walls. As soon as the walls are -built, another set of workers make round places, or cells, in them. -Others fill the cells with honey from the honey bags they carry about -when they visit the flowers.” - -“But where do the little baby bees stay?” asked Tiny. - -“Oh, they stay in the empty honey cells and are watched and cared for -by their nurses until they are old enough to work,” replied the queen. -“There is much to do, but there are many classes of workers, from the -honey gatherers to the bees that stand inside the hive, fanning with -their wings to make currents of air; for without pure air the crowded -City Wonderful would not be a fit place to live in. Another set of bees -cleans out the cells after the baby bees are old enough to come out, -and others guard the gate of the city to keep away moths and other -troublesome creatures.” - -“Bees are wise, sensible, industrious, and useful,” declared the -squirrel. “I should like to see the City Wonderful. I am very glad that -I have the privilege of seeing a queen bee. I wasn’t expecting such a -great pleasure.” - -The queen bee said that she was equally glad to see the red squirrel, -and that she would be delighted to invite him to see the new City -Wonderful, were it not for the fact that her soldiers might make it -unpleasant for him. - -“Are there many kinds of bees?” asked Tiny presently. - -“Yes, there are fully seventy known varieties,” replied the queen, -daintily flapping her wings. “There are the plasterer bees. They make -tunnels in the ground, divide them into cells, and fill them with -honey. They have forked tongues to use as trowels in smoothing down -the silken layers which they use in making the tunnels. The flower -riflers, which are very dark in color, make their cells on dry walls. -Their homes look like lumps of mud.” - -Tiny asked if all the bees live in great cities. - -“Not all of them,” replied the queen, “although they are very sociable -creatures. The upholsterer bee cuts out round pieces from rose leaves, -with which she lines her tiny nest. Would it not be delightful to live -in a nest of sweet-smelling rose leaves? I should much prefer such -sweet quietude to city life. The upholsterer stores honey and pollen -that looks like rose-colored jam. I dare say it is very delicious. The -mason bees take bits of chalk, sand, and woody material, which they -make into tiny bricks to use in building their little houses. Another -kind of bee hunts for an old snail shell in which to make her house. -There is another variety that builds its nest in the heart of the -scarlet poppy. Some bees throw out sweet perfume. Although most bees -work in the sunshine, there is a class, with wings tinted like the -rainbow, that works by moonlight. You may be learned, my friend, but -I could sit here all day and tell you things about bees. You would be -much surprised at many facts I should mention. Bees, wasps, spiders, -and ants are very clever.” - -Tiny said that there was nothing that could give him greater pleasure -than to hear her talk. - -“But my body guard is coming,” continued the queen. “It is really an -extraordinary thing for a queen bee to be without attendants. They -must be much distressed about losing me.” - -Tiny asked why she had left the City Wonderful. - -“Because of family troubles,” replied the queen, somewhat ashamed. -“We lived in perfect harmony until I learned that my daughter, the -princess, would come out of her nursery cell in a few days to enter -society. Princess bees are the only ones that cause trouble. They are -fed on the finest food, and the nurses work hard to make their bodies -as smooth and comely as possible. Of course, daughters that live in -luxury and never have any responsibility are likely to be spoiled. Like -all queen bees I am in fear of the eldest princess.” - -“Why?” cried Tiny in surprise. - -“Oh, you don’t understand bees,” said the queen with a sigh. “When my -eldest princess comes from her nursery and is ready to go into society, -she will try to kill me. She will strive to be queen. It is always that -way with the princesses.” - -“What a cruel daughter!” exclaimed the squirrel, much horrified. - -“All princesses try to get the queens out of the way,” said the bee in -a sad voice. “As soon as they are big enough to rule others, they want -to control everything. So I have gotten several thousand loyal subjects -and have left the hive to build a city of my own.” - -“And will a cruel princess become queen in your place?” asked Tiny. - -“Yes,” was the response, “but before long she will become uneasy, -too. Her next younger sister will come out of her nursery and will -want to rule. Perhaps there will be a great contest, but doubtless -the elder princess will have to flee as I have done. She will have -fewer followers than I, and they will be called the after-swarm. Thus -jealousy goes on in the royal family all the time, but the other bees -are usually peaceable and are always busy.” - -At that moment Tiny heard a buzz that sounded as though all the insects -in the world were singing together. A great swarm of bees, like a black -cloud, appeared overhead. - -“I believe this must have been the first time in history that a queen -ever got away from the rest of the swarm,” said the queen bee. “I have -enjoyed this little visit so much, and I thank you a thousand times for -saving me from drowning.” - -Waving her pretty wings in graceful farewell, she joined her army of -soldiers, and with buzzes of delight they carried her away. - -“What a dreadful thing it is to be a ruler, in constant fear of death!” -said Tiny, gratefully. “I am glad--oh, so glad--that I am a little -common squirrel, as free as the sunbeams that light my way.” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -After his strange meeting with the queen bee, Tiny wondered what would -happen next. He remembered what the owl prophet had said concerning -the dangers he would meet. As he sped onward, his little heart began -to beat less bravely, for, like any young squirrel that had lived in -a comfortable home without a care or a worry, he dreaded to face an -uncertain future. - -“I am frightened,” he said, with a shudder, as he stopped at the edge -of a clump of cedars to find a place in which to spend the night. “The -day and the twilight are gone. No moon or star is in the sky. I wish I -were at home with mother.” - -Then came a crash. Tiny thought for a moment that it was hailing. He -was about to hide in the grass when a bright green light flashed forth, -so brilliant that he could see all about him. He soon learned that the -crash was caused by a multitude of acorns that the wind had shaken from -a tree. Never before had he seen such splendid acorns. - -“I will fill my hunting-bag, although such a large load will cause me -to travel more slowly,” he said. “A bagful of acorns is a nice thing to -have. How happy mother will be to get them!” - -He began helping himself to the acorns. Suddenly he saw an ogre emerge -from the ground, with a thousand darts all pointed straight at him. -Never before in all his life had Tiny been so frightened. - -“Hist!” cried the ogre, advancing slowly towards the poor, trembling -squirrel, his sharp teeth showing in a ghastly manner. “One of the -squirrels of the forest enters my realm. What shall I do with him?” - -[Illustration: “HIST!” CRIED THE OGRE, ADVANCING SLOWLY TOWARD THE -POOR, TREMBLING SQUIRREL.] - -A hundred voices cried out in reply: - - “Master Ogre, friend so true, - He has come to steal from you. - See the bag he carries there! - Seize him by his auburn hair; - Put him in the bag, and then - Hide him in your gloomy den!” - -Poor Tiny could only stand and shiver, awaiting his dreadful fate. The -green light became brighter and brighter, and soon he saw that he was -surrounded by a circle of glow worms. The ogre was a fierce porcupine. -Tiny had never before seen such a terrible creature. - -“Every soldier in my army is loyal to me!” shouted the porcupine -boisterously. “Each comes with a lantern to help me. They will aid me -to tie you, place you in that bag, and hang you in my den deep down in -the cold ground.” - -“I did not come to rob you,” mumbled Tiny, shaking violently. “I am -lost, and am trying to find my way home. This is my hunting bag in -which I gather my winter store. Please let me go unharmed.” - -“Neither you nor your hunting bag has any right to be on my castle -grounds,” growled the porcupine. “Either the woodchuck or the rabbit -has told you that I have many priceless valuables hidden in my -storeroom.” - -“I have never met the woodchuck, nor have I seen the rabbit for many -weeks,” wailed Tiny. “In my hunting bag are acorns and beech-nuts. I -halted underneath this tree to gather a few of these fine acorns.” - -“Guilty creature!” cried the porcupine, bristling still more. “Do not -these acorns belong to me, also the tree they grow upon? Confess now -that you were going to burrow into my storeroom and carry off the -precious carrots and cabbage leaves I have stored away for a rainy day.” - -“You are mistaken,” said Tiny, almost dead from fright, while the glow -worms circled still more closely about him. - -Just then he remembered what the owl prophet had told him to do. As the -porcupine attempted to seize him, Tiny leaped forward and caught one -of the sharp darts and gave him a hard jab, which made the porcupine -shriek at the top of his voice. Moaning with pain, the ferocious -creature disappeared into the ground. The glow worms vanished. - -[Illustration: “I HAVE CONQUERED THE OGRE!” CRIED TINY IN DELIGHT, -WHIRLING THE SWORD ABOUT IN THE AIR.] - -“I have conquered the ogre!” cried Tiny in delight, whirling the dart -about in the air. “I am glad that I took the wise owl’s advice.” - -Still carrying the dart, or quill, that he had wrested from the -porcupine, he groped his way back to the path. - -Soon the rays of the moon made everything as bright as day. He had not -gone far when he saw to the left a deep, dark jungle, concerning which -the owl prophet had spoken. - -“It is a dismal place after night,” he said, “but I must go into the -jungle as I have promised to do. I shall use the dart to protect -myself.” - -With some difficulty he entered the damp place, without thought of the -terrible fright that awaited him. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -Deeper and deeper Tiny wandered into the heart of the jungle. It was -very damp and chilly as well as ghostly. His hunting bag was heavy, but -he did not lose heart. - -He had heard that fairy princesses with torches often came to the aid -of good squirrels that were in trouble. He wished that they would come -to help him. But the dark trees and bushes looked like frightful hiding -places for foxes and other mischievous animals. He grew more and more -alarmed. Finally he halted at the foot of a pine tree. - -“I will spend the night here,” he said to himself. “I shall be out of -danger in this great tree. What a lonesome place it is! This is one of -the gloomiest valleys I ever saw. I’ll hide my acorns under the tree -and find a place in which to rest.” - -Hardly had he spoken these words, when a terrible growl fell upon his -ears. At the same time a great black object rose between himself and -the tree. It was the largest creature Tiny had ever seen. - -“It is the black giant that Mr. Owl told me about,” chattered Tiny, -dropping his hunting bag. “Oh, what shall I do?” - -The giant, which was really a black bear, growled louder than before -and tried to strike Tiny with his great paw. The red squirrel, quick -as a flash, attacked the giant with his dart, but only broke it into -several pieces. Then, as fast as his legs could carry him, he scurried -up the pine tree. The bear, shaking with rage, attempted to climb the -tree, too, but he was so heavy that a bough gave way, and he fell -clumsily to the ground. - -[Illustration: HE WAS SO HEAVY THAT A BRANCH GAVE WAY AND HE FELL -CLUMSILY TO THE GROUND.] - -“You may be a great fighter on the ground, but you can’t climb trees,” -laughed Tiny in spite of his recent fright. - -“You shall stay in that tree till your beard turns gray,” growled the -bear, “for I intend to see that you do not escape.” - -Tiny hid himself in one of the thick branches and remained quiet for -a long time. He feared to go to sleep, lest he might fall upon Mr. -Bruin’s upturned nose. In the meantime, the bear fell into a deep -slumber. - -Finally the thought struck Tiny that he might be close to Squirreltown. -He quickly ascended to the topmost branch and looked all about him. - -Less than two miles away he saw a wonderful sight. It seemed to him -that millions of bright stars clustered together over the top of a tall -tree in the east. They circled briskly about, sparkling and flashing -like diamonds in an immense crown. - -“The good owl prophet has told me the truth from first to last,” -said Tiny, his heart almost bursting from joy. “I recognize the dear -old oak where I was born, although it is a long distance away. -Squirreltown stands under that crown of heavenly bodies. Never before -have I seen that kind of stars. Those rays are as bright as these -anxious eyes of mine. Hurrah for home and mother! How strange it is -that all my difficulties have helped me to find the right way home!” - -He hastened down to the lowest branch of the tree, but Bruin was still -sleeping, with his head against its massive trunk. Tiny, whose mother -had taught him the lesson of prudence, did not dare to venture down, -lest the big black bear should seize him. So he went back to his -resting place, and soon fell asleep. - -In the early gray dawn, he awoke and peeped from his cozy shelter. The -birds were leaving their green roofs to find food for their families. -The daisies in the woods and valleys were beginning to spread their -white and crimson-tipped stars. The leaves trembled in the early -breezes. Old Bruin was not far from the tree. He had found a hollow -stump, and was rooting around it with his long nose. - -Soon there was a buzzing sound that swelled into an angry roar. Old -Bruin, in trying to steal some honey, had gotten into trouble with the -bees. The swarm was very angry. Hundreds of bees poured from the stump -and alighted on his head, in his eyes, ears, and nostrils. - -[Illustration: CRAZED WITH PAIN THE BEAR DASHED AWAY.] - -Crazed with pain, the bear dashed away, bellowing at the top of his -voice. Tiny, although very kind-hearted and forgiving, could not keep -from laughing at the plight of the bear. His cries sounded like the -mingled shrieks of many different animals, for the sting of each bee -was like the cut of a knife. - -Tiny scurried down the tree to find his hunting bag, and what was his -delight to find other delicacies that would make his winter store -complete. - -“What a glorious jungle this is!” he cried. “I am glad I followed the -advice of the owl prophet, for no squirrel has ever before been so -fortunate. The ground is covered with pine cones, the seeds of which -are delicious. Across the way is a large quantity of beech-nuts, and -all around me are blackberry bushes. There is nothing else so delicious -as dried blackberries.” - -In the midst of his joy, the queen bee that he had rescued from the -brook lit upon a purple crow-foot growing by the stump, and cried out: - -“Good morning, my four-legged friend. You are the squirrel that saved -my life.” - -“I am glad to see you again, your majesty,” said Tiny with his polite -bow. “I wish you had happened to come sooner, for that dreadful black -giant made me stay in yonder pine tree all night long.” - -“The impudent creature tried to get into our new home in the stump,” -said the queen. “My soldiers will chase him and his companions so far -away that they will never find their way back here.” - -“You have done me a great service,” said Tiny, with a second bow. “I -thank you from the bottom of my heart.” - -“A kind act always brings its reward,” said the queen cheerfully. - -“But how can a tiny bee scare such a monstrous creature as a bear?” -asked the squirrel. - -“One bee couldn’t scare anything,” laughed the queen. “You must -remember that bees work together. When hundreds and hundreds of bees -attack a bear, he is sure to make good use of his legs.” - -“Isn’t it rather unpleasant to live in a stump, after having been queen -of the City Wonderful?” asked Tiny, after a moment of silence. - -“No, I rather enjoy the change,” returned the queen bee, with a merry -buzz. “I hear that my oldest daughter, the princess, is now queen of -the City Wonderful, but that she is uneasy all the time, as her next -younger sister is almost ready to leave her nursery and fight for the -crown. Occasionally there is strife in the City Wonderful, for as -soon as a princess leaves her nursery, she wants to rule. I am quite -content to live here with my twenty thousand faithful followers. It is -better to live peaceably in a stump than with a quarrelsome daughter in -a fine palace.” - -“I wish you much happiness,” said Tiny, with still another bow. - -“Thank you,” replied the queen, testing her gauzy wings. “I learned -yesterday from one of my workers that Squirreltown is but a short -distance away. Follow the path leading eastward, and you will be there -in time for dinner.” - -“And what a dinner I shall take to my good mother!” exclaimed Tiny, -looking about him. - -There was his hunting bag filled with choice acorns. Fully two bushels -of beech-nuts and three barrels of pine cones were scattered over the -ground. On the blackberry bushes, some of which were five feet high, -were at least a dozen gallons of dried berries. - -“I warn you that all is not well at Squirreltown,” continued the queen. -“They are having a dreadful famine there, and your poor mother may have -starved by this time. Fear, want, and anxiety are terrible companions -with which to live.” - -“What caused the famine?” asked Tiny in alarm. - -“Acorns and all the other queer food that squirrels eat are very scarce -in Squirreltown just now,” explained the queen; “and, to make it all -the worse, the squirrels there were annoyed by a host of bears that -took up their abode in the city. As a result, all the inhabitants were -afraid to leave their homes. The poor creatures were hungry enough to -eat one another.” - -“Are there many bears about here?” asked Tiny. - -“Quite a number of them came to the jungle, because there are so many -acorns. They intended to hibernate here. I remembered how kind you had -been to me, so I sent messengers to all the bees for miles around to -drive the bears out of Squirreltown. We intend to keep them out of this -jungle. We will watch your city every day and woe betide the bear that -enters! Should one attempt to pass the city limits, an alarm will be -sent out, and at least a thousand bees will chase him until he falls -down exhausted. Bears, deer, and buffaloes are cowards. However, they -do look very dreadful to small creatures like us.” - -“I can never repay you for your courtesies,” said Tiny, this time -bowing so low that his bushy tail looked like a canopy over his head. - -“Now run along home before my army returns,” continued the queen. “All -the citizens of Squirreltown know that you are coming, and that you are -their deliverer. I will send a few of my messengers to guide you, and -to conduct your friends back to the jungle where they can eat all they -want, and store things for winter use. Goodby.” - -The queen bee flew back into the stump, buzzing happily. Tiny laughed, -cried, chattered, and sang for joy. After helping himself to a few -berries and pine cones, he picked up his bunting bag and trudged along -to Squirreltown, as happy as a king. