The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-21
Uncle AINSLEE'S STORY d.

Uncle AINSLEE'S STORY.
Far No in the top of the tallest tree you
can see in the wood, began Uncle AlnSiee,
there lived once red squirrel. lie was
a great grandson Of that very squirrel
used to read about, who went on to see
the world, and got picked mp and carried
away by q hawk. This sad event made
suchi an impression on all the family that
tho story was told to every child and
prandchiId, so that all Of them became
almost afraid of their shadows, and always
had crick in their necks from looking up
to see if hawk were coming.
Orr squirrel was one OF q very large
family, who, as they grew old enough not
TO feel afraid, had, one after another, left
for other trees, till he only remained at
home. Naturally of very timid and gen
tie disposition, he seldom went out alone {;
and so, when after time both father and
mother died he shut himself up in his
hole, and grew quite thin for want OF OK
crcise.
One morning he put his head out Of the
hole, feeling very torlorn and lonesome.
The sun was shining gloiiousy, and Mrs.
Robin, who had nest on the branches be-
low, sat on the smallest twie on the end,
swinging and swaying, and singing as if
she were crazy.
"Thcre s no hawk there, I'm sure" said
Mr.. Squirrel; and he ran down little
way.
.sWhy, Mr.. Squirrel" said Mrs. Robin,
al thought You had gone away"
ooh no, indeed" said Mr.. Squirrel: 81
4 IL. ar , t,ipp lnw
good the sun fccls" and he gave littlo
Jump 0! delight.
"Why do you stay in your hole oil the
time ," said Mrs. Robin.
"Bccause | am afraid to come out"
said Mr.. Squirrel and there s lots in there
to cat yet
81 would not live on last years nuts"
said Mrs. Robin, "whcn there arc fresh
Strawberries not dozen trees off,"
Mr.. Squirrel looked thoughtful.
"That's very true, Mrs. Robin" said he !;
"but suppose l am snapped up by the
same hawk that carried off my great
grandfather
"Ah." said she. "But you know there
arc no hawks now to speak Of. Pm an old
bird, good deal older than you, and Eve
never seen one yet. If your great grand
father hadn't been wandering in the open
fields he would never have been carried
of. Any squirrel could get away from a
dozen hawks by running into any Of the
holes close by" Here Mrs. Robin shook
her head, and began her song again; but
spying lovely green caterpillar climbing
up the tree, she flew down to get it for her
nest full Of young ones.
Mr.. Squirrel ran back to his hole to
think the matter over. 1t was really very
dincv in there. The bed and bedroom
were in sad disorder, for the moss sheets
had not been changed for nobody could
tell how long time, and he had piled up
nutshells till hardly a ray of light could
get in.
"Pll clean house, Think" said he. So
he pitched out all the old shells and sent
all the musty moss flying after.
CHOW" he said, "l'll get some more"
So, forgetting altogether that he had
gone home to think about matters, he
raced down the tree and off to the edge OF
the brook, where grew such green moss as
never was seen. Mr.. Squirrel stood on q
stone edge and drank some water. As he
did SO he saw himself plainly, as if it had
been a looking glass.
"My gracious" said Mr.. Squirrel,
"can this be me p and indeed there was
reason for asking. Bits of dead moss were
all through his hair, his face was dirty, and
his tail in a perfect tangle, with burr
stuck on the end.
81 must look better than this" said Mr..
Squirrel, "bcfore do another thing"
So he dartcd home rs fast as he could
60, washed his face, and combcd his hair
and tail with his little paws till they Shone.
Then he ran down to the brook again.
of | were only a little tatter," said
Mr.. Squirrel, 81 should be almost as
good-looking as my father. must eat
more. How nice is it to be clean.
really believe l don't feel half as much
afraid rs when | was dirty"
With that he pulled off the fresh moss
as much as he could carry, and ran back
and forth in this way to the tree, till he
had made delightful bed, and his house
was in perfect order.
"Now," said Mr.. Squirrel, a. have
earned good supper, and I'll have straw
berries"
SO he scampcred off to the foot of
great oak, where he had often been for
them with an older brother, who was gone
now he could not tell where. There they
were red and ripe, aud Mr.. Squirrel had
such an appetite that he came very near
being greedy, and making himself sick.
Just as he was about to take one too much,
beautiful little squirrel came running to
the old oak, and be dropped his berry and
sat staring at her. Her eyes were bright
as black beads, and her tail was SO 6ne
and bushy that it quite covered her back
when she sat up to eat her berry. Mr..
Squirrel would have spoken, but feeling
very bashful, he ran home as fast as he
could go. Mrs. Robin spoke as he passed her
nest. 1t was twilight now, and she was
cchrpIng little soft chirp to the wee bird
les under her wing.
How nice you look" she said. "Do
get lat, and you'll be the best looking
squirrel about here"
M MT. Squirrel slept better that night than
uer naa Tor long time, and was on the
, .S,y .ti p Of the tree before sunrise,
"hlsSins from one limb to another and
wondering why he had not given himself
this good time before. mrs. Robin. who
was having an early breakfast, few M iust