Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-15
Che family Girelf.
The Squirrels Stratagem.

There was trouble in the woods "A great
chattering and commotion. Squirrel
came round Il stump. with both checks
full of corn, to see what was the matter.
1T is all very we'll to have company"
said little Brown-bird -" very we'll but
when it comes to having folks go to sleep,
and keep birds away from their nests. so
that all the eggs get cold, for one don t
like it!''
Everybody was surprised, for everybody
thought little Brown-bird amiable, and
not easily put out.
"Indrcd, l wouldn't stand it. It's a
singing shame!' buzzed Bumble-bee.
Queer doings should sayr' chirped
Cricket
What, may ask, is this creature9'
trilled the Tree-toad.
Why" said Robin, who mad been out
in the world. and knew, it is a very
small child.'
Said Humming- bird: 1T looks like :,
swcet-p pea blossom; and its hair is like the
silk of maze!'
And its mouth is like berry. will
90 and kiss itr' said wicked Mosquito to
himself.
20 dear, what an ado you all make
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 shadov OF
the bushes, with closed lids, and dreamed
rs happy and unconcerncd us if all the
woods were it own.
Squirrel was sorry. He said: Little
Brown- bird. don't fret and hutter so. 1t:
easy enough to manage. You leave it all
to me. | know the tricks of the folks -
Especially boys" and he put up his two
small hands and looked around upon hi
nei ghbors in an assured manner most com
forlinsto behold. Never You fear, littl,
Brown-bird, | will 90 and bring som,
one here who will carry away this Great
urr that di>turb> you.'
The Squirrel flashed out of sight. an
ran swift Y along over the brush and bush
eS. and logs and ferns, until it reache,
he highway, when it sped along thu
fence, only pausiny now and then to tax,
IN observation In two minutes wh
should come along but three >chool-chil
dren- Roy and Rob, and their sister Lou
"Louk, look look cried Rob.
Nv her..9 whal?" shouted Roy.
A squirrel. u squirrel. n squirrel,
hey all shouted together; Snd away wen
Rob, and after him Roy, and toilowin!
both ran Lou, over The brush and over tn
bushes. and over the logs and ferns.
Catch him. catch him they cried
and The echoes Knocked, Catch him
{, aich him catch him.
And they chased little Squirrel unit
they came to Il dead halt by a rail fenc,
and there on the ground lay :, little dream
ing baby.
" Oh ho. ho"' laughed Roy.
Whew-w. wh,tled Rob.
80. the dear little thing! cried Lor
with upi ted hands.
Now the children set themselves t,
wondering what it all meant.
"PcrhapS.' said Lou. " the squire
was II fairy, and turned into Il little bah,
when we most caught it. o. let's take
home and keep it, and may be it will tur
into little lady us big us your finger
with eyes Just like pin heads-;tnd Il sllve
dress and spider-web vail-;.nd she vii
live with us always and forever!''
Pshaw.' said Roy. Don't 20
know svpsies do it sometimes -stea
babies? put 'em in Il covered cart and car
~ 'em Oft, and leave 'em by the wayside ?
"Y,s. and I've read too, how an eagl
once picked up Il baby in it beak an,
claws, and carried it off to its nest, on
crag''
" Perhaps it ran away said Rob; - :;
baby did once, years and years ago
Grandma said The mother went GU
a-visiting and left the children to kee
house; and she said to 'Riar (she was old
esq, 'Riar, you take care of the baby
An when the mother was gone. they hl
fun tell you. They elm on the honse
top to see the chimbly- swallows, and the
bowed bubbles, and played, pom pom pull
away until the sun went down. Ihel
they all went to see Joseph set the hel
down in the fence corner where sh
stole her nest. Then, do you know, Ria
thought of what her mother said. and sh
never once thought before. o, wasn't sh
scarf? And she began to count the chill
dren, an found the baby was gone! The
the mother came home, and she hunted
and Rar hunted, and everybody hunted
and, after awhile, do you, know tn
father found that baby way out in TIN
woods by 4 holler log, an the skceter
had bit it as big us two babies way on
where the wolves and bears was! o Jim
my. wasn't they all glad, And 'Riar, sh
had 20 90 to bed without her supper.
tell you, she was glad, for she couldn
"A eat anything, anyway, cause there W;
II big lump in her throat"
%, boys l know said Lou, and sh
cllspcd her hands, and her eyes grew hi
and round with wonder. " lt-is-a-o1
phiny"
IL guess it amt an orphan" said Il po
tive voice behind them. I'll let yc
know that's my baby, an Il dear one she
too,-aint you little Pinkic-winkie? An
an excited little woman caught the chill
up in her arms.
Then she began to see that there wei
only three rather frightened children
who meant no harm; and she grew vel
pleasant and half ;pologized.
" You see. put on the kettle to boil til
tea and said to myself, Ill 90 out an
pick dish of berries for sass SO
brought Pinkie- winkie, and left her her
a-slerping. DO you see what II nice di>
of berries | have?"
Nay, furthermore, the little woman. OF
Of the goodness of her heart, said No
you shall all come down to my little re,
house. and take tea with me and my man
An you can carry Pinkie- Wrinkle; an
don't look SO sorry. little girl You ca
see the ducks Il 81 pigeons and posle>
Come on and away she went, with tn
train of children behind her
After they had got away, such Il chatter
lug and commoti"n rs there was in til
woods.
Brown-bild, swinging upon a (twis
said:
8 Squirrel, | consider you both p lit
and kind; wish there were more like 20
in the worlds
" Don't mention it. said Squirrel, quit
cmbarras> Ell, and he ran away.
Little Brown-bird flew tlutt ring to he
nest, and bugs and bees and idle rds Sc
to gossipiny. The little flowers nolde
their dainty heads, and all the fores
leaves were so amused. that they shoe
their sides with laugIling,-while the sun
light cleaned benigDtly down, and said
My children. am glad you are all agai
happy. '-Emn4 Burt, 81, Nicholas 70
| Sept.