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -The bees that had been sent to guide Tiny back to Squirreltown did not -speak a word. They flew a short distance ahead of him, occasionally -stopping to rest or to take refreshment from the cup of a wild rose. - -What was Tiny’s joy when again he beheld the familiar trees of -Squirreltown! His delight knew no bounds when the squirrels, red, gray, -and black, scurried forth from their homes to welcome him. Soon he was -the center of an excited group. They stroked his fur, pulled his beard, -and shouted joyfully: - -[Illustration: “WELCOME HOME! HURRAH FOR TINY REDSQUIRREL! LONG LIFE TO -THE DELIVERER OF SQUIRRELTOWN.”] - -“Welcome home! Hurrah for Tiny Redsquirrel! Long life to the deliverer -of Squirreltown!” - -They were about to pounce upon his hunting bag, but Tiny gently pushed -them away, saying: - -“These are for my mother. Shall I tell you where I got them?” - -“Yes, yes,” replied the squirrels, who were almost starved. - -“Follow those bees to a jungle not far distant, where you can get -enough provisions to last all winter long. It is a dark and lonely -place, but you need have no fear, for a fairy queen lives there who has -promised to protect you. I will join you soon.” - -Although the squirrels were anxious to inquire about Tiny’s health -and to learn of his experience, they immediately scampered off to the -jungle, for sometimes when little creatures become very hungry they -cease to be polite. - -Tiny, finding himself all alone, hurried to his home in the great oak -tree. When he saw the face of his dear mother, he was filled with -mingled joy and sorrow. She looked much older, for a few days in -Squirreltown is a very long time, and she had been grieving constantly -for her lost son. - -Instead of rushing to embrace him, as one would expect her to do, -she ran rapidly about the room, bounding over the table and chairs, -shrieking and making as much noise as possible, for that is the way red -squirrels show great joy. - -“I am so glad that you have come back, my son!” she cried again and -again. “Tell me all about your adventures, for you must have had many -of them.” - -[Illustration: HE PULLED THE HUNTING BAG INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM -AND OPENED IT.] - -“Let us first have some supper, for you must be almost starved,” said -Tiny. He pulled the hunting bag into the middle of the room, and opened -it. - -“Oh, how tempting!” cried his mother, sniffing at the dried -blackberries, and gazing hungrily at the acorns and pine cones. “I have -had nothing to eat for two days.” - -“Then let us have a good feast together,” said Tiny, with a merry -laugh. “While we are eating I will tell you the story of my wanderings.” - -“I shall eat while you are talking,” said Mrs. Redsquirrel. - -“But first I should like to know whether Chatty Chipmunk is safe,” said -Tiny anxiously. - -“I don’t know,” replied Mrs. Redsquirrel, with a sigh. “Animals of the -neighboring towns are doing all they can to assist our city in finding -him, but so far they have had little encouragement. His poor mother is -ill from anxiety. No one in the town suffers more than she.” - -Tiny told his mother how he had become separated from Chatty. He also -told her about his meeting with the various creatures of the forest. - -“I think I may have been traveling in a circle all the time,” he -concluded. - -“All bright, heavenly bodies travel in a circle,” said his mother with -pride. “At any rate I am glad that you are safe at home once more. Now -that we have finished our meal, I will make the room more tidy. Can I -lift this hunting bag?” - -“I will put it away,” answered Tiny, seizing the bag and pulling it -into the storeroom. “To-morrow I will go out into the jungle and bring -you enough provisions to last all winter. Now, dear mother, tell me -what has happened in Squirreltown during my absence.” - -“On the day you left a number of bears took up their abode in the heart -of the city,” began Mrs. Redsquirrel, with a shudder. “We squirrels -could do nothing. We tried to drive them away by throwing twigs at -them, but the dreadful things only laughed at us, and said they would -stay as long as they lived. We couldn’t leave our homes to go out into -the country where the trees are loaded with acorns and beech-nuts, so -we stayed inside and waited for help. The poor chipmunks in the ground -must have suffered more than we.” - -“I am sorry that I was not here to comfort you,” said Tiny. - -“I missed you sorely, for you are so much braver than I,” said Mrs. -Redsquirrel meekly. “Last night some of the older bears went away to -get food. Early this morning we heard a most terrible noise. I peeped -from my window and could see the bears scattering in every direction, -and could hear them roaring and begging for mercy. Some of them fell -over logs and rolled helplessly about. In a few moments they had all -disappeared, and they did not return. Presently an army of wee soldiers -came to the city, buzzing merrily, and settled down on that old hemlock -tree where the Flyingsquirrel family formerly lived. Then Bushy -Graysquirrel rushed in to tell me that several maids of honor to the -fairy queen wanted to speak to me. She said that they bore news from -you.” - -“How remarkable!” exclaimed Tiny. “It sounds, indeed, like a fairy -tale.” - -“It was more like a bad dream to me,” declared Mrs. Redsquirrel. -“Between you and me I was afraid to go down, and yet I wanted to hear -something about you. In a few minutes I had brushed myself as neat as -possible, and stood in the presence of the queen’s army. A tiny maid -of honor, with shiny wings, came forth and told me how you had saved -the queen’s life. She said that she and her soldiers had promised to -keep their eyes on Squirreltown, and how they would see that the bears -disturbed us no more. I was also assured that you were well, and that -you would be back soon. I thanked her for her kindness, and returned -home. Squirreltown at once became the liveliest place you ever saw. -All the citizens mingled together as if they belonged to one family, -and they cheered loudly for Tiny Redsquirrel, whom they called their -deliverer. They are planning to give you a party late this afternoon.” - -“That will be delightful,” said Tiny, beginning to feel very important. -“Last night I saw a crown of glittering stars circling about the tops -of our tallest trees. I never saw stars that shone brighter than they.” - -“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you the most interesting part of the -story,” replied Mrs. Redsquirrel. “The queen doubtless knew that you -would go to some treetop, hoping to catch a glimpse of Squirreltown, so -she sent out some of her attendants to the camp of the fireflies, to -beg them to lend their aid. Before long several thousand of the bright, -pretty creatures were circling about the tops of the oak trees.” - -“How wonderful!” exclaimed Tiny, with breathless interest. “I did not -know that such little creatures could be so helpful.” - -“Three times to-day several of the queen’s maids of honor flew into my -window and left me some honey,” continued the mother. “I have grown -quite fond of honey, although I do not believe that sweets are good for -animals.” - -Tiny then told his parent how the owl prophet had taken an interest in -him, and how he expected to seek him soon to receive more knowledge. - -“I do not put much dependence upon owls,” said Mrs. Redsquirrel, -beginning to tremble, “but, should it be to your advantage, I would not -complain if you should go to thank him for his goodness. He has been so -kind that you ought not to show ingratitude. Perhaps he may teach you -many other things that you should know.” - -“May I lie down for a few moments, mother?” asked Tiny, for he was -beginning to feel the effects of his long and tiresome journey. - -“Dear son, you may,” she replied, as she hastened to make his couch -more comfortable. “You ought to take a long nap before the party.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -Tiny became ill, and could not venture out of doors, so the party -was postponed until he should get well. His mother sent for Dr. -Flyingsquirrel, who lived out in the country. The doctor, who could -spread out his loose skin and fly like a bird, said that Tiny should -remain quiet for at least two days. - -[Illustration: SEVERAL OF TINY’S BEST FRIENDS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR -HIMSELF, AND OTHER IMPORTANT CITIZENS CAME TO SEE HIM.] - -The Mayor of Squirreltown issued an edict that anyone who made a loud -noise should be banished from the city, so intense silence reigned. -Several of Tiny’s best friends, including the mayor himself and other -important citizens, came to see him. They brought him wild flowers, -acorns fashioned by their teeth into fanciful cups, and many other -pretty things which Tiny gratefully received. - -The second morning Bushy Graysquirrel brought him a book of fables -written by Father Aesop, who at that time was the greatest writer known -to Animal Kingdom. - -The story that pleased him most was the following: - - THE MOUSE’S DISCOVERY. - - Once upon a time a donkey, a wolf, a fox, and a cat fell into an - argument as to which of them was the greatest. - - A field mouse, who was hiding close by in a tuft of grass, heard the - conversation, and was much amused. - - “I am the greatest thing in the world,” boasted the wolf, “for I am - so brave that I fear nothing. On the other hand, you would all run if - I showed my teeth and claws. I am one of man’s greatest fears.” - - “It is certainly no sign of greatness to be a good fighter,” said the - fox, proudly curling his tail as foxes sometimes do. “I am shrewd and - wily. It is much better to have these qualities of mind than to be - fierce. Children’s books are full of stories concerning my cunning - tricks.” - - “Foxes’ opinions of themselves are sometimes absurd,” said the - donkey, stamping his hoofs upon the ground to scare away the flies. - “Donkeys are the greatest of all objects, for the reason that they - are useful and always can be depended upon. Donkeys’ feet are more - sure than the hoofs of horses.” - - “I am the chief of all objects,” proclaimed the cat, from a bough - of one of the birches. “I belong to the tiger family, yet I am so - gentle that children keep me for a pet. Men prefer dogs, but cats are - women’s favorites. The wolf’s importance is small compared with mine. - My food is brought to me, and I spend my spare time catching mice. - Cats are mice’s greatest foes.” - - The mouse’s heart stood still when he heard these dreadful words from - the cat’s mouth, for he dreaded cats’ paws more than he did wolves’ - teeth. - - “I cannot fight, nor am I shrewd enough to steal, strong enough to - carry loads, nor lazy enough to be a child’s pet; but I can sing,” - warbled a thrush from the branch of another tree. “Birds are men’s - sweetest comforters, for their tunes always drive away care. Flies’ - lives are spent in useless buzzing. A fly’s buzz is not sweet to - hear, as the donkey well knows. However, thrushes’ songs are very - melodious, for thrushes practice singing all day long. Surely the - thrush’s position is high above that of all other objects.” - - Before the wolf could open his mouth to praise himself again, there - was a sound of heavy footsteps. Presently a man came in sight, - carrying a blunderbuss. - - The wolf, forgetting how brave he was, darted away; the donkey’s - departure was almost as sudden; the thrush flew high into the sky; - the cat scurried to the birch’s topmost branch; and the hair on the - fox’s tail stood straight up as he leaped the bushes. - - [Illustration] - - “See how they run!” exclaimed the field mouse, laughing at the - frightened animals who a moment since had been boasting of their - power. “It is very plain to be seen that the greatest of all objects - is the blunderbuss.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -When the two days were up Tiny had quite regained his health. Great -preparations had been made for a jubilee. A grand banquet, given by the -mayor and other high officials, was to be held in the hollow of a big -tree. - -When Tiny stepped out upon the little rustic veranda in front of his -home, he observed that the branches of the tree below him were thronged -with squirrels of all colors and of all walks in life. - -“Hurrah for Tiny Redsquirrel!” they shouted. “Welcome, deliverer of -Squirreltown! Three cheers for the noblest and bravest squirrel of -Animal Kingdom! A speech! A speech!” - -[Illustration: TINY BECAME OVERWHELMED BY A FEELING OF -IMPORTANCE--THERE WAS ALL SQUIRRELTOWN AT HIS FEET.] - -Strange to say, instead of being embarrassed, Tiny became overwhelmed -by a feeling of importance. There was all Squirreltown at his feet, -including the mayor and Billy Foxsquirrel, the noted whistler. Tiny -bowed very stiffly, while the squirrels at the tops of their voices -shouted lustily. He looked down upon them just as the wise owl prophet -had gazed at him. - -“Fellow citizens,” he began, “I thank you for the honor you do me. I -see many faces before me that show appreciation for what I have done to -rescue our city from the bears. I choose to do all I can to help you. - -“The mayor invited me to make a speech to you. At the time, I knew that -I could not prepare one as well as he, but I threw myself into the task -and did the best I could. I am glad that this public reception has -drawn so many of you to this place. - -“You have given me great happiness. Our beautiful city has grown very -dear to me. I am glad that I was driven all round the world, for I -learned many things that I will teach you. I have become much wiser -since I have traveled, and have learned much that you do not know. I--” - -But in the midst of his grand eloquence, Tiny was interrupted. As he -stood beating the air with his little paws, trying to impress his -hearers, there came a flapping of wings overhead. - -His terrified hearers fled in all directions, but before he could -escape he was seized and borne high into the air--up, up amongst the -tree-tops. - -He was too much frightened to cry out. He could only wait until the -dreadful creature that held him in his clutches should set him free. -His blood almost froze in his veins. He wondered what he should do -if his frail limbs were broken, or if he should be cast down in some -lonely place to perish. Perhaps he would be eaten. His heart fell -within him. - -After traveling for some time in this unusual and uncomfortable manner, -he found himself in a nest of great size, with the owl prophet staring -at him with big yellow eyes. - -[Illustration: HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A NEST OF HUGE SIZE, WITH THE OWL -PROPHET STARING AT HIM WITH BIG, YELLOW EYES.] - -Although he was in a quiver of fright, like many other small creatures, -he did not wish to appear concerned, so he smiled feebly and said: - -“Hello!” - -“How dare you be so bold?” cried the owl in a dry, unnatural voice. “Do -you think I am a telephone?” - -“Pardon me,” said Tiny weakly. “My grammar is very bad.” - -“Grammar is never bad,” corrected the owl. “It is your English that is -bad.” - -“But why did you take me away from dear old Squirreltown?” wailed Tiny. - -“To teach you the lesson of humility,” replied the owl prophet. “I -have flown all the way to Squirreltown and back here to keep you -from disgracing yourself. I am glad that I went. To see little Tiny -Redsquirrel, puffed with vanity, frisking about with his little paws -and bushy tail, lecturing to the old citizens of Squirreltown, was -enough to make a wise owl laugh. What do you suppose the mayor thought -of you?” - -“I don’t know,” replied Tiny, ashamed of himself in spite of his -excitement. “I fear that I was very pompous; but then I had delivered -Squirreltown from the bears, and I thought I had a right to be bold. -You see, the mayor intended to have me for supper.” - -“If you complain any more, I myself will have you for supper,” declared -the owl, with no pity whatever. “I suppose you mean that the mayor -intended to entertain you at supper, for it is not likely that he would -wish to eat you.” - -Tiny stared in bewilderment. He could not understand all the odd -sayings of the prophet, but, nevertheless, he corrected himself by -saying: - -“The mayor invited me to eat supper with him.” - -“Well, he will have all the more to eat without you, and will not have -to listen to any more of your speeches,” snapped the owl. “Which one of -those squirrels was the