Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-03
Tho sauIrrcr- stratagem.

There was trouble in the woodS-a great
chattering and commotion. Squirrel came
round stump, with both cheeks full of
corn, to see what was the matter.
at is all very well TO have company"
said little Brown bird livery well but
when 1t comes 10 having folks go TO sleep,
and keep birds away from their nests, so
that all the eggs get cold, for one don't
like itp
Everybody was surprised, for everybody
thought little Brown-bird amiablo, and not
easily put out.
"Indeed, l wouldn't stand i'll It's a
singing shamep buzzed Bumble-bee.
"Queer doings 1 should sayr' chirped
Cricket.
"what, may 1 ask, is this creature?"
trilled the Treetoad.
"Why," said Robin, who had been out in
the world, and knew, at is a very small
child r.
Said Humning- at looks like
sweet pea blossom; and its hair is like the
silk of maize T.
"And its mouth is like berry. l will
go and kiss itv' said wicked Musquito to
himself
80 dear! what an ado you all makeW
sighed red Lady-bug and the little flow
ers nodded significantly, 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 happy and unconcerned as If all the
woods were its own.
To uai1s tFT ift1o
Brown bird, don't fret and autter so. It's
easy enough TO manage. You leave ii all
TO me. Iknow the tricks OF these folks
specially boysr' and he put up his two
small hands and looked around upon his
neighbors in an assured manner most COM
forting to behold. "Never you fear, little
Brown-bird! will go and bring some
one here who will carry away this creature
that disturbs you!
The Squirrel flashed out of sight, and
ran swiftly along over brush and bushes,
and logs and ferns, until IL reached the
highway, when it sped along the fence, on
ly pausing now and then to take an obser-
walton. In two minutes who should come
along but three school -children-Roy and
Rob, and their sister Lou.
Look look look ~ cried Rob.
"Where? what? ?" shouted Roy.
"a squirrel! squirrel a squirrelV
they all shouted together; aud away went
Rob, aud after him Roy, and following
both ran Lou, over the brush and over the
bushes, and over the logs and ferns.
Catch him catch him I" they cried ;
and the echoes Knocked, "Catch him catch
him catch him r.
Aud they chased little Squirrel until they
came TO a dead halt by rail fence, and
there on the ground lay little dreaming
baby!
"Oh no hoW laughed Roy.
"Whew-w T. whistled Rob.
80, the dear little thingr' cried Lou,
with uplifted hands.
Now the children set themselves 10 Won
dering what it all meant.
Perhaps" said Lou, "the squirrel was
a fairy, and turned into little baby when
we most cIught it o, let's take it home
ard keep it, and may be it will turn into a
little lady as big as your finger, with eyes
Just like pin-beads-and a silver dress and
a spider-web vail-and she will live with
us always, and always and foreverr'
"Pshawr said Roy. "Don't you know
gypsies do it sometim.s-sleal babies Put
'em in a covered cart and carry 'em of, and
leave 'em by the waysideH"
ayes, and I've read too, bow an eagle
once picked up a baby in its beak and
claws, and carried it off to its nest on a
crag I"
"Pcrhars it ran away" said Rob; "a ba-
by did once, years and years ago, grandma
said. The mother went out a-vsiling and
lefl all the children 10 keep house and she
said to Riar (she was oldest), 'Riar, you
take care of the baby An when the moth
er was gone, they had fun I tell you They
elm on the housetop to see the chmbly-
swallows, and they blowed bubbles, and
played pom -pom-pull-away' until the sun
went down. Then they all went TO see Jo-
seph set the hen down in the fence corner
where she stole her nest. Theu, do you
know, Riar thought of what her mother
said, and she never once thought before.
o, wasn't she scarf? And she began TO
count the children, an found the baby was
gone Then tine mother came home, and
she hunted, and Riar hunted, and every
body hunted; and, after awhile, do you
know, the father found that baby way out
in the woods by holler log, an the skeet-
ers had bit it as big as two babies-'way
out where the wolves and bears was! o
jimmy wasn't they all glad And Riar,
she had TO go to bed without her supper.
1 tell you, she was glad, for she couldn't
"a eat anything, anyway, cause there was
was big lump in her throat"
80, boys, I knowr' said Lou; and she
clasped her hands, and her eyes grew big
and round with wonder. "It-is-a-or-
phingp
AZ guess it amt an orphan |" said pos
tive voice behind Them. III let you know
that's my baby, an dear one she is too,-
aint you, little Pinkie-winkieH :" And an
excited little woman caught the child up
in her arms.
Then she began to see that there were
only three rather frightened children, who
meant no harm; and she grew very pleas
ant and half apologized.
"You see, put on the kettle to boil for
tea, and l said 10 myself, 'Tll go out and
pick dish of berries for sass So 1
brought Pinkie- winkie, and left her here
a-sleepng. Do you see what nice dish of
berries 1 have?"
Nay, Furthermore, thG little woman, out
OF the goodness of her heart, said: snow
you shall all come down TO my little red