The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-09-23

-YoutNs Companion
The SQUIRRELS STRATAGEM.-There
was trouble in the woods-a great clat-
ter and commotion. Squirrel came
around a stump, with both cheeks full OF
corn, to see what was the matter.
"Its all very well to have company"
said little Brown-bird, "very we'll /; but
when it comes to having folks 60 to sleep
and keep birds away from their nests, SO
that all the eggs get cold, l for one don't
like it !"
Everybody was surprised, for every
body thought little Brown-bird amiable,
and not easily put out.
"Indeed, wouldn't stand it! It's a
singing shame!" buzzed Bumble-bee.
"Queer doings, l should say!" chirped
Cricket.
"What, may / ask, is this creature ?'
trilled Tree-tOad.
"Why," said Robin, who had been out
in the world, and knew, "it's very small
child"
Said Humming.bird: Mt looks like a
sweet-pea blossom; and its hair is like
the silk of maize!" .
"And its mouth is like berry; / will
20 and kiss itp' said wicked Mosquito to
himself.
40, dear! what an ado you all make" +"
sighed red Lady-bug.
And the little flowers nodded signifi-
cantly, and all the forest leaves looked as
if they were laughing.
Yet the little baby lay in the shadow
Of the bushes, with closed lids, and
dreamed as happily and uncOncerned as
if all the woods were its own.
Squirrel was sorry.
He said: "Little Brown-bird, don't
fret and futter SO; it's easy enough to
manage. You leave it all to me know
the tricks of these folks-and specially
boysW
And he put up his two small hands
and looked around upon his neighbOrs in
an assured manner most comfortable to
| behold.
"Never you fear, little Brown-bird,"
he continued, "I will go and bring some
one here who will carry away this crea-
ture that disturbs youW
The squirrel flashed out of sight, and
ran swiftly along over brush and bushes
and logs and ferns, until it reached the
highway, when it sped along the fence,
only pausing now and then to take an
observation.
In two minutes who should come along
but three school children-Roy and Rob
and their sister Lou.
"Look! lOok!" cried Rob.
"Where whatW shouted Roy.
"a SQUIRREL squirrell a squirrel %
they all shouted together.
And away went Rob, and after him
Roy, and following both ran Lou, over
brush and over bushes, and over logs and
ferns:
"Catch him catch him |" they cried
and the echoes Knocked, "Catch him
catch himp
And they chased little Squirrel until
they came TO dead halt by rail fence,
and there on the ground lay little
dreaming baby.
ooh! no! hop laughed Roy.
"Whew-ww whistled Rob.
"Oh, the dear little thing p cried Lou,
with uplifted hands.
Now the children set to wondering
what it all meant.
Perhaps" said Lou, "the squirrel was
a fairy, and turned into little baby
when we most caught it! Oh, let's take
it home and keep it, and maybe it will
turn into little lady as big as your fin
ger, with eyes just like pin-heads, and 0
silver dress and spider-web dress, and
she will live with us always, and always
and foreverp
"Pshaw!" said Roy. "Don't you know
gipsies do it sometimes-steal babies
They put 'em in n covered cart, and
carry 'em off and leave them by the way
side"
eyes, and I've read, too, how an eagle
once picked up little baby in its beaI
and claws, and carried it off to its nest Oh
a cragp
"Perhaps it ran away" said Rob; "s
baby did once, years ago, Grandma said
The mother went out a-visiting, and lefl
all the children to keep house and sht
said to Riar (she was the oldest), 'Riar
you take care of the baby And wher
the mother was gone they had fun, l tel
you! They clim' on the housetop to sc,
the chimbly swallows, and they blowet
bubbles, and played till the sun wen
down. Then they all went to see JOSEPH
set the hen down in the fence corner
where she stole her nest. Then, do yor
know, Riar thought of what her mother
had said, and she never once thought be
fore. Oh, wasn't she scared? And sh,
began to count the children, and fount
the baby was gone! Then the mothe
came home and she hunted, and Ria
hunted, and everybody hunted and
after a while, do you know, the fathe
found that baby way out in the woods
in holler log, and the skeeters had bi
it as big as two babies-'way out wher,
the wolves and bears wasl Oh, jimminy
wasn't they all glad? And Riar, she hat
to go to bed without any supper. tel
you she was glad, for she couldn't hav
eat anything, anyway, cause there wa
lump in her throat"
"Oh, boys, / know" said Lou; an,
she clasped her hands, and her eyes grey
big and round with wonder. "It-is-
orphingp
III guess It amt an orphanp - said
positive voice behind them. "Id hay