mayor?” - -“The large one with the sleek fur. I have often been told that the -mayor looks like I do,” replied Tiny, his new vanity again appearing. - -“To be sure he does,” retorted the owl, with a laugh. “I, too, look -like you do.” - -Tiny again stared in astonishment. He could see no points of -resemblance between himself and the owl. - -“A bee looks like you do,” continued the prophet. “A bear looks like -you do; so does a weasel, an elephant, a hyena, a jay bird, and a loon; -even a monkey looks like you do.” - -“You are jesting with me,” protested Tiny, beginning to be vexed. - -“All animals look like you do, because they look with their eyes just -as you do,” said the owl, with another distracting screech. - -“Oh, I see,” said Tiny, good-naturedly. “I should have said that the -mayor looks like _me_. It was incorrect for me to say that the mayor -looks like I do.” - -“Quite so,” said the owl, less harshly. “You are a bright little -creature, and I am going to see that your wish for knowledge is -granted. You felt very important an hour ago, when you tried to make a -public speech before the oldest citizens of Squirreltown; but now you -see how little you know. I am going to take you to Beaver Creek, where -you may complete your education. Very few animals of the wood know of -this school, and only the ablest ones are admitted to it. When you have -graduated, you may go back to Squirreltown. Perhaps by that time you -will be able to make a modest speech before your fellow squirrels.” - -“I really want an education,” replied Tiny, with enthusiasm. “The -schools at Squirreltown are not very good, and very few squirrels -attend them. We are such nervous creatures, and care more for play than -for study. But what will my mother do without me?” - -“If she is a good mother, she will not stand in the way of your -education,” replied the owl. “I will write her a letter which the -messenger pigeon, a friend of mine, will carry to her. You must write -to her twice a week, and the messenger pigeon will bear the letters to -her.” - -“I dislike to write letters,” protested Tiny. “It is such stupid work.” - -“It is generally a stupid creature that dislikes to write letters,” -said the owl severely. “He does not like to write, because he does not -know how to write well. In Miss Hare’s School at Beaver Creek, you will -be taught how to write correctly; then letter writing will prove to be -a great pleasure to you.” - -“I am anxious to attend this school, because I want to learn how to -read stories and to count,” said Tiny, after a moment of anxious -thought. - -“You must promise to work hard,” said the owl, earnestly. “You will -find pupils at this school from all parts of Animal Kingdom. Miss Hare -is a good instructor, but very strict. If you should do anything that -would injure one of your classmates, you would be drowned in the creek. -Now roll yourself into a little round ball again, for I am ready to -start.” - -[Illustration] - -Tiny did as he was commanded. The owl almost encircled him with his -long claws, and away they went to a strange land, about which Tiny had -never even dreamed. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized -what a small, helpless creature he was. Not a word was spoken till -they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great -river. It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, -poplars, and other trees. His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was -very dismal, indeed. - -“Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual. “I have -promised the queen bee to help you. A great many creatures do not like -to go to school, but in after years they always regret it if they have -quit school before completing the course.” - -Not a sound could be heard except the babbling of the brook and the -tinkling of a waterfall several rods away. Tiny shuddered, but said -nothing. - -“These buildings were built by beavers,” explained the owl, although -it was so dark Tiny could not see them at all. “When they moved away, -Miss Hare started her school here. Only one of the beavers remained. He -is a skilled carpenter and janitor, and he keeps the building in good -repair. You no doubt have heard that he mixes mortar with his forepaws, -and uses his broad tail for a trowel. Young beavers stay at home till -they are three years old; then they build houses of their own. This -school is situated upon a stream of flowing water, as you see, for Miss -Hare thinks that little scholars should have plenty of water as well as -fresh air.” - -[Illustration: “THE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT BY BEAVERS,” EXPLAINED THE -OWL.] - -“I am glad that I came,” said Tiny, although he looked into the owl’s -yellow eyes with some distrust. He still feared that the wise prophet -might suddenly pounce upon him and eat him. - -“Hoot! hoot! hoot! Is everybody asleep?” cried the wise owl. “I can’t -see why creatures want to sleep at night. I never close my eyes then, -for I have plenty of sleep in the daytime. Besides, one should always -be on the lookout at night, for one never knows what may happen.” - -Soon there was a splashing in the water, and in a few moments a queer -animal approached them. - -“It is the janitor,” explained the owl, somewhat annoyed by the delay. -“I fear he is getting lazy. He surely is not overworked, for all he -does is to look after the buildings, play, sleep, and eat the bark of -trees and the roots of water lilies.” - -“I beg pardon for keeping you waiting so long,” said the beaver. “As -soon as I heard you, I rose to find out your wish.” - -“I have brought a pupil to Miss Hare,” said the owl. “Please see that -he has a comfortable room for the night. Tell Miss Hare that I will -write her a letter soon.” - -The owl prophet flew away, leaving Tiny with the beaver, who moved -sleepily back along the willow boughs to a group of quaint houses made -of mud, stones, and sticks. Their dome-shaped roofs were several feet -above the level of the water. - -Suddenly, from the front window of one of the houses, a gleam of light -shot forth and an odd-looking animal thrust out its head. - -Tiny, who by this time was accustomed to surprises, looked up to behold -Miss Hare gazing down upon him. She looked very comical in her white -nightcap. - -“Well, well, well, what is the matter?” she cried in a high voice. -“My nerves are shaken by the dreadful noises I have heard. What is the -matter, Mr. Beaver?” - -“Mr. Owl has brought another pupil,” said the beaver, politely. “I do -not know where to put him.” - -[Illustration: “MR. OWL HAS BROUGHT ANOTHER PUPIL,” SAID THE BEAVER, -POLITELY.] - -“Let him stay with Reynard Redfox to-night,” replied Miss Hare, looking -searchingly at Tiny. “What a frail little creature you are! You must -belong to the Rat family.” - -Tiny did not like Miss Hare’s frank way of speaking, and to be -compared to a rat was not agreeable, but he said politely: - -“I am Tiny Redsquirrel of Squirreltown. I desire very much to get an -education.” - -“I will let you stay if you will obey the rules,” said Miss Hare, -severely. “I have always heard that red squirrels are very mischievous -animals. You must know that I will not permit any foolishness. Not long -ago Mr. Owl brought a pupil here who was so very saucy and naughty that -I was glad to get rid of him. Although I taught him the lessons of -kindness and charity, he bit Weenie Mouse and hit Winkie Weasel with an -acorn. One day he tore out one of Katie Goose’s feathers and frightened -the poor fowl almost to death. I never before saw such a bad creature. -He looked very much like you. Do you know Chatty Chipmunk?” - -“Yes, ma’am,” replied Tiny, heartily ashamed of his youthful companion. -“Is he at this school?” - -“No, he forsook us before he had been here three days,” answered Miss -Hare. “I think he must have been drowned. I will give you a trial; but -if you prove unworthy of my school I will never receive any more pupils -brought to me by Mr. Owl. Good-night.” - -“Come on,” said the beaver. “I will take you to meet your roommate.” - -“Oh, I cannot room with a red fox!” protested Tiny, much alarmed. “He -will eat me during his sleep.” - -“You need have no fear,” said the beaver assuringly. “Miss Hare has -taught all her pupils the lesson of self-denial. She puts all sorts -of temptations in their way, but none of them ever yield unless they -are downright bad, as Chatty Chipmunk was. Reynard Redfox is very well -bred. He and Bantam Chicken are the best of friends. Wherever you see -Bantam, you may also see Reynard following after him.” - -Tiny did not feel very comfortable when the beaver opened the door of -one of the buildings and told him to enter. - -Three or four fireflies, whose duty it was to carry lanterns, flew -about the room, making it very light. Reynard Redfox, who was very -large compared with Tiny, rose and shook out his stiff, long-haired -coat. He gazed hungrily at the little red squirrel as though he were -starving for his companionship. - -[Illustration: “MR. REDFOX, THIS IS MR. REDSQUIRREL,” SAID THE BEAVER.] - -“Mr. Redfox, this is Mr. Redsquirrel,” said the beaver. “Mr. -Redsquirrel is a new scholar and Miss Hare said he should share your -room to-night.” - -“He is most welcome,” said Reynard with a smile that made Tiny tremble -all over. “I always was fond of squirrels. I fancy we shall get along -famously together, as he takes up so little room.” - -“I assure you I shall occupy as little space as possible,” replied -Tiny, politely. “I shall sleep here by the door, and, if I annoy you -during the night, all you have to do is to make a noise and I will jump -into the creek.” - -“You are quite safe,” assured the fox, settling himself for a nap. -“Since I have been at this school I have learned how cowardly it is to -injure creatures smaller and weaker than myself. I hope you will like -our school.” - -“I hope so, too,” said Tiny, faintly. “Of course, it will take time to -get acquainted with all the strange animals I shall meet. I have seen -little of the world.” - -“Just be kind and unselfish, and you will make friends,” said the red -fox. “When you see another animal that doesn’t please you, don’t stare -at him as you did at me, but be as agreeable as you can. Remember that -it would be a very monotonous world if all animals should look and act -alike.” - -“Miss Hare must be a very nice creature,” ventured Tiny. - -“She is very wise and talented,” said the fox with enthusiasm. “Some of -the most aristocratic families in Animal Kingdom are represented in her -school. I have heard that she belongs to the nobility. You know she is -a Belgian Hare, and I believe I heard some one say that her father was -a Welsh Rabbit.” - -At that moment a terrible thumping sound was heard. - -“What is that!” exclaimed Tiny, unconsciously drawing nearer to Reynard -for protection. - -“It is a warning for us to keep quiet,” said the fox. “Billy Beaver, -the janitor, makes that noise with his tail whenever we become -boisterous at night. You know that whenever a beaver wishes to warn -his companions that danger is near, he makes a thumping sound with his -tail. Really, the only clever thing about a beaver is his tail.” - -The fireflies settled down to rest, leaving the roommates in darkness. -Although Reynard slept soundly, Tiny did not close his eyes until he -was so exhausted that he could keep them open no longer. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -Tiny was glad when the rosy dawn peeped over the eastern hills once -more. The little dark room in which he lay did not look so cheerless in -the bright light of day. - -Again there came the sound of knocking that resembled the beating of a -drum. - -[Illustration: “THAT’S BILLY BEAVER,” EXPLAINED REYNARD REDFOX, -YAWNING. “HE IS CALLING FOR US TO GET UP.”] - -“That is Billy Beaver,” again explained Reynard Redfox, yawning. “He -is calling for us to get up. We have just an hour in which to eat our -breakfasts.” - -“Who gets breakfast for us?” asked Tiny, feeling much out of place in -the strange new land. - -“Each one gets his own breakfast, of course,” replied Reynard, much -amused. “We all require different kinds of food; and Miss Hare does not -care how or where we get it, if we keep from injuring one another.” - -“Katie Goose, who is very cleanly, takes a swim in the creek, and hunts -for seeds along the bank; Sammy Rabbit, a relative of Miss Hare, hunts -for grain; and Winkie Weasel chases insects and catches frogs. Since I -have become civilized, I am particularly fond of grapes, although I am -never so happy as when strawberry season comes round. - -“Shifty Woodchuck has less trouble in searching for his breakfast -than any other pupil, for he goes to a field of red clover or wild -buckwheat, and many a time he eats until he is not in good condition to -study. Shifty is a sleepy little animal. He spends the winter in a nest -of dried grasses that he builds in a hole in the ground. When the cold -weather comes, he will get sleepy and will lay aside his studies to -prepare for a long rest. Maybe he will sleep all winter, for no other -animal sleeps so long or so soundly as the woodchuck.” - -It took Tiny but a few moments to smooth down his silken fur and to -brush out his bushy tail. With a shrill cry of delight, he sprang from -his new home and ran out into the bracing, frosty air. He sped over the -willow brush that surrounded the village of quaint beaver houses, -and soon found himself in an oak tree where there were plenty of ripe -acorns, moist with dew. - -Hardly had he finished his breakfast when again he heard the tail -of the beaver pounding heavily. He hastened back to the cluster of -beaver houses with their round domes. Little animals of all kinds were -bustling about on their way to the various recitation rooms. Billy -Beaver, the janitor, told Tiny that he should go into the auditorium, -which was the largest building of all. There he found Miss Hare, -sitting behind a rough, wooden table. She wore a gray robe and a pair -of large earrings. Her spectacles were so heavy that her eyes seemed -very large; but he at once decided that she must be a kind teacher, as -her voice was soft and gentle. - -[Illustration: MISS HARE’S SCHOOL.] - -A number of animals sat on wooden benches facing Miss Hare. Reynard -Redfox, who was the largest animal in school, sat in one corner by -himself. His big, dark eyes were as mild as Tiny’s. His coarse, shaggy -fur was neatly brushed. - -The room was decorated with flowers and carpeted with moss. An -old-fashioned fireplace with bellows and tongs stood at one end of the -room. Tiny, who had never before seen a fireplace, wondered where the -fire came from. He afterwards learned that Billy Beaver made the fire -by rubbing two sticks together, and that it was never permitted to go -out. - -Toadstools, cat-tails, and elderberry bushes were arranged against -the walls, looking quite as artistic as the bay-trees and other -ornaments we see in fashionable hotels. Window curtains, woven of silk -by spiders, and screens and cushions, woven of weeds, reeds, and grass -by birds and mice, added to the comfort of the place. Snail shells and -pretty stones, gathered by the pupils, also lent beauty to the room. - -[Illustration: NOT WISHING TO BE OUTDONE BY HIS CLASSMATES, HE WENT -FORWARD AND, WITH A LOW BOW, GAVE MISS HARE AN ACORN.] - -Tiny observed that each pupil presented the teacher with flowers and -delicacies, which were laid on her desk. Not wishing to be outdone by -his classmates, he went forward and, with a low bow, gave Miss Hare an -acorn. - -“Thank you,” said Miss Hare with a pleased smile, as she bent forward -and gazed admiringly at him through her dark spectacles. “I see that -you have already learned the lesson of generosity. You are the little -animal that Mr. Owl brought here last night, I suppose. I hope you will -be very studious and learn a great deal. I will introduce you to two -pupils in the language class. Mr. Redsquirrel, this pupil is Winkie -Weasel; that pupil just coming in is Sammy Rabbit. Those pupils, who -are sitting in the back row of seats, are well advanced in their work; -those pupils in the front seats are beginners. I will introduce them -later on.” - -Tiny bowed to each of the pupils in the room, which included Shifty -Woodchuck, who was very fat and sleepy-looking; Mr. Rabbitt, who had -pink eyes and rosy ears; Mew Mew, who wore a blue bow; Bow Wow, with -curly locks hanging over his eyes; Little Winkie Weasel, who possessed -a long body and very short legs; Miss Field Mouse, who sat upon a -toadstool; and several other pupils. - -“I usually teach in rhyme,” said Miss Hare, with an air of -assurance that made Tiny think she was vastly learned. “I teach the -multiplication table in rhyme, and in language I teach the use of -verbs, nouns, and other parts of speech in the same way. There is no -reason why one should not teach in rhyme, for it is natural and not -easily forgotten.” - -She then told Tiny to sit by Winkie Weasel and, after opening her book, -she looked over the class to be sure that each pupil was ready to give -his attention. - -“The class may read aloud together our lesson for to-day,” she said, -finally. - -All the animals rose and read as follows: - - THE ANIMAL ALPHABET. - - A is _an_ antelope, graceful and slim, - _A_ beautiful antelope, dainty and trim. - - B is _a_ bee, flitting round all the day, - _An_ industrious bee that stores honey away. - - C is _a_ chipmunk that lives in the ground, - _An_ intelligent chipmunk with eyes black and round. - - D is _a_ dog that but seldom offends, - _An_ affectionate dog, ever true to his friends. - - E is _an_ eagle, that seeks the tall pine, - _A_ big golden eagle with feathers that shine. - - F is _a_ fox that fills chickens with fright, - _An_ impudent fox that steals forth in the night. - - G is _a_ giraffe with a nose in the sky, - _An_ upright giraffe that holds his head high. - - H is _a_ horse that has just lost his shoe, - _An_ untiring horse, and a useful one, too. - - I is _an_ ibex, a wild mountain goat, - _A_ wandering ibex that wears a fur coat. - - J