Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-09
gar nunng Readtrs.
THE SQUIRRELS STRATAGEM.


1t is all very well to have company
said little Brown-b bird" very well; but
when it comes to having folks go to sleep,
and keep birds away from their nests so
that all the eggs get cold, I, for one, don't
like itr'
Everybody was surprised, for everybody
thought little Brown-bird amiable and
not easily put out.
Indeed, wouldn't stand it! It's a
singing shamer buzzed Bum oIe-bee
"Queer doings, I should say!'' chirped
Cricket.
what, may ask, is this creaturer'
trilled the Tree-toad.
"Why," said Robin, who had been out
IN the world, and knew, ait is very
small childr'
Said Humming-b bird: "It looks like a
sweetpe blossom; and its hair is like the
silk of maize"
"And its mouth is like berry. | will
go and kiss itr' said wicked Mosquito to
himself.
"Oh, dear! what an ado you all maker
sighed red Lady bug; and the little flowers
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.
Squirrel was sorry. He said: Little
Brown-bird, don't fret and flutter so. It's
easy enough to manage. You leave it all
to me. I know the tricks of these folks
specially boysn' and he put up his two
small hands and looked around upon his
neighbors in an assured manner most
comforting to behold. "Never you fear,
little Brown-bird! I will go and bring
some one here who will carry away this
creature that disturbs your
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 OBJ
servation. In two minutes who should
come along but three school-children-
Roy and Rob, and their sister Lou.
"LOOk! look loOkr' cried Rob
"Where? what?" shouted Roy.
GA squirrel, squirrel! a SQUIRREL"
they all shouted together; and away went
Rob, and after him Roy, and following
both ran Lou, over the brush and over the
bushes, and over the logs and ferns.
"Catch him! catch himn' they cried :;
81, IL l. A.,
catch him! catch him!"
And they chased little Squirrel until
they came to a dead halt by rail fence,
and there on the ground lay little dream
ing baby!
ooh! no! hot" laughed Roy.
Whew-wr' whistled Rob.
ooh, the dear little thingp cried Lou,
with uplifted hands.
Now the children set themselves to Won
dering what it all meant.
"Perhaps," said Lou, " the squirrel was
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
a little lady as big as your finger, with
eyes just like pin-heads-and a silver
dress and spider-web veil-and she Will
live with us always and always and for
ever!"
"Pshaw!" said Roy. Don't you know
gypsies do it sometimes-steal babies :?
Put 'em in a covered cart and carry 'em
off, and leayeem by the wayside ?"
Yes, and I've read, too, how an eagle
once picked up baby in its beak and
claws and carried it of to it's nest on a
crag!"
" Perhaps it ran away" said Rob; "a
baby did once, years and years ago, grand
ma said. The mother went out visiting
and left all the children to keep house;
and she said to Riar (she was Oldest:
Riar, you take care of the baby An
when the mother was gone they had fun,
I tell you! They elm on the housetop
to see the chimbly-swallows, and they
blowed bubbles and played 'pom-pom-
pull-away' until the sun went down
Then they all went to see Joseph set the
hen down in the fence-corner where she
stole her nest. Then, do you know, Riar
thought Of what her mother said, and she
never once thought before. Oh, wasn't
she scarf? And she began to count the
children. an found the baby was gonel
Then the mother came home, and she
hunted, and Riar hunted, and everybody
hunted; and after awhile, do you know,
the father found that baby way out in the
woods by a holler log, an the skeeters
had bit it as big as two babies-'way out
where the wolves and bears wasl o
jimmy! wasn't they all glad! And Riar, |
she had to 90 to bed without her supper |
[ tell you she was glad, for she couldn't |
a eat anything, anyway, cause there was
a 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-
pdingH
II guess it amt an orphang" said a
positive voice behind them. "I'll let you |
know that's nay baby, an dear one she
is, too, amt you, little Pinkie-winkie?'
And an excited little woman caught the |
child up in her arms.
Then she began to see that there were |
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