American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-27
PUSSY'S STEP.CHILDREN.

One day in the spring two boys,
named Walter and James, found a
nest OF young gray squirrels in the
woods. The nest was in the hollow of
an old tree. There were three young
ones in it. They were very small, and
had not yet opened their eyes. They
made Il complaining noise, as if they
had lost their mother and were hungry.
The boys feared the poor little
creatures would starve if they should
leave them, and they thought they
would take them home and try to feed
them. So they carried them as care
fully as they could. and got them safe
ly home.
But when the boys father saw the
squirrels, he said that he was sorry
they had not been left in the woods, as
there was no way to feed them and
make them live.
II do not know what you will do"
he said, "unless you can get Pussy to
take care of them for YOU Pm afraid
she will not consent to do it; but you
can try, as there is nothing better can
be done with them now"
So Walter and James carried the
squirrels into the chamber of the wood
house, and put them into Pussy's bed
with her kitten. The kitten was gray
like the squirrels. but was larger than
they were. Pussy was out doors just
then, hunting something Tor her supper.
When she came back, she seemed
rather startled to find four babies in her
bed where she had left only one. But
she soon appeared to be quite pleased.
and nursed them all. She treated the
squirrels exactly as she did heI, own
kitten. The boys were delighted, and
thought Pussy was the best cat in the
whole world. And everybody that
heard about the affair praised her very
much for her motherly conduct.
One of the squirrels was feeble, and
died in few days. But the two
others grew fast, and seemed very
comfortable in their new home. When
they grew old enough to play they
were so lively and active that they
often surprised Pussy. She would look
at them as if she did not know how
they could have such queer ways.
Sometimes one OF them would run up
on the top of her head, and sit there
while he ate nut or a piece Of apple:
The boys named them Dick and
Prim They had large cage made
for these pets with wheel on one
side, which they soon learned to turn
very fast.
One day a man came to the house
who wished to buy one of them. The
boys felt sorry to part with either of
them, but let him have one. 1t was
not safe to have two squirrels playing
in a wheel at the same time. There was
danger that one might get hurt, if not
killed. SO they let Prim go for two
dollars. They chose to keep Dick. be-
cause he was larger than his mate.
And he is still larger now, and does
many curious things. He has little
chamber in his cage where he sleeps at
night, and he is as careful about airing his
bed as any housekeeper could be. The
bed is made of moss. and early every
morning, as soon as he is up, he brings
the whole of it down. Then he will
spread it out in front of the cage and
of the forenoon he will carry it all back
again. 1t is very amusing to see him
do SO every day.
He is fond of all kinds of nuts, and
when he has more than he wants TO eat
at once he takes them to his chamber.
Then, when he is hungry, he will bring
them down and eat them.
When he is out of his cage he will
sometimes get into the workbasket, or
somebody's pocket, and go to sleep.
One day the boys father put on his
coat to go to the village. The coat
had been hanging on a chair for a short
time. After he had started he put his
hand into the pocket, and there was
Dick fast asleep. So he had to carry
him back and leave him. Pussy is al
ways friendly with him, but other cats
would catch him if they could. So
Walter and James have to take good
care of him. But they are willing to do
this because they are SO glad to have
him Our Little Ones