is _a_ jackal of varying mood, - _An_ ambitious jackal, both nimble and shrewd. - - K is _a_ kangaroo, clumsy and stout, - _An_ active old kangaroo, leaping about. - - L is _a_ lamb that has never done wrong, - _An_ innocent lamb that bleats all the day long. - - M is _a_ monkey that close to man ranks, - _An_ over-fed monkey that likes to play pranks. - - N is _a_ nightingale, cheerful and bright, - _An_ interesting nightingale singing at night. - - O is _an_ owl, independent and free, - _A_ very wise owl that lives in a tree. - - P is _a_ pigeon with wide, sweeping tail, - _An_ excitable pigeon that carries our mail. - - Q is _a_ quail, going forth for her food, - _An_ excellent quail with her pretty young brood. - - R is _a_ rabbit as white as sea foam, - _An_ upright, kind rabbit, quite fond of his home. - - S is _a_ swan, of which many are fond, - _An_ elegant swan that glides round on the pond. - - T is _a_ tiger that hunters entrap, - _An_ indolent tiger, now taking a nap. - - U is _a_ unicorn--how strange he looks-- - _An_ odd unicorn we find only in books. - - V is _a_ vampire, as everyone knows, - _An_ awkward old creature that hangs by its toes. - - W is _a_ weasel, quite fond of fresh meat, - _An_ odd-looking weasel, but very discreet. - - X is _a_ xyphoidal whale, I am told, - _An_ angry xyphoidal whale, so big and so bold. - - Y is _a_ yak, very much like an ox, - _An_ elderly yak with long, bushy, gray locks. - - Z is _a_ zebra, black, yellow, and tan, - _An_ obstinate zebra, of slight use to man. - -[Illustration: POETRY] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -Miss Hare’s school was a very studious place during the fall; but when -winter set in, some of the pupils began to lose interest in their -work. The woodchuck, who was the dullest pupil in the language class, -went to his bed of dried clover one night and forgot to wake up until -spring had returned. Tiny, himself, felt very sleepy at times, but he -sat close to the fireplace in the schoolroom and studied as hard as he -could, determined to get a good education. He did his work well. At -recess-time he would run out upon the pile of branches that surrounded -the school building, and play until Miss Hare rang the bell. Sometimes -he would run a race with Winkie Weasel, but, as he always came out -ahead, he soon wearied of the pastime. - -[Illustration: SOMETIMES HE WOULD RUN A RACE WITH WINKIE WEASEL.] - -At dusk he would go to his cozy room, and for an hour or more he and -Reynard would talk over their lessons and their plans for the future. -There were no pretty fireflies to make light for them, but, when the -moon was shining, they could see quite well. They grew contented to lie -in their soft beds of leaves and reeds, and talk about the coming of -spring. - -One cold night they heard a knock. Reynard, who was feeling homesick, -opened the door. There stood Puss Snowball, the cat, looking very -beautiful against the pure white background of ice and snow, upon which -the moon shone brightly. - -“Good evening, Snowball,” said Reynard, kindly. “Will you not come in?” - -“I thought I would run over and have a little chat with you,” said -Snowball, nestling down in the coziest corner of the room. “My, isn’t -it cold! I believe I have frozen my whiskers and the tip of my nose.” - -“Cold weather doesn’t last always,” said Tiny, cheerily. “Reynard and -I do our work quite as well in cold weather as in warm weather. If it -were not for the ice and snow, we would not take so much delight in the -green grass and the spring rains.” - -“I suppose not,” said Snowball, his teeth chattering, “but I shouldn’t -mind the cold weather if I had a more agreeable companion. I can’t -understand why Miss Hare insists upon my rooming with Rover. You know -cats and dogs never get along well.” - -“If you were too happy together, perhaps you would forget to study,” -suggested Reynard. “You remember, Snowball, how the monkey and the -parrot became so sociable that they had to leave School.” - -“Oh, Rover is very mannerly in some ways, but he growls and barks too -much,” complained Snowball, with a sigh. “They say it is natural for -a dog to bark, although I can’t see why he need be so noisy about -it. He frightens me almost to death when he barks, and he is very -unreasonable. To-night he has done many things to tease me. The other -night he told me that my constant purring was very trying to his -nerves. You know that a cat never purs unless he is happy, so I suppose -that my good nature makes him cross. How peculiar some animals are!” - -Tiny said that every creature has its peculiarities, and it is best to -overlook things that do not please us, since we all have disagreeable -traits of our own. - -“We wanted to organize a singing class,” continued Snowball, changing -the subject, “but when we called in Katie Goose to talk it over with -us, Billy Beaver thrust his nose through the door and said that Miss -Hare would never permit us to sing after night. He added that a cat, a -dog, a goose, and a number of other creatures, would not make a very -tuneful chorus, however fine we might be as soloists.” - -“Billy Beaver can’t sing,” said Reynard. “I can see his reason for -objecting to a students’ chorus.” - -“He is very rude,” said Snowball, severely. “I shall not forget how -horrid he made me feel the night that Weenie Mouse was missing. I am -sure that he thought I might have eaten him. I was very glad, indeed, -when they found Weenie hiding in Miss Hare’s room, nibbling at an ear -of corn.” - -“Recite the poem about the kitten that went to sleep when her mother -had visitors,” begged Tiny. “I am sure that Reynard would like to hear -it.” - -Without waiting for Reynard to insist, Snowball recited, in his pretty -purring manner, the following poem, which is said to amuse kittens even -to the present day: - - TABBY AND PRUE. - - Quoth Dame Tabby Cat to her daughter, Miss Prue, - “I shall teach you a lesson, my dear, - For I am so very much older than you, - And very much wiser, I fear. - - “I felt more ashamed than I ever can tell, - When you slept while my callers were here. - If you do it again, I will punish you well; - I will teach you some manners, my dear.” - - “Shall I sit wide awake while your busy tongues fly? - Can I keep my eyes open so long?” - “You can, Prudy dear, if you only will try, - But you think it is smart to do wrong.” - - The anger of Tabby Cat grew quite intense, - When Prue said, “Please listen, I pray. - May I speak a few words in my own self-defense?” - And Tabby Cat answered, “You may.” - - “I ought not to sleep till your friends go away. - Such an act is a sorry mishap; - Yet you taught me to do it, for only to-day - You talked yourself into a nap.” - - “My friends stayed so long that I hardly could peep,” - Said Tabby Cat, heaving a sigh; - “But, nevertheless, _you_ must not fall fast asleep, - For you are much younger than I.” - -“It is a capital story,” laughed Reynard, when Snowball had finished. -“I saw Tiny laughing many times.” - -Before the squirrel could thank the cat for his kindness, Billy Beaver -pounded at the door, and in another moment stood before them. - -“I overheard you talking about me, Mr. Snowball; also about Rover and -others,” he said, turning to the cat, who, in the moonlight, looked -very pale and frightened. - -“Did I understand you to say that you were eavesdropping?” Snowball -finally inquired, with a show of dignity. - -“It is no worse to eavesdrop than it is to gossip about one’s closest -friends,” replied the beaver. “I have seen Miss Hare. I told her that -you were not pleased with your roommate, and she has ordered me to make -a change. In the future you shall room with Weenie Mouse.” - -“How terrible!” exclaimed Puss, greatly shocked. “I shall be under -restraint all the time. Poor Rover! Perhaps he has had his hard times, -too. What if I should get vexed at Weenie and swallow him?” - -“Miss Hare says that you will never do that, because her pupils are too -strong to yield to temptation,” said the beaver, seriously. - -“But why does Miss Hare punish poor Weenie by making him room with a -cat?” gasped Puss. - -“Because Weenie was found in Miss Hare’s pantry again, helping himself -to corn and other dainties,” replied Billy Beaver. “Miss Hare wishes -you to room with Weenie so that you can restrain each other. The best -way to cure two disturbers who dislike each other is to make them live -together.” - -[Illustration: PANTRY] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -The little animals of Miss Hare’s school were glad when winter was at -an end. They were anxious to get out of doors; and, when the sun shone -warmer and the trees began to shoot forth their tender leaves, they -felt very happy, indeed. - -[Illustration: TINY STUDIED HARD, THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GRADUATE -WITH HIS CLASS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.] - -Tiny studied hard, that he might be able to graduate with his class -in the month of June. He knew that to graduate did not mean to be -educated. A thorough knowledge of language and good manners were about -all that Miss Hare was capable of teaching, for the little creatures -of Animal Kingdom did not require as much learning as people of the -great business world. Miss Hare told her pupils many times that -the schoolroom is simply a place to teach the young how to educate -themselves. Tiny, from past experience, had learned that some of the -greatest lessons are taught outside the schoolroom. He often thought of -the owl prophet, the queen bee, and the City of Ants. - -One day Miss Hare gave her pupils a lesson in pronouns, or words used -for names. These little words were at first troublesome to Tiny, but -Miss Hare made him use them over and over again, until he understood -them perfectly. In fact, the words _I_, _we_, _she_, _they_, _who_, -and _it_, used as subjects of sentences, and _me_, _us_, _him_, _her_, -_them_, and _whom_, used as the objects of verbs, became almost as -familiar to Tiny as were good Miss Hare’s spectacles. - -In order to keep her pupils from forgetting what they had learned, Miss -Hare taught them the following little song, which they sang over and -over again: - - PRONOUNS. - - As the subject of a verb, we may use _I_; - Thus, “It was _I_,” or “_I_ have caught a fly;” - And we now will name a few - Pronouns used as subjects, too: - “It was _they_,” “It was _you_,” “It was _who_?” - - We may ask, “_Who_ saw the bee upon the rose?” - Or, “_It_ was dressed in very modest clothes,” - Or, “_Who_ scared the little bee?” - “Was it any of us three?” - “Was it _we_?” “Was it _she_?” “Was it _he_?” - - Pronouns may be used as objects, you may see; - As, “Good health has kindly favored _him_ and _me_.” - Or, “No matter what we do, - Love will make _us_ strong and true;” - “I love _her_,” “I love _him_,” “I love _you_.” - - We may ask, “From _whom_ did owls learn to boast?” - Or, “Around _whom_ does the sunshine linger most?” - Or, perchance, may cry in glee, - “May good fortune come to _thee_, - And to _her_, and to _him_, and to _me_!” - -While they were singing their evening song, a knock was heard at the -door. Miss Hare, who was very cautious, went to the door and called out: - -“Who is it?” - -“Hoot, hoot, hoot!” was the response. - -“To whom am I speaking?” continued the teacher, somewhat embarrassed. - -“To Mr. Owl, who lives several leagues away,” was the polite reply. - -“Whom do you wish to see?” asked Miss Hare. - -“I wish to visit Miss Hare’s school.” - -[Illustration: SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND ADMITTED THE OWL PROPHET.] - -She opened the door and admitted the owl prophet, whose feathers were -smoothed down in perfect condition. - -“I am very glad to see you,” said the teacher. “It is so seldom you go -abroad in the daytime that I am honored to have you visit us.” - -“Between you and me, I have long been wishing for an opportunity to -visit your school,” returned the owl with a bow. - -“With whom are you living now?” asked Miss Hare, offering him a perch -by the side of her desk. - -“My brother and I are living with the Bat family. I grew tired of my -old castle, because it was at the edge of the great forest, and the -wind was too strong there. One night he and I were blown from our -perches. Mr. and Mrs. Bat took my brother and me to their home. It is -very comfortable there, and we owls like comfort, you know.” - -Mr. Owl then looked over the class with his great, yellow eyes. For the -first time, Tiny observed that owls’ eyes do not move in their sockets -as the eyes of most creatures do; but that, to make up for that, nature -has made it possible for the owl to turn his head almost entirely -around to see objects. Miss Hare’s eyes were quite different from those -of Mr. Owl; for she had no eyelids, and Tiny had learned that, when -she slept, a thin white membrane covered her eyes. - -“Will you remain awhile with my pupils and me?” asked Miss Hare. - -“Thank you; I’ll stay a few minutes, if I don’t get too sleepy,” said -Mr. Owl. - -When his eyes fell upon Tiny, the little squirrel made a polite bow; -but the owl prophet stared at him without speaking a word. He evidently -did not remember the squirrel. - -“What has become of Chatty Chipmunk?” he finally asked, after Miss Hare -had again sat down at her desk. - -“He left school some time ago,” said Miss Hare, in a pained voice. - -“Why?” - -“Because it was necessary to punish him. He was very saucy. Once he -ridiculed an animal because she had long ears.” - -“Whom did he ridicule?” - -“Me.” - -“I am sorry for that,” said the owl prophet. “Who punished him?” - -“I.” - -“It served him right, and I am glad he left school,” said the owl, -flapping his wings in approval. “It makes no difference to either you -or me.” - -“Certainly, not,” replied Miss Hare. “He is to blame, not I. The public -must blame him, not me.” - -“I hope that I never shall bring you another such unworthy pupil,” said -the owl. - -“You brought me one of the best pupils I ever had,” said Miss Hare, -pointing towards Tiny. “He is the little creature here on the front -seat.” - -Mr. Owl stared at Tiny; and the little animal bowed politely, very much -embarrassed. - -[Illustration: MR. OWL STARED AT TINY AND THE LITTLE ANIMAL BOWED -POLITELY.] - -“Can it be he!” exclaimed the owl. “How you have grown, Tiny! Are you -really the squirrel whom I found but a few months ago?” - -“Yes, I am the squirrel who was lost,” replied Tiny. “You told me how -to get back to Squirreltown, and taught me many things. I am grateful -to you, sir.” - -Mr. Owl seemed greatly pleased, but he checked Tiny’s polite thanks by -saying: - -“You look much like Chatty Chipmunk.” - -“Yes, but he is smaller than I,” replied Tiny with another bow. - -For a few minutes Miss Hare and Mr. Owl talked concerning the school. -It was evident to Tiny that Mr. Owl was one of the trustees and that he -was doing a great deal to make the school successful, as all trustees -should do. - -At last he turned to the class and said: - -“You must all study very hard; for soon the days will get warmer; then -you will have spring fever. I want each of the graduating class to -write a composition to be recited on the last day of school. A prize -will be given to the pupil who writes the best one. He that wins the -prize will be a very happy creature. Him that wins I will give another -prize of even greater value.” - -The scholars were made very happy by this announcement of Mr. Owl; and, -while he was preparing to leave, they all rose from their seats and -stood in respectful silence until Miss Hare sat down again. Then they -began to study harder than ever before. