The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-09-09
Gor nou,rg Readtrs.
THE SQUIRRELS sTRATAGEM.

THERE was trouble in the wOods-a
great chattering and commotion. Squir-
| rel came round stump, with both checks
| full of corn, to see what was the matter.
alt is all very well to have company"
said little Brown -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.
"1ndeed, | wouldn't stand it! It's
singing shame!" buzzed Bumble-bee.
"Queer doings, should say" chirped
Cricket
What, may I ask, is this creature"
trilled the Tree-toad.
| why" said Robin who had been out
IN the world, and knew, it is a very
small childr
Said Humming-bird: /" 1t looks like a
sweetpea blossom; and its hair is like the
silk Of maize!"
And its mouth is like a berry. will
go and kiss itn' SAID wicked Mosquito to
himself
"Oh, dear! what an ado you all make"
sighed red Lady bug; and the little flowers
nodded Significantly, and all the forest
leaves looked as if they We're 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 futter so. It's
easy enough to manage. You leave it all
! TO me. I know the tricks OF these folks
specially boys!n 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.
"Iook! look! look!' cried Rob.
where? what?'' shouted Roy.
"a squirrel! a SQUIRREL a squirreln'
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 him. they cried;
and the echoes Knocked: Catch him!
catch him! catch himn'
And they chased little Squirrel until
they came to dead halt by rail fence,
and there on the ground lay a little dream
ing baby!
"Oh! ho ho!'' laughed Roy.
Whew-w!' whistled Rob.
"Oh, the dear little thingw cried Lou,
with uplifted hands
Now the children set themselves to won
dcring 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 twill turn into
a little lady as big as your finger, with
eyes Just like pin-heads-and silver
dress and a spider veil-and she will
live with US always and always and for
ever!"
"Pshawm said Roy. Don't you know
gypsies do it sOmetimes-steal babies? !?
Put EN- in a covered cart and carry 'em
off, and leave'em by the waysde?'
Yes, and I've read, too, how an eagle
once picked up baby in its beak and
claws and carried it of to its nest on a
cragm
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,
tell YOU! They clim' on the housetop
to see the himbly-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 gone,
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 holler log, an the skeeters
had bit it as big as two babies-'way ou
where the wolves and bears was! c
JIMMY wasn't they all glad! And Riar
she had to go to bed without her supper
| tell you she was glad, for she couldn'
a eat anything, anyway, cause there wa
, big lump in her throat"
go boys! known said Lou and sh,
= clasped her hands, and her eyes grew big
and round with wonder. "It-is-a-or
phing!"
Il guess it amt an orphanr' said ;
| positive voice behind them. "I'll let yol
know that's my baby, an dear one sh
y is, too, amt you, little Pinkie-winkie?'
: And an excited little woman caught tn
child up in her arms.
u Then she began to see that there wer
Il only three rather frightened children VIII
y meant no harm, and she grew very pleas
ant, and half apologized.
U "You see, put on the kettle to boil 70
tea and l said to myself: I'll go out AM
e pick dish of berries for sass So
n brought Pinkie- -winkie, and left her her
n a-sleeping. Do you see what nice disl
|, of berries l have?"
f. Nay, furthermore, the little woman, ou
e of the goodness of her heart, said: No,
YOU shall all come down to my little re
e house and take tea with me and my mar
e An you can carry Pinkie-winkie; an
Is don't look so sorry, little girl. You ca
|. see the ducks, and pigeons, and posie:
d and have cream on your berries. Com
r onr' and away she went, with the train {
|. children behind her.
ell After they had got safely away such
IS chattering and commotion as there was i
J. the woods!
a Brown-bird, swinging upon twig, said
e "Squirrel, consider you both polit
O and kind; wish there were more lik
|. you in the world"
n Don't mention itr' said Squire
l l..