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -When Tiny learned to write letters, he spent many happy hours -corresponding with his mother and his friends at Squirreltown. Almost -every day a messenger pigeon brought him a letter, which he read with -great pleasure. Here are a few of these letters that passed between -Beaver Creek and Squirreltown: - -[Illustration: ALMOST EVERY DAY A MESSENGER PIGEON BROUGHT HIM A -LETTER.] - - Beaver Creek, Joy Co., - Animal Kingdom, - May 1, ----. - - My Dear Mother: - - While you were sleeping away the long, cold winter, I was studying - with all my might, trying to keep at the head of my class. - - I like Beaver Creek very much. Miss Hare is a good and capable - teacher. I shall be sorry to graduate from here in June, and yet I am - anxious to get back to Squirreltown again. - - The spring flowers are blooming all about Beaver Creek. I wish you - could see how beautiful they are. The daisy, which is like a white - star, opens with the morning sun. The morning glory shuts up its - sweet petals before noon. The dandelion opens early, but closes when - the heat becomes too great. The anemone, so blue and so fragile, - sleeps at the approach of a storm; while the water lily curls up and - hides itself in the mud at the bottom of the pond. The marsh marigold - is a hardy little flower. It drinks, drinks, drinks, from morning - till night, pleased with any kind of weather. - - I will tell you more about the beauties of Beaver Creek, one of - these days. In the meantime, please write and tell me about dear old - Squirreltown. - - Your affectionate son, - TINY. - - Mrs. Jane Redsquirrel, - 124 Oak Avenue, - Squirreltown, - Animal Kingdom. - - * * * * * - - 124 Oak Avenue, - Squirreltown, - Animal Kingdom, - May 8, ----. - - My Dear Son: - - I was very glad to hear from you and to learn that you are well and - happy. - - Dr. Flyingsquirrel, the mayor, and many of your friends inquire about - you each day. Peggy and Bushy Graysquirrel, who have grown quite - large since you saw them, are planning to give a party for you when - you return. - - You will be glad to learn that Chatty Chipmunk returned home just - before winter set in. He had been wandering for a long, long time. - Once he thrust his inquisitive nose into a nest of yellow-jackets, - and it took him a long time to recover. - - I feel so sorry for the Chipmunks. They are all, with the exception - of Chatty, such active, industrious creatures. I fear he will never - outlive the bad habits formed in his early youth. He does little but - sleep in his round room at the end of the long hall, and eat large - quantities of beechnuts. - - Now, my son, learn all you can. Do not eat too many acorns, and be - sure to keep your fur clean and smooth. - - Your devoted mother, - JANE REDSQUIRREL. - - Mr. Tiny Redsquirrel, - Beaver Creek, Joy Co., Animal Kingdom. - - * * * * * - - Beech Hotel, - Squirreltown, Animal Kingdom, - May 14, ----. - - Dear Friend: - - I received your jolly letter, and I am going to show my appreciation - by sending an early reply. - - Sister Peggy and I are spending a few days with our friend, Polly - Blacksquirrel. We are all well, after our long winter’s nap, and are - enjoying ourselves greatly. - - The other day, Polly took Peggy and me down to the pond to hear a - famous orchestra. We sat upon a mossy seat close to the blue water, - and patiently waited until all the musicians had come out of the - water and had taken their seats on the green lily pads. The leader - of the band was very pompous, and his white vest was covered with - medals. I had to laugh at the airs he put on. - - The musicians, of course, were frogs, and they all wore green coats - and white vests. They looked so odd with their bulging eyes and - swelling throats! One large bull frog played a bass viol. He was a - savage fellow, and, frequently, he would go down into the water to - eat poor little tadpoles. - - Now you know that gray squirrels are more fond of music than are any - other kind of squirrel; but, so far as I am concerned, I do not like - to be too close to a frog orchestra. - - Is it not queer that frogs and fishes, both of which live in the - water, are so unlike? Polly’s father said that if a frog keeps his - mouth open very long, he will die; while a fish has to keep his mouth - open most of the time to permit his breathing organs to act properly. - - Peggy and Polly join me in sending you our kindest regards. - - Your true friend, - BUSHY GRAYSQUIRREL. - - Tiny Redsquirrel, Esq., - Beaver Creek, - Animal Kingdom. - - * * * * * - - Beaver Creek, Joy Co., Animal Kingdom, - May 18, ----. - - My Dear Dr. Flyingsquirrel: - - Mother told me that you would appreciate a letter from me; so, on - this beautiful morning, I have decided to write to you. - - Yesterday, Miss Hare and we pupils were out in the thicket and on the - great moor east of Beaver Creek. We were studying nature, by which to - test the books that we read. - - My companion was Winkie Weasel. He has a long, lean body, and a - short, black tail. He is very good-natured most of the time, but, - occasionally, he gets very angry over small things. Then his nose - seems to grow pointed, and his eyes turn green. He wears a yellow - coat now. Later he will change it for a dark brown one, while in - winter he wears white. Although Winkie takes things that do not - belong to him and tries to act innocent, I like him because he is so - bright and shrewd. - - Such a glorious day as it was! The birds were chattering all about - us, building nests in which to rear their broods. Miss Hare said I - was fortunate to be able to climb so well, for it gave me such good - opportunities to inspect birds and their nests. - - Once we were startled by a loud thump! thump! thump! Then we heard - a chorus of piping voices, and saw a covey of partridges running - through the tall grass. They are peculiar little creatures, and they - never try to run until some one almost steps upon them. They were out - hunting for seeds, buds, and insects. Miss Hare told us that the - partridge wears bristles that serve as snowshoes in winter, so it can - walk on the soft snow without sinking. - - We saw pigeons fluttering about in the blue sky, while swallows, with - graceful, slender wings, flitted by, busily building their nests. - - The sweet scent of spring had brought the cuckoos to the north. I - could see one of them flying in a very straight line, his long tail - steadying his flight. I have always loved the voice of the cuckoo; - but I do not admire the bird, since Miss Hare has told me how very - unprincipled she is. - - I should like to tell you about some of the other birds I saw, but I - fear you would think my letter too long. Busy people like you do not - like to waste so much time reading letters. - - Wishing you health and success, I am, - - Yours very respectfully, - TINY REDSQUIRREL. - - Dr. Airy Flyingsquirrel, - 64 Hickory Ave., - Squirreltown, Animal Kingdom. - - * * * * * - - 64 Hickory Ave., - Squirreltown, Animal Kingdom, - May 25, ----. - - Dear Tiny: - - Your letter filled my heart with delight. We old squirrels appreciate - letters from our young friends, and we are glad to be remembered in - our declining years. The young who remember the old will be rewarded - when they themselves are no longer young. - - I, too, fly about a great deal, studying the various birds and their - eggs. You wrote about the cuckoo, and I agree with you that she is a - very unprincipled creature. - - She lays her eggs on the hard ground, because she and her mate are - too indolent to build a nest. She places her eggs in various nests - for other birds to hatch. Usually she prefers robins’ nests, for they - are very comfortable. You can imagine how surprised the robin or any - other bird would be, when its brood hatches, to find among the number - a large, healthy cuckoo with a wide mouth and an enormous appetite. - But the kind foster parents feed the young cuckoo just as they do - their own children. - - And what does the cuckoo orphan do to repay such kindness? He eats - and sleeps and grows larger all the time; and, finally, one day when - the old birds are away, he tumbles his foster brothers and sisters - out of the nest, and stretches himself out comfortably, waiting - for his dinner. The selfish, cruel bird never thinks of anyone but - himself. When his foster parents return, they are grieved not to find - their little ones, but they do not scold the cuckoo at all. They keep - on feeding him until he is full-fledged. Then, on some bright day, - he takes wings and flies away, leaving his foster parents to grieve - after him. - - Jenny Wren is a neat, modest little body. Do you know her? She wears - a plain brown gown, for she has so much to do she cannot dress very - stylishly. Her wings are hard and stiff, so she can beat the air when - she flies; but the feathers close to her tiny body are soft and warm. - - She likes to build her nest beneath the gnarled roots of a tree or - against a stone in a bed of moss. It is covered with a little dome - and has a tiny door, which opens on the sunny side. I once peeped - into Jenny’s home and found it neat and cozy. An orderly housekeeper - she is, I can tell you! Her bed is made of fine feathers, hair, and - delicate grasses. The roof of her home is made of moss, twigs, and - lichens. - - We are all very well, and we hope that you will call to see us soon - after your return home. - - Cordially yours, - AIRY FLYINGSQUIRREL. - - Mr. Tiny Redsquirrel, - Beaver Creek, - Joy Co., Animal Kingdom. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -Reynard caught a cold just two weeks before Miss Hare’s school closed -for the summer. He was very ill, indeed; but Tiny, Snowball, and his -other friends did all they could to make him comfortable. - -[Illustration: MISS HARE SPENT ONE EVENING WITH REYNARD. PUSS SNOWBALL, -WINKIE WEASEL AND TINY WERE PRESENT.] - -Miss Hare spent one evening with Reynard. Puss Snowball, Winkie Weasel, -and Tiny were present. They had a pleasant time, in Reynard’s humble -room, which the stars made almost bright as day. - -“Shall I get you some corn?” Miss Hare finally asked. - -“I don’t want no corn,” groaned Reynard, whose head ached severely. - -“Very well, I will bring you some,” said Miss Hare, rising to leave the -room. - -“I don’t want no corn!” repeated Reynard, so surprised that his head -almost stopped aching. - -“That means that you _do_ want some corn,” laughed Miss Hare. “I -suppose you meant to say that you _don’t_ want _any_ corn, or that you -want _no_ corn. Be careful what you say, Reynard, and never use two -denying words where the meaning needs but one. The other day I heard -you say, ‘I haven’t seen _nothing_,’ which meant that you must have -seen _something_. You also said, ‘He is _not_ doing _nothing_,’ which -meant that he was doing _something_.” - -“Thank you, Miss Hare,” said Reynard, with chagrin. “I know that I am -sometimes very careless in the use of English. But now my head feels so -much better that perhaps, after all, _I don’t_ need _no_ corn.” - -Miss Hare laughed again, with more pleasure this time, and gave him a -few kernels of corn which she had brought with her. - -“Now we must do something to amuse Reynard,” said Miss Hare, -pleasantly. “What shall we do?” - -“I should like to hear Snowball sing a song,” said Reynard. “He sings -good.” - -“He does not sing _good_, but he sings _well_,” corrected Miss Hare, in -a low voice to Reynard. “Will you sing, Snowball?” - -“I can’t sing to-night,” said Snowball. “I, too, have a bad cold.” - -“You have a _severe_ cold,” said Miss Hare. “It is as wrong to say -that you have a _bad_ cold as it is to say that you received a _good_ -whipping.” - -Snowball was one of those individuals who do not like to be corrected, -so for a few moments he shrugged his shoulders and pouted. - -Miss Hare turned towards Tiny and said in a cheerful voice: - -“Perhaps Tiny will tell us about Squirreltown.” - -“Good! good!” shouted enthusiastic Winkie Weasel, leaping awkwardly -into the air to show his delight. “Tell us about the time you wandered -through the great forest and did not know where you were at.” - -“Fy, fy, Winkie!” cried his teacher, shaking with laughter. “How you -abuse such useful little words as _at_, _to_, and _for_. You make them -work when they should be resting. You say that Tiny did not know where -he was _at_, nor where he was going _to_, when you should say that Tiny -did not know where he was, nor where he was going. One should not place -_at_, _to_, _for_, or some other _unnecessary_ little word at the end -of a sentence.” - -Snowball was very glad to hear the teacher correct Winkie, and soon he -regained his usual good humor. - -“Winkie and I are both alike in our use of bad English,” he chuckled. - -“You are especially apt to use unnecessary words, Snowball,” said Miss -Hare. “Why should you say ‘Winkie and I are _both_ alike,’ when it -takes less time to say, ‘Winkie and I are alike’?” - -Snowball stared stupidly for a while, but did not seem vexed. - -“I thought to myself that Snowball was making an incorrect statement,” -tittered Winkie. - -“Of course, you thought to yourself,” said the teacher with a twinkle -in her eye. “You certainly could not think aloud.” - -“No, but he knows how to laugh aloud,” said Snowball, somewhat -scornfully. - -“Now, Tiny, you may tell us something about Squirreltown,” said Miss -Hare. - -Tiny did not feel so brave about talking as he did on the day he tried -to address the mayor and citizens of his native town, for he knew that -his present audience was a very critical one. However, he began: - -“A wide path leads into Squirreltown. At the place where it enters the -city it is very wide indeed. An oak tree stands on both sides of this -path--” - -“How strange!” interrupted Miss Hare. “Isn’t it rather unusual for a -tree to stand on both sides of a path?” - -“There are two trees,” stammered Tiny. - -“Oh, I see,” said Miss Hare, a flash of understanding shining in her -eyes. “You mean to say that on _each_ side of the path there is an oak -tree.” - -“Yes, ma’am,” replied Tiny, with a nod. “The trees in the city do not -contain many acorns, but these two trees are filled full of them.” - -“Of course, if they are _filled_ with acorns, they must be _full_ of -them,” laughed Miss Hare. “It sounds as badly to say _filled full_ as -it does to say _little small_. Just how are the trees filled with -acorns, Tiny? Are the trunks hollow?” - -“The branches of the two trees,” bravely continued Tiny, “bear so many -acorns that they could yield all the squirrels in the land an acorn.” - -“Then the branches can not bear very many acorns,” said Miss Hare. “One -acorn could not very well be divided among such a host of squirrels.” - -“I mean that these two trees could yield _each_ squirrel in the land an -acorn,” said Tiny, with energy. - -“That is right,” said Miss Hare, much pleased. “Tiny is one who thinks, -and I believe that in time he will learn to speak correctly.” - -“I have lived in Squirreltown nearly all my life, and--” - -“How many squirrels live there?” interrupted the teacher. - -“Several hundred,” replied Tiny, proudly. - -“Then it is not such a great city, after all. It would be better to say -that you lived _at_ Squirreltown. When it becomes a great city, you can -say that you lived _in_ Squirreltown.” - -“I lived on Oak Avenue--” - -“It is better to say that you lived _in_ Oak Avenue,” suggested Miss -Hare. - -“One day a bear met my mother with crooked teeth, and--” - -“Who had crooked teeth, the bear or your mother?” tittered Snowball. - -“The bear, to be sure,” retorted Tiny, growing quite indignant. - -“You should place your helping phrases where they will give the right -meaning,” said Miss Hare. “There are many animals ready to make sport -of us if we are not careful to say just what we mean.” - -“Really, I am so puzzled that I have forgotten what I intended to say,” -said Tiny, sitting down. “I cannot say properly where I am, or where I -live, or anything else. All I know is that I am very dull.” - -“You are not dull,” declared Miss Hare. “When an animal finds out that -he has much to learn, it is a good indication that he really knows -something. Only the ignorant are satisfied with their own imperfect way -of speaking. Now I will sing for you a little lullaby that an otter -formerly sang to her little one every night:” - - SONG OF REST. - - “_Set_ down your basket, busy little one; - Please _set_ it where it _sat_ yesterday, - And let it _sit_ there while I sing the song - You love to hear when daylight turns to gray. - - “Now you _have set_ the basket in its place; - It _sits_ just where you _set_ it oft before. - _Sit_ down beside me; do not speak a word, - And I will hush my babe to sleep once more. - - “Now we _are sitting_ in the fading light, - As we _have sat_ before so many times. - While mother held you closely to her breast, - And evening bells rang out their golden chimes. - - “_Lay_ down your toys, my busy little one. - When you _have laid_ them down I’ll sing to you; - We’ll let them _lie_ until the rosy morn - Again peeps o’er the valley bathed in dew. - - “_Lie_ down; _lie_ closely as you _lay_ last night. - See, mother _lies_ beside her little one, - Just as she _lay_ last night to guard your rest - Until the east was lighted by the sun. - - “Now _lie_ until your active little frame - Is tired of _lying_ in the same old way; - When we _have lain_ till sleep has sped again - We’ll rise to greet another joyous day.” - -Hardly had Miss Hare finished singing the lullaby, when Billy Beaver -began thumping with his tail to let all the students of Beaver Creek -know that it was time to retire. - -“Goodnight, Reynard. I hope you will sleep well,” said the teacher -kindly. “Goodnight, Tiny and Snowball and Winkie. I hope that my -criticisms will benefit you. Remember that I meant them all in -kindness. Is there anything I can do for you, Reynard?” - -“Yes, please,” said the fox, hoarsely. “Tell Billy to bring me a cold -pan of water.” - -“Poor fox! Poor fox! I will tell him to bring you a pan of _cold -water_,” said Miss Hare, with a hearty laugh that set her long ears to -bobbing. “It makes little difference whether or not the _pan_ is cold.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -On Saturday afternoon Tiny and Winkie Weasel went out for a frolic in -the forest beyond the river. Reynard Redfox had almost recovered from -his severe cold, but he stayed at home, thinking of the golden summer -so near at hand with its red strawberries and wild grapes. - -Winkie came from a family of very bloodthirsty and suspicious -character, but Miss Hare’s teachings had made him as gentle as Weenie -Mouse. Although Tiny had been taught to shun weasels, he had become -quite fond of Winkie, because he was bright and active. - -Side by side they made their way through the deep forest. The birds -sang merrily and the sun shone brightly. Lady’s-slippers with -lemon-colored pouches and long slender leaves grew in the damp, low -grounds. Occasionally a rose-colored one nodded its fairy head at them. - -“Summer will come soon,” said Tiny, his voice ringing with happiness. - -“Yes,” replied Winkie, as he stopped to sniff at a fallen log. “How -glad I am that cold weather has passed away!” - -A turn in the path brought them to a clump of hazel bushes, where a -queer spectacle met their gaze. An animal covered with mud and moss -was trailing along towards the creek. A striped gopher, a queer little -animal with bloated cheeks and no neck at all, was annoying the poor -creature by jumping upon its back. - -[Illustration: A QUEER LITTLE ANIMAL WITH BLOATED CHEEKS AND NO NECK AT -ALL WAS TORMENTING THE POOR CREATURE BY JUMPING UPON ITS BACK.] - -“It is a turtle,” said Tiny, who had seen creatures of its kind before. -“It has just awakened from its winter slumber. You know that a turtle -settles down in the mud as soon as the frost kills the insects, and -there it stays until warm weather comes again.” - -“Stop teasing that turtle!” cried Winkie to the gopher. “If you do not -cease, you shall feel the points of my teeth. Come here.” - -The gopher jumped from the turtle’s back, and, holding his head to one -side, said good-naturedly: - -“I am tired of teasing the slothful turtle, but I am not too tired to -run a race with you. Let us see which of us three will beat in a race.” - -Winkie readily consented; but, just as they had drawn up in line to -take a dash down the narrow pathway, a deep growl resounded through the -thicket. Quick as a flash Winkie darted into a hollow stump. - -[Illustration: “FOLLOW ME,” SAID THE GOPHER, AS HE DISAPPEARED INTO A -HOLE IN THE GROUND.] - -“Follow me,” said the gopher, quite self-possessed, as he disappeared -into a hole in the ground. Tiny did not like the idea of being under -ground, nor was he fond of animals that burrow; but he obeyed, for he -was frightened. He trembled violently. - -They entered a dark hall, at the end of which was a little, round room -containing a comfortable bed of soft grasses and fur. - -“This is a cozy place,” said Tiny, sinking down to rest. - -“It is my home,” said the little animal. “I suppose you know that I -am Jolly Gopher. It is fortunate that you happened to be so near my -residence when the panther happened along. Panthers are rare in this -temperate zone, and I am glad of it. What if the savage beast had -attacked me while I was riding? I am glad that you like my humble home.” - -“It is a restful place for lazy animals, but I should not like to dwell -here,” said Tiny, frankly. “I always distrusted creatures that burrow -in the ground away from the air and sunshine, until I went to Miss -Hare’s school.” - -“What has Miss Hare’s school to do with it?” asked the gopher, his -mouth open. - -“I learned that Mother Earth,” said Tiny, “is kind indeed to poor -little defenseless animals, whom she protects from savage animals and -hunters. Animals all live where they can have the greatest safety. The -fish lives in the depths of the water, the squirrel in the tree, the -cricket under a rock, and the gopher in the ground. How fortunate it is -that we do not all live in the same place!” - -“I am fond of living down in the ground,” resumed the gopher after a -moment of silence. “No panther nor any other beast bigger than myself -can meddle with my affairs. I saunter forth early in the morning and -fill my pockets with fresh, green things. You see that my pockets hang -down from my cheeks. I hurry back and stow away my food. When it rains, -I stay indoors and sleep and eat. A gopher’s life is a very peaceful -one.” - -“I wish I might have pockets,” said Tiny, wistfully. “We squirrels -don’t have them, you know. I believe I am the only squirrel that -carries a hunting bag. It was made for me by a tailor bird. She is -a rare and curious bird who makes a nest that looks like a bag. She -selects tough leaves and sews them together with long, firm strips of -growing plants. She uses her bill as a needle.” - -“How remarkable!” exclaimed the gopher. “I think it would be nicer to -carry a hunting bag than to have pockets in my cheeks. Sometimes my -pockets are so full I can’t get inside my house.” - -“The bee also has pockets--six little pockets,” said Tiny, reflectively. - -“And the opossum and several other animals have pockets in which they -carry their children,” added the gopher wisely. - -“You seem to observe things as much as I do,” said Tiny, admiringly. - -“Yes, I travel a great deal and have seen many queer things,” replied -the gopher, proudly. - -[Illustration: SHE IS ABOUT THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT DOES NOT FEAR THE -STING OF A BEE.] - -“Once I burrowed down into a badger’s home,” he went on. “I saw the -nursery with the little badgers playing about in their bed of moss and -grass. The mother badger was very civil to me. She is about the only -animal that does not fear the sting of a bee, because her skin is so -tough and her hair is so thick. It seems to me that of all animals, the -badger is treated with the greatest cruelty. When the hunters catch -her, they permit their dogs to torture her to death. The harder the -poor creature fights to get away, the worse they abuse her, and the -greater it pleases the cruel hunters. Sometimes the poor animal endures -this brutal treatment for a full day.” - -“I have often heard that the verb _to badger_ means _to tease_, or _to -torment_,” said Tiny. - -“I do not know anything about verbs,” replied the gopher, “but I do -know that some hunters are very cruel.” - -“Have you ever seen a mole’s nest?” asked Tiny. - -“Oh, yes, when I was quite small, I had the privilege of visiting one,” -replied the gopher enthusiastically. “You may think that the mole is a -very stupid animal, but I assure you that he is not.” - -“An animal that lives in the dirt all the time couldn’t be very -intelligent,” interrupted Tiny. “Besides, his eyes and ears are so -small, he surely cannot see and hear well.” - -“Little eyes and ears are often more keen than larger ones,” quickly -replied Jolly Gopher. “Do you suppose that a giraffe can see or hear -better than you can? It is fortunate that the mole has such tiny eyes -and ears, otherwise they would catch a great deal of dirt, as the -little animal burrows through the earth. The mole is very clean in -appearance. He sleeps three hours and then he works three hours as -long as he lives. He is a great builder; he sinks wells to quench his -thirst; he can run fast; he can swim; and he can fight. He loves his -home in the ground. He seldom comes out.” - -“Does he have a nice bed like yours?” asked Tiny, much interested. - -“Indeed, he has,” said the gopher. “His home is one of the most -wonderful things I have ever seen. It is reached by passing through one -of several long, straight halls. The walls are so solid that the rain -seldom leaks through. I went into one of these halls, and with some -difficulty made my way into another one, which was circular. From this -hall five passages led to another hall above my head. I stopped at the -foot of the nearest passage to rest. Then I went up. The upper hall was -circular, but not so large as the lower one. I knew that I was at the -summit of the mole hill, for I could plainly hear the birds singing -overhead. From this upper circular hall three more passages led down to -the main room. I went down into this room and sat very quietly there -for a few moments. I wondered why the mole had made it so difficult to -get into his house.” - -“I suppose he wants to make his house as safe as possible,” suggested -the squirrel. - -“Precisely so,” said the gopher. “If he and his family hear some -vicious animal coming through one of the long halls, they have a chance -to escape. The central room is a kind of fortress where they seek -protection.” - -“Did you ever see any of the little moles?” asked Tiny, excitedly. - -“No. I learned afterwards that their nursery was built at a point where -two or more of the long halls cross one another. It was situated in an -out of the way place with many avenues of escape. Their bed was made of -blades of grass and other soft material. I am sure that the nest of a -mole is safer than that of a goldfinch hanging high up in a tree. Why -does the goldfinch usually build her nest at the end of a branch?” - -“Because she likes to have her nest dance up and down and sway about -in the breeze,” said Tiny. “The goldfinch builds very well. Her nest -is made of lichens and moss and sheep’s wool, and is so fashioned that -the little birds cannot roll out. What jolly times the goldfinches must -have teetering up and down in a roomy nest on a starlit night!” - -“Yet they surely suffer when it storms, while the little moles are -never bothered by lightning and thunder,” quickly interposed the -gopher. “I suppose it is fortunate that all animals do not have the -same ideas about things.” - -“I should like to hear something about prairie dogs,” said Tiny, after -a while. - -“I will gladly tell you,” returned the gopher, settling himself more -comfortably. “Sometimes hundreds of prairie dogs live together in one -city. It is interesting to watch the round towers of their dwellings. -Most prairie dogs have small brown eyes and grayish-red fur. Although -they are agile little animals, they do not work much. You would laugh -to see them when they bark, for they shake their stumpy tails and jerk -to and fro. They yelp like dogs. Some of them act as guards and sit out -upon their roofs all day long, looking about the horizon. When an enemy -approaches, they bark loudly and rush into their houses, and all the -chattering ceases. For a while the city is as quiet as night; but, in -a few minutes, many inquisitive, dark eyes peep out to see if danger -still threatens them.” - -“Their city must be a very lively place,” observed Tiny. - -“Many other animals visit there,” said the gopher. “All kinds of -vicious creatures flock to a great city, you know. The prairie dogs -are often molested by hawks, burrowing owls, and coyotes. I believe I -prefer to live in the country.” - -“I am quite satisfied with my mode of living, as we all should be,” -said Tiny. “I have been greatly benefited by learning about these -animals. If one should get blue or homesick or discouraged, it would -pay him to visit a gopher and find out how other less fortunate animals -live. Then he would return home quite contented with his lot. I thank -you for teaching me so much.” - -“You are welcome,” replied the gopher. “I, too, have learned from you, -so we have been mutually helped. I never knew before that it is wrong -to engage in any kind of sport that gives pain to another. Henceforth I -will never tease a turtle or take a ride on his back.” - -“I must go,” declared Tiny, rising from his downy couch. - -“Stay longer,” pleaded the gopher. “The moon rises early, and--” - -“That is no reason why I should go to bed late,” interrupted Tiny. “My -teacher may worry about me. Goodby, Mr. Gopher.” - -“Goodby. You must come back,” replied the gopher sleepily. - -Before Tiny could reach the door, his acquaintance with the pockets in -his cheeks was fast asleep. - -The little red squirrel’s heart beat with joy and thankfulness when the -dewy air, laden with the sweet fragrance of early summer, again greeted -his nostrils. With nimble leaps he made his way through the leaf-strewn -pathway to the edge of the crystal stream. Before him lay the quaint -beaver houses that had become so dear to him, while beyond, the pink -western skies faded softly into gray, like the happy days of his youth. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - -About two weeks before the close of school, Miss Hare met with a -misfortune. Because of the great amount of work she had to do, grading -examination papers, her eyes became so weak that she scarcely could -use them. Tiny felt sorry for the patient, hard-working teacher, and -offered to be of assistance to her. - -“You may come into the schoolroom and help me,” she said to him one -Saturday morning. “I have a number of important letters to write. You -are very painstaking, and I shall be glad to have your assistance.” - -Tiny followed her into the room and sat down beside the desk, very -happy to be of some use to one he so thoroughly respected. The material -upon which he wrote was not so white and smooth as the paper used in -schoolrooms nowadays. It was simply birch bark that could be rolled -up and tied with heavy grass. The ink he used was the juice of the -pokeberry, and his pen was a goose quill. - -[Illustration: AS SOON AS HE HAD WRITTEN A LETTER, HE ROLLED IT NEATLY, -ADDRESSED IT CAREFULLY, AND GAVE IT TO BILLY BEAVER, WHO CALLED A -CARRIER PIGEON.] - -As soon as he had written a letter, he rolled it neatly, addressed it -carefully, and gave it to Billy Beaver, who called a carrier pigeon to -take it to its place of destination. - -During the hour that Tiny spent in the schoolroom that morning, he -learned about money orders and drafts, for it is said that at one time -the more enlightened residents of Animal Kingdom made use of them. - -Here are a few letters that Tiny either wrote or read for Miss Hare: - -1. BUSINESS LETTER. - - Beaver Creek, Joy Co., Animal Kingdom, - May 25,---- - - Messrs. Sheep, Goat & Co., - 63, 65, 67 Bleat Street, - Herd City, Animal Kingdom. - - Gentlemen: - - Please send at your earliest convenience the following articles for - use in my boarding school: - - 2 quarts milk. - 15 pounds wool. - 1 dozen quills. - - I enclose money order for three dollars. - - Yours respectfully, - (MISS) MOLLY HARE. - -2. BUSINESS LETTER. - - Beaver Creek, Joy Co., Animal Kingdom, - May 25,---- - - Messrs. Fido, Carlo & Co., - Dogtown, Animal Kingdom. - - Gentlemen: - - Please send by Pony Express: - - 1 uniform for janitor, size No. 3. - 2 yards horsehair cloth, as per sample. - 1 school bench, as per catalogue. - - Enclosed find draft for ten dollars ($10). - - Respectfully, - (MISS) MOLLY HARE. - -3. BUSINESS LETTER. - - 118 Hill Avenue, - Rolling City, - May 16,---- - - Miss Molly Hare, - Principal, Beaver Creek School, - Beaver Creek, Animal Kingdom. - - Dear Madam: - - For the enclosed money order ($1.25) please send to my address “The - Beaver Creek School Journal” for one year, beginning next month. - - Yours truly, - JUMPINGTON PRAIRIEDOG. - -4. INFORMAL NOTE. - - Dear Miss Hare: - - Please excuse Glossy Marten from school all next week on account of - illness in the family. - - Will you kindly tell her to travel via Central Route to avoid danger? - - Very respectfully yours, - MRS. BEAUTY MARTEN. - -5. INFORMAL NOTE. - - Dear Miss Turkey: - - Will you lay aside your work for a short time and dine with me - Wednesday at 5 o’clock? - - Sincerely yours, - MOLLY HARE. - -6. FORMAL NOTE. - - Miss Pet Pheasant requests the pleasure of Miss Hare’s company on - Tuesday evening, May thirtieth, from four to seven o’clock. - - 13 Forest Edge Street. - -7. NOTE OF ACCEPTANCE. - - Miss Molly Hare is pleased to accept Miss Pet Pheasant’s kind - invitation for Wednesday evening, May thirtieth. - - Beaver Creek, May twenty-fifth. - -8. INVITATION. - - Miss Brownie Mink - at home - Thursday evening, June first - from six to eight o’clock - - 14 Water Front - -9. NOTE OF REGRET. - - Miss Molly Hare regrets that a previous engagement prevents her from - accepting Miss Brownie Mink’s kind invitation for Thursday evening, - June first. - - Beaver Creek, May twenty-fifth. - - * * * * * - -“This has been a very pleasant task, I assure you,” said Tiny, when -his work was done. “I have learned how to write a business letter, -which is an important thing to know. I never before had heard of money -orders and drafts. You know we do not have those things, nor money, nor -stores, at Squirreltown.” - -“Only a few of the more intelligent animals know anything about -business,” replied Miss Hare. “I know of only two large department -stores and three banks in Animal Kingdom. I have heard that the -ancient human beings used shells for money; but, finally, they -established the use of coins, because they were valued by all classes -of people. If the hunters would not molest us, Animal Kingdom would -imitate the human race and become very much enlightened. Some day I -hope you may visit the department store of Sheep, Goat & Co., and see -for yourself how animals are advancing in knowledge. I understand that -this great store employs almost a dozen clerks.” - -“I have also learned how to write an invitation and notes of regret and -acceptance. They seem to be very simple in their construction,” said -Tiny, placing the quill in a shell filled with sand. - -“No self-respecting animal should neglect his correspondence, no matter -how busy he may be,” said Miss Hare. “As a rule, one who hates to write -letters is one who cannot write them well. It is necessary that one -should write social and business letters, and learn how to make them -clear and forceful. Now you may rest. I thank you for your services, -Tiny.” - -[Illustration] - -The red squirrel, with a polite bow, returned to his room, much pleased -because he had pleased some one else. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - -Tiny’s last ramble through the copse near Beaver Creek was one that -he never forgot. He was beginning to realize how much more pleasing -are the works of Nature when one really takes an interest in them. He -had learned to study even the snail in his shell house and the Venus’ -fly-trap that catches insects. - -“Aren’t the skies blue, and the trees and grasses green, and the music -of the birds sweet, and the busy hum of the insects inspiring?” he -asked himself again and again. - -Once he stopped to admire the graceful foliage of the alder tree. - -“That tree has some secrets hidden away that I mean to find out,” said -he, as he scurried up its smooth trunk. He gazed through the branches. -At last he espied a nest. It was built of coarse sticks. - -“What an odd place for a jay bird’s home!” he exclaimed. “I never could -understand why the jay does not build a comfortable nest like that of -the robin. Perhaps he fears he might spoil his little ones by making -them too comfortable.” - -Next he saw a queer object that held his attention for a long time. A -caterpillar was hanging from a leaf. Tiny thought that it was about -to fall, but the little worm held fast with all its might. It was -attaching a fine thread to the point of a leaf, but it worked harder -than the man who fells a tree. - -“Do not molest that caterpillar,” said a voice from a limb overhead. - -Tiny looked up and saw a peculiar animal with a long, pointed face -and sharp teeth, hanging head downward from a limb overhead. With a -startled cry, the squirrel hid in a thick branch. - -“You need not fear me, for I do not eat squirrels,” said the odd -creature. “I am looking for birds. I should think you would be ashamed -to attack a poor little caterpillar.” - -“Never in my life have I molested a caterpillar,” declared Tiny. “I -should think you would be ashamed to attack birds.” - -“Well, everything depends upon the point of view,” replied the larger -animal. “I am not responsible if my views do not agree with your own, -for I see things upside down.” - -[Illustration: “WHY DO YOU HANG BY YOUR TAIL?” TINY ASKED.] - -“Why do you hang by your tail?” asked Tiny. From his hiding place he -peeped at the curious animal. - -“Because I am an opossum, and I am wise enough to know that tails were -made to hang by. I couldn’t hang by my neck, could I?” - -“I suppose not,” replied Tiny, with a laugh. “Reynard, Snowball, and -Rover have strong tails. I will tell them that they should cultivate -the use of them, as the opossum does.” - -“I’ll be glad to teach them how,” said the opossum, not in the least -offended at the squirrel’s amusement. Tiny drew closer to get a better -view of his new acquaintance. He could look into his eyes. - -“Reynard, Snowball, or Rover is going with me to-morrow. I should like -you to teach some of your amusing tricks to the one who comes.” - -The opossum laughed so hard that Tiny feared he would lose his hold and -fall upon him. - -“Neither Reynard, Rover, nor Snowball is likely to be benefited by -anything that I may teach him,” said the opossum, evidently much -pleased by Tiny’s suggestion. “Neither the birds nor the animals admire -me.” - -“I do not dislike you,” said Tiny, truthfully. - -“I am not so dull as one might think. I can sit up and I can hang by my -tail.” - -“I can sit up, but I cannot hang by my tail,” said Tiny. “Some -squirrels can fly, but I am sure I can beat any flying squirrel in -a race. A red, a gray, and a black squirrel live close together at -Squirreltown. The mayor sends them with messages to other neighboring -towns. They are as swift as lightning.” - -“Perhaps you wonder why I am looking so closely at that caterpillar,” -said the opossum, without stopping to argue concerning the fleetness of -squirrels. “All morning long I have watched with anxious eyes.” - -“Perhaps you want to see what he is trying to do,” suggested Tiny. - -“The caterpillar does not interest me at all,” said the opossum -rather brusquely. “I am waiting for a bird to come along to catch the -caterpillar. Before the bird catches the worm, I shall catch the bird--” - -“And perhaps some hunter will catch you before you can catch the bird,” -interrupted Tiny. - -“You are right,” said the opossum. “Every animal always seems to be -ready to catch another one. I like pretty birds as you like plump -acorns. A yellow, brown, and blue bird is a very attractive creature. -An ugly sparrow is not half so pleasing to me as a golden oriole.” - -“I am sorry that you like to destroy birds,” said Tiny, who had -learned to love the little feathered songsters of the forest. “You are -cowardly. You attack birds. They are smaller than you.” - -“I am cowardly but cautious,” returned the opossum. “I should be -foolish to try to capture an eagle. I have caught six little birds this -morning. The first, second, and third birds were sparrows. The fourth, -the fifth, and the sixth birds were robins.” - -“The poor things surely did not suffer long. Your mouth is so large and -your teeth are so sharp,” said the red squirrel. - -“Where do you live?” inquired the opossum, still gazing at the -caterpillar. - -“I came from Beaver Creek,” answered Tiny. “I am out to-day to study -Nature.” - -“Then you needn’t spend any more of your time here. There are other -things to see,” snapped the opossum. “Your incessant chatter is keeping -the birds away.” - -“Where do you live?” asked Tiny, wishing to save as many birds as -possible. - -“Close by,” replied the opossum indifferently. “I live in a dead tree.” - -“What has become of the caterpillar?” - -“It is still working away. It is a remarkable toiler. Now it has -succeeded in bending back the point of the leaf and has fastened it -down with bits of thread.” - -“It has curled the leaf until it looks like a little tube with a very -round hole at each end,” said Tiny, much interested. - -“Caterpillars make houses of leaves,” explained the opossum. - -“How very odd!” exclaimed the squirrel. - -“That depends upon the point of view,” repeated the opossum. “Insects -breathe through holes along their sides. You have lungs. Through these -lungs you breathe. Both of these methods of breathing might seem very -odd to the fish, who breathes through his gills.” - -“How can the caterpillar turn around in such a small house?” asked Tiny. - -“It doesn’t wish to turn around,” said the opossum. “The caterpillar -does not wiggle so much as the squirrel. It knows that big houses are -seldom half as cozy as smaller ones. As soon as it gets settled down to -housekeeping, it begins to eat its little green house.” - -“How funny!” chuckled Tiny. - -“Before very long it eats itself out of house and home,” said the -opossum. - -“What would you do if a hunter were to steal up and club you?” asked -Tiny, more interested in the quadruped than in the worm. - -“If a hunter should attack me, I would drop down and play that I was -dead,” was the answer. - -“Once Snowball pretended to be asleep when Billy Beaver called him,” -said Tiny. “Billy said that Snowball was ‘playing ’possum.’ Now I know -what he meant.” - -“I suppose that the opossum is not the only animal that tries to -deceive,” said the opossum, with a yawn. - -“I see that you are sleepy,” said the squirrel. “I must go to my -home. I wonder why animals are so impolite as to yawn when they are -entertaining company.” - -“Perhaps it would be better for you to say goodby before your -entertainers tire of you,” retorted the opossum. - -This advice was a golden gift to Tiny. He never forgot it. With a -courteous farewell, he hastened down the trunk of the tree. When he -reached the ground, he stopped a moment to gaze overhead. The opossum -was asleep among the branches. - -“He had better be sleeping than killing birds,” said Tiny, gratefully. -“I shall visit the opossum often and keep him out of mischief. This -afternoon has been well spent. I have stood between the birds and their -enemy.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - - -The last day of school rolled round. The pupils of the Beaver Creek -School were in a state of pleasant excitement. They smoothed their -feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be. All -the civilized animals for miles around were present. Mr. Owl, looking -wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive. Miss -Hare, with earrings hanging from her long ears and a wreath of white -blossoms on her head, greeted him warmly. Soon after, Mother Goose, the -most beloved fowl in Animal Kingdom, waddled into the main building in -good time. Sammy Rabbit’s relatives followed her, also Puss Snowball’s -mother and aunt. - -Billy Beaver and his friends had erected a platform in the creek, and -upon its smooth surface had built a green bower. The messenger pigeons -had adorned this bower with beautiful flowers, and the pupils had -filled in the rough places of the floor with pretty shells and pebbles. - -On the shady bank across the way, the larger animals of the wood had -gathered. Tiny could see them plainly as he sat in his room, brushing -out his long tail. There were Mr. Goat, of the great department -store, and his daughter, Miss Nannie; the Otter family in their best -garments; Miss Mink, a close friend of Miss Hare; several from the -Badger family; and, in the background, as modest as could be, Mr. -Opossum, Jolly Gopher, and the Ferret brothers. - -While awaiting the signal of Billy Beaver, Tiny was visited by Shifty -Woodchuck, who carried a soiled composition. - -“Won’t you please help me?” whined Shifty, as he thrust the composition -between Tiny’s forepaws. “You know I was to graduate with your class, -but Miss Hare will not let me.” - -[Illustration: “WON’T YOU PLEASE HELP ME?” WHINED SHIFTY.] - -“Pupils that fail should not blame their teachers. It is entirely your -own fault,” said Tiny, looking over the careless manuscript. - -“I wish I hadn’t slept so much last winter,” continued Shifty, -ruefully. “However, I believe that if Miss Hare will let me read my -composition, I will get the prize. Miss Hare says I cannot read it -properly, because it is carelessly written. Please tell me what is the -matter with it. To me it looks very well. I have spent nearly an hour -in writing it.” - -“If you ever intend to write a good composition, you will have to work -longer than an hour,” said Tiny. “You will have to read things that -will help you, and you must exercise great care. Moreover, you must not -postpone your work until the last minute.” - -Tiny, with great difficulty, read Shifty’s composition, which was as -follows: - - one saturday Afternoon in may - - “the first may Holiday was beautiful! the sun shined bright. birds - twittered and sung sweetly the flowers were in bloom. nature was - happy. warm weather had came. mister beaver and me went for a stroll. - how our hearts thrilled with Joy? We stopped by the Creek. us animals - like the water - - the clear sparkling waves passed by us. hark sweet music comes from - the brook and the forest they cried. - - come into the woods mister beaver i said, are you afraid of the tall - trees. - - i will set here says he. a Beaver don’t wander into the Thicket, he - prefers the Creek. daisys and violets may be pretty but spatter-docks - is prettier, you can go if you wish, and I will stay here. - - i replied that Woodchucks squirrels rabbits and many other animals - preferred the wild flowers. i ran to the bushes. o how cool they - seemed. they were green and fragrant with blossoms, the leaves of - the trees were bigger than their’s but they wasn’t more beautiful. i - wandered for a hour through the woods. i seen a birds’ nest and many - interesting things, a active guinea hen was hiding among the Ferns - with her brood - - a few deers were laying behind a pile of brush, they run when i - approached. i could heer wild geeses’ cries. every animal of the - forest were moving about. in each glade was a hundred live creatures. - i went back to the brook, mister beaver was waiting for me. - - “did you have a pleasant time he asked lazily?” - - the forest is grand i cried joyously. the animals of the forest are - rejoicing while you are setting by this brook with a long face. - -“What is wrong with it?” inquired Shifty, when the red squirrel had -finished reading. “I am sure that it is as well written as the others, -for I am a good speller and have learned not to use bad grammar.” - -“Everything is wrong with it,” said Tiny, frankly, although he was too -polite to make fun of Shifty’s ignorance. - -At that moment Billy Beaver began thumping with his long tail. - -“Read it over very carefully many times, and perhaps you may be able to -find your mistakes,” said Tiny, as he hastened out into the sunlit air. - -From the top of the bower over the platform a chorus of goldfinches, -swallows, robins, and wrens began singing “Hail to Spring.” At the -same time Miss Hare, followed by the graduating class, came out of the -schoolroom, and, with great dignity, made her way to the platform. Miss -Hare seated herself upon a mossy cushion, while the graduating class -sat near her, forming a semicircle. The graduates were Susie Goose, -Sammy Rabbit, Winkie Weasel, Puss Snowball, Rover Canine, Reynard -Redfox, and Tiny Redsquirrel. - -At the close of the song, which was followed by loud cries of applause, -Mr. Owl, who sat upon a branch in front of the platform, said that the -class would proceed to deliver their compositions. He added that a -prize would be given to the one who had the best theme, and that Miss -Hare, Mother Goose, and he would be judges. - -When this announcement was made, Mother Goose rose from her comfortable -seat by the side of the Misses Pea Fowl and Guinea, and flew to a seat -beside Mr. Owl. The audience cheered again more loudly than before. - -[Illustration: SAMMY RABBIT WAS THE FIRST OF THE CLASS TO SPEAK.] - -Sammy Rabbit was the first of the class to speak. Leaping to the front -of the platform, he faced his audience, and, with a profound bow, read -as follows: - - SOME QUEER CREATURES I HAVE SEEN. - - One day our teacher sent us out to study Nature. She said that we - should observe the simplest things, for often they were the most - instructive. - - My friend, Puss Snowball, went with me. Both of us were anxious to - improve our time. We animals are fast friends. - - Three merry little ferrets darted across our pathway. We followed - them, but finally gave up the chase. Snowball’s fur was filled with - briers and thistles; I was covered with mud, and had to bathe in the - brook. How we laughed! At last we decided that we would study the - smallest and simplest things, as our teacher had told us to do. - - We found some earthworms in the soft loam. These little creatures - burrow into the soil when the first frost comes. They spend the - winter deep in the ground, where the cold cannot reach them. They do - not mind if it blows and snows. - - We saw a katydid. He was of a pale green color. His gauzy wings had - little covers that looked like drums. He rubbed the drums briskly, - and the music that he made was very cheerful. Did you ever hear the - katydid’s shrilling? The katydid, however, is very small. - - We saw two interesting spiders in the brook. Spiders have eight legs, - while true insects have only six. One of these little creatures - had made a silken diving-bell that resembled a tiny silver globe. - The other had made a raft of weeds, fastened together with silken - threads. Then they went slowly downstream to catch insects that might - fall into the water. Spiders, although quite tiny, are very clever. - When spiders sleep, they sleep soundly; when they work, they work - industriously; when they fight, they fight fiercely. - - Ants, bees, and wasps are interesting. The fly, too, is worthy of - study. It has four thousand small eyes. Observe it carefully. - - Nature is full of wonderful, beautiful things--but I shall not have - time to tell any more about the queer creatures I have seen. - -Sammy’s composition was much appreciated. He had chosen a simple, -familiar subject and kept it plainly in mind. - -Winkie Weasel met with less favor, for he had undertaken to write -about something that was beyond his understanding. One can imagine -how much a little weasel would know about “The Growth of Intellectual -Perspicuity.” He stumbled over the long words in a way that made all -the little prairie dogs in the front row titter in a very impolite -manner. Weenie Mouse became so much frightened that he scampered away, -long before it was time for him to recite, and caused quite a panic -amongst the members of the Hen family. - -The other compositions were well written, although Puss Snowball’s was -spoiled by a singsong delivery. - -Occasionally, the frog orchestra, from their green lily pads close by, -would play a spirited air; and Jenny Wren, a nervous little body, who -twitched every time she reached a high note, sang “Happy Woodlands.” - -[Illustration: TINY REDSQUIRREL WAS THE LAST OF HIS CLASS TO APPEAR -BEFORE THE AUDIENCE.] - -Tiny Redsquirrel was the last of his class to appear before the -audience. With becoming modesty, he rose, saluted the judges and his -hearers, and recited in a loud, clear voice: - - HAPPINESS EVERYWHERE. - - There is a spell in every flower, - A sweetness in each spray; - And every single bird has power - To please us with its lay. - - And there is music on the breeze - That sports along the glade; - The crystal dewdrops on the trees - Are gems by fancy made. - - Oh, there is joy and happiness - In everything we see! - But greatest joys we shall possess - Through truth and purity. - -When he had finished, all the animals near and far gave vent to -tremendous applause, for animal audiences are not so hard to please as -those composed of human beings. Mr. Opossum became so enthusiastic that -he shouted at the top of his voice: - -“Hurrah for Mr. Redsquirrel! One cannot judge by the size of a -creature how much he can say.” - -Miss Hare joined the other two judges, and for a few moments they held -an earnest conversation among themselves, while the audience sat in -breathless expectation. - -Finally, Mother Goose descended from her perch and waddled to the front -of the platform, where she faced the eager listeners and said in a -shrill, but kindly voice: - -“Animals of the forest, the judges have decided that the prize should -go to Mr. Tiny Redsquirrel of Squirreltown!” - -Turning to the embarrassed but happy little squirrel, she pulled from -her wing a quill, which she gave him with a low bow, saying: - -[Illustration] - -“This quill was taken from my wing. No creature is more respected by -the human race and all other animals than I am. Anyone who receives -a quill pen made from one of my feathers will be famous ever after. -Accept this reward for your excellent poem and your good scholarship; -but bear in mind that every achievement is but a camping place for the -night.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - - -Tiny never forgot the pleasant half hour that followed his graduation. -Although he felt happy, he was sorry to leave dear old Beaver Creek -with its many delightful associations. After waving a friendly farewell -to Mr. Opossum, Jolly Gopher, and his other chance acquaintances, he -turned to bid his classmates goodby. The bird choir was still singing -its sweetest airs. - -“Your poem was very good for a beginner,” said Miss Hare, with a smile. -“I suspect that you spent much time in its preparation.” - -“I expect to write a better one in a year from now,” replied Tiny. - -“You did not get frightened at all,” said timid Katie Goose, who had -been unable to read her composition loud enough for her audience to -hear. - -“One is never afraid of an audience unless he is afraid of himself,” -said Tiny. “I hope your future life will be happy, Katie.” - -“Thank you,” replied Katie. “I want to be a lovely character like my -aunt, dear old Mother Goose.” - -“I want to thank you for your kindness to me, Mr. Owl,” continued -the squirrel, running to where the wise trustee of the school sat -listening to the merry chorus of voices. “I have done nothing to pay -for my board and tuition. In fact, I never knew there was such a thing -as money, and that animals should pay for what they get from others, -instead of trying to steal it.” - -“Do not worry about that,” said the owl, kindly. “Miss Hare’s school is -free to pupils that cannot pay. It is kept up by taxes paid by the good -citizens of Joy County. In this day of free schools, it is a terrible -crime for animals to neglect their education.” - -“I shall organize a school in Squirreltown as soon as I return,” said -Tiny. “The little ones would be more benefitted if they would exercise -their brains as well as their legs.” - -“I wish you success,” said the owl prophet, kindly. “Your education has -just begun. Even if you should live as many years as a turtle does, you -would never learn all there is to know. Most squirrels observe closely, -but almost every squirrel does not think as much as he should.” - -“I am going now,” said Tiny. “Please also accept my thanks for your -kindness to my mother during my absence from home. I hope you will come -to Squirreltown and give me a chance to entertain you.” - -“Thank you,” replied the owl. “I should be glad to carry you home, but -I believe you are old enough to find your own way. There are many other -lessons for you to learn, and there are other dreadful battles that you -must fight alone. Always be brave and hopeful, no matter what befalls -you.” - -Tiny bade Miss Hare goodby, and she wished him success. He tried to -find Billy Beaver, but the good janitor had already started up creek to -his work. One by one the graduates left the school for their various -homes, and, when Tiny started forth on his journey, Beaver Creek was -quiet and deserted. With a sigh of regret he gazed back at the domes of -the buildings, and in his heart wished that he might return. - -As he turned into the narrow path that led to the north, he heard the -noise of pattering feet. In a few moments Winkie Weasel was beside him, -panting heavily. - -“I am going with you as far as Deertown,” said he. “What a pleasant -visit we shall have on the way! You were always kind to help me with my -lessons, and I thank you.” - -“I suppose you are anxious to get back home,” said Tiny, as they -hurried along. - -“Not very,” replied Winkie, seriously. “My home is not pleasant. -However, I am going to try to exert a good influence over those with -whom I live. Weasels fight most of the time, you know. I shall try to -teach them that vegetables are as wholesome as meat, and that weasels -would be just as healthy if they did not eat every little animal that -crossed their path.” - -For a long time they chatted concerning their classmates and the -graduating exercises. They praised their teacher’s elegant manners, -Mrs. Goose’s excellent morals and grand air, the pretty faces of the -Otter sisters, the beautiful bower that Billy Beaver and his friends -had made, and the neat schoolroom. Winkie congratulated Tiny again and -again upon his splendid victory. - -When it grew dark, they stopped to rest. Tiny, with the quill Mother -Goose had given him securely tied to his body, carefully climbed a -tree. He found a cozy spot sheltered by broad leaves. In the meantime, -Winkie found comfortable quarters in a hollow log. Soon they fell -asleep. - -In the middle of the night an awful storm arose. The lightning flashed -and the thunder roared. The trees bent and swayed in the angry winds. -It seemed to Tiny that the world was coming to an end; but he was brave -and hopeful, for he knew that the sunshine would be bright on the -morrow. - -When the storm had abated somewhat, he fell asleep again. However, he -slept badly. He thought some cruel animal was about to spring upon him -and swallow him in one gulp. He was a really brave little creature, but -such dreams are prone to disturb even the boldest animal. - -He shuddered and opened his eyes with a start. Not six feet away two -terrible eyes of fire were fixed upon him. He then knew that his dream -was real. In the flash of lightning that followed, he could see a large -animal about to spring at him. Its legs were powerful, its feet were -heavy, and its claws glistened. Another flash of lightning revealed the -pointed ears of the terrible beast. - -Tiny tried to escape, but the branch of the tree was slippery with -rain. In a twinkling he received a terrific blow from an enormous paw. -Then followed a crash of thunder, an angry roar, and the frightened -shriek of a poor helpless squirrel. - -“Oh, save me from the lynx--the lynx!” he cried. - -Both he and the bloodthirsty creature had fallen to the ground. Tiny -knew that in another moment he might meet with a tragic fate. Another -flash of lightning showed the lynx, with his fur standing straight and -his back curled, ready to pounce upon him. - -[Illustration: WHEN THE LIGHTNING FLASHED AGAIN HE DASHED FORWARD AND -THRUST THE PEN INTO THE DELICATE NOSTRILS OF THE LYNX.] - -Darkness came again. Tiny was so badly stunned for a while that he -could hardly move. He stood dumbly awaiting the final blow. Then a loud -roar of pain resounded through the forest. It was evident to Tiny that -some creature was attacking the lynx. The little squirrel unloosened -the pen that had been given him. When the lightning flashed again, he -dashed forward and thrust it into the delicate nostril of the lynx. -There was another cry, more of surprise than of pain, and the ferocious -animal disappeared in the blackness of night. - -“We are safe now,” said Winkie Weasel’s welcome voice. “It is fortunate -that I came with you. Just as the lynx was about to destroy you, I -rushed out of the stump and gave his tail a bite that he will not soon -forget. I think, judging by the way he yelled, he must have thought he -was struck by lightning.” - -Tiny was too weak to reply. He stood shivering in the rain, yet he -was grateful that he had learned the value of friendship. Winkie, who -enjoyed dreadful encounters, pushed him back into the stump that he -might protect him through the night. There they remained until daybreak. - -“Now, forget about the lynx and don’t be so cast down,” were the first -words that Winkie said on the following morning. “Don’t hold any -ill-will towards him. He was only thinking what a fine meal you would -make. All animals are looking out for themselves.” - -A turn in the long path brought them into Deertown. A number of red -deer were lying together upon the grassy turf. They had slept well, for -the branches of the trees had formed a thick canopy over their heads. -A stag with a reddish-brown coat and big branching antlers was guarding -them. Several pretty fawns with brown eyes and white coats were playing -hide-and-seek in the bushes. Although deer are quick to hear the -footsteps of larger animals, they paid no heed to the little newcomers. - -[Illustration: “ISN’T THE STAG A NOBLE-LOOKING CREATURE?”] - -“Isn’t the stag noble-looking!” cried Tiny. “What a big creature he is!” - -“He is very proud,” said Winkie, less admiringly. “He is also selfish, -for he becomes angry if any other stag comes inside his family circle.” - -“Isn’t it fortunate that we don’t have to wear antlers?” laughed Tiny. -“How funny you would look, Winkie, with horns or antlers!” - -“It is said that one can tell the age of a stag by looking at his -antlers,” replied Winkie, with the sprightliness that Tiny enjoyed. -“Perhaps Mother Goose is thankful, too, that she doesn’t have them.” - -Not far beyond Deertown, the two associates separated. Tiny was to go -directly north, while Winkie was to pass through several winding paths -to Weasel Bog. - -“Goodby, Tiny. Carry your prize safely home, and tell your mother that -you well deserved it,” said Winkie. “Some day I will bring my family to -see you.” - -“I am afraid you wouldn’t be very welcome in Squirreltown,” said Tiny. -“However, I will meet you alone at any time you suggest. I will fetch -you something good to eat.” - -“Squirrels are all right in their bad opinions of weasels,” said -Winkie, regretfully. “I never thought how scandalous my family would -act, if I took them to Squirreltown. I do not wish to visit your -village, but I will meet you at any place you may suggest. I want to -see you only. Let me hear from you often.” - -“All right,” replied Tiny, cheerily. - -With another farewell he turned north and ran as fast as he could. Two -or three times he stopped to eat some delicious acorns and other food -he found by the wayside, for Nature has bountifully provided for the -squirrel race. - -He might have reached home without any more dreadful encounters, had -it not been for his curiosity. While resting on the lower branch of a -beech tree, he saw an animal with soft, silky fur, fast asleep on the -bough above his head. He did not know that the pretty, innocent-looking -creature was a wild cat, one of the most terrible beasts of the wood. -The thoughtless squirrel stole noiselessly to the side of the sleeping -animal and made a shrill, screeching noise. - -[Illustration: HE RAN WITH ALL HIS MIGHT ALONG THE PATH.] - -The wild cat awoke. Instantly it changed to a ferocious monster, with -ruffled fur and eyes that seemed to shoot forth flames. With a snarl of -rage, it dashed at its disturber. Tiny, whose heart beat wildly, dashed -down the tree. Instead of seeking refuge in some knothole, he ran with -all his might along the path. He expected to be killed at any moment. -Horror made him run all the faster, for he knew that the wild cat was -the most dreadful animal he could possibly arouse. - -Over fallen twigs and branches the frightened squirrel leapt, little -thinking of other dangers that might befall him. At last his strength -began to fail. He knew that he could hold out but a few minutes longer. -Torn by brush and briers, he ascended an oak tree. A little door stood -ajar. He rushed through the tiny opening and fell prostrate. - -When he regained his senses, a little gray animal with liquid dark eyes -was bending over him. - -“Bushy Graysquirrel!” he cried in delight. - -“I am very glad to receive you in my new home,” was Bushy’s welcome -greeting. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - - -“I am so glad to see you!” exclaimed Tiny. “I was running away from a -wild cat, and met you by accident.” - -“I saw you running,” answered Bushy. “However, I did not see a wild -cat. Squirrels run faster than wild cats, so I suppose he gave up the -chase.” - -“I am not a coward,” declared the red squirrel, somewhat embarrassed, -“but I think it is best to run when a wild cat comes into one’s life.” - -“In this forest are few wild cats,” asserted Bushy. “They seldom -disturb us, unless they are provoked.” - -“What are you doing here?” asked Tiny, when he had fully recovered from -his shock. - -“I live here in the country now,” was the reply. “Perhaps you do not -know that I have a mate. He is out getting acorns for our luncheon. Of -acorns there is a great plenty in this part of the woods. They cover -the ground.” - -“Has Squirreltown changed much?” he inquired. - -“You would hardly know the place,” answered the gray squirrel. “All -our playmates have grown up. Peggy and her mate live in the city, and -Polly Blacksquirrel and her mate own the big beech by the brook. Dr. -Flyingsquirrel has retired from business on account of his great age. -He must be nearly five years old. Your mother, however, is well and -happy. Many citizens has Squirreltown. Not one in a hundred leaves it -for the country. I--” - -“Do you ever visit there?” interrupted Tiny. - -“Neither of us has been back for some time,” said Bushy. “We will go -over to-night to attend the celebration.” - -“What celebration?” - -“One which is to be given upon your return home,” laughed Bushy. - -Tiny then remembered that Mr. Owl had promised the winner of the prize -a still greater reward. He felt very grateful and happy, but did not -think it polite to question Bushy any further. - -After a short visit with his old friend, Tiny bade her goodby, and -resumed his journey. He hurried along almost as fast as he did when he -thought the wild cat was after him, for he was anxious to see his dear -old home once more, and to receive his mother’s welcome greeting. - -While he was drinking at a small stream, he heard a shrill cry. Before -he could turn round, he was pushed off his feet. Over and over he -rolled, until he almost fell into the water. - -“Tiny, Tiny, I am so glad to see you!” cried a well known voice. - -“Chatty Chipmunk!” exclaimed Tiny, equally delighted; for there was his -earliest playmate dancing about like a wild creature. “Never before -have I received such an unexpected greeting.” - -“I learned that you would be home to-day, and have come to meet you,” -continued Chatty. “Near the city wait a number of your old friends. I -couldn’t stand still, so here I am.” - -“Are you still fond of playing?” asked Tiny, somewhat amused at his gay -friend. - -“Yes. I don’t suppose that I ever shall take life seriously,” was the -laughing reply. “Nature never intended that I should work or study. -However, I have a thrifty mate, and she makes a very comfortable living -for me. Every one of those animals at Squirreltown avoids me, but I do -not care.” - -“If I were mayor of Squirreltown, I would make you work or let you -starve,” said Tiny, severely. - -“Your education has not improved your appearance,” said Chatty, quickly -changing the subject. “You look old and all mussed up.” - -“Animals who spend all their time in study are apt to become careless -of their personal appearance,” explained Tiny. “You forget, however, -that I have had a long journey, and that animals of good taste do not -try to look too sleek when they travel. They do not wish to attract -attention.” - -“Of what use are books and study?” inquired Chatty. - -“They are of no use to such as you,” replied the squirrel impatiently. - -“And what are you doing with that old goose quill strapped to your -back?” - -“That is the prize I won for good scholarship,” said Tiny, rather -disdainfully. - -“How funny!” cried the chipmunk, laughing until his sides ached. “How -could an animal spend so much time studying, just to win a goose quill?” - -“You and I do not see things alike, Chatty,” said Tiny, with an air of -superiority. “It is not possible for an uneducated animal like you to -feel the noble sentiment that makes this goose quill dear to me.” - -“You are as queer as some human beings,” declared Chatty. “I have heard -of a silly man that studied for many years to win an old piece of -sheepskin.” - -Tiny wisely forbore further argument. After a few minutes’ rest was -taken, he arose, and together they hastened to Squirreltown. - -When the grand old trees of the city appeared to view, Tiny shouted for -joy. There is nothing in life so dear as home and its associations, -and the country in which one lives, and the individuals with whom one -associates. - -Although sentinels had been stationed at the entrances of the highways -to meet Tiny, he stole up a back street; for he wished to see his -mother first of all. - -Mrs. Redsquirrel was preparing the last meal of the day. Although -somewhat older in appearance than when he left her, she seemed as -beautiful as ever to Tiny. - -“Mother!” he cried, as he rushed into the house. - -With shrieks of joy, the good creature bounded over the table and to -and fro until she was exhausted. - -“Welcome! welcome home!” she cried, her little heart fairly bursting -with motherly love and joy. - -They chatted until dusk began to steal over Squirreltown. At last they -were interrupted by Chatty Chipmunk. - -“You are under arrest, Tiny,” he said, gravely. “I am bidden by the -mayor to take you to the park which faces the city hall.” - -Tiny and his mother good-naturedly followed Chatty, thinking that -perhaps he was, as of old, playing some joke upon them. - -“Be merciful to me, Tiny,” pleaded Chatty, on their way to the park. -“Remember that I am your oldest friend. I promise you that I will lead -a useful life in the future. My greatest regret now is that I trifled -all my time away when I was young.” - -Tiny did not reply. They had entered the green park, facing which was a -decayed log with many doors and windows. It was used as a city hall. - -[Illustration: WHAT WAS TINY’S SURPRISE TO FIND ALL THE CITIZENS OF -SQUIRRELTOWN GATHERED THERE TO MEET HIM!] - -What was Tiny’s surprise to find all the citizens of Squirreltown -gathered there to meet him. There were the aged mayor at the door of -the city hall, the militia, the policemen, and all the aldermen and -other dignitaries of the city. Every one was dignified and silent. Tiny -and his mother were led by two policemen to the little balcony over the -entrance to the building. They were unable to speak, from surprise and -wonderment. - -“Hoot! hoot! hoot!” rang out from a bough over their heads. This cry -was evidently another signal to enforce perfect order. Tiny gazed up -timidly, and saw the yellow eyes of the owl prophet staring down upon -him. - -“Citizens of Squirreltown,” cried Mr. Owl, “I, the wisest of all living -creatures, take pleasure in presenting to you, Mr. Tiny Redsquirrel, -the new mayor of Squirreltown!” - -Flapping his wings in approbation, he flew away, never to return again. - -Then wild cheers rent the air. Never since that time has Squirreltown -been so riotous. Before Tiny could realize his exalted position, he was -surrounded by his old friends. There were Dr. Flyingsquirrel and his -family, Chatty Chipmunk and his mate, Peggy and Bushy Graysquirrel, -Polly Blacksquirrel, and many others, cheering and wishing him success -and happiness. - -Hundreds of lightning bugs circled above their heads, throwing out -green and orange-colored rays. Billy Foxsquirrel and his band whistled -gay airs; a frog orchestra close by joined them; and a chorus of -friendly mosquitoes, and other insects, completed the grand refrain. -Until far into the night, laughter and rejoicing reigned triumphant. -What Tiny did for Squirreltown in after years is more than any boy or -girl could imagine. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks near where they are -mentioned. - -Punctuation has been made consistent. - -Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in -the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have -been corrected. - -Captions were added for text included in illustrations as follows: - -p. iv: COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY LAIRD & LEE, Inc. - -p. 94: POETRY - -p. 100: PANTRY - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel's Pilgrim's Progress, by -J. D. 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