The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-09-22
THE CAT AND THE sQtIRREls

One DAY IN the spring two bow
named Walter and James, found .
nest OF young gray squirrels il IN
woods. The nest was in the hollow !,
an old tree. There were three vonn :
ones in it. They were very small ~
had not yet opened their ewes. Ths S
made complaining noise, as il t6es
had lost their mother and were huncry'
The boys feared the poor litfia
creatures would starve if they sbouli
leave them, and they thought tbev
would take them home and try 10 feedi
them. So they carried them a ca uss
fully as they could. and got them ssis
ly homo. 80
But when the boys father saw ia
squirrels, he said that he was sorry ~
they had not been left in the woods. i
there was no way to feed them All
make them live.
II do not know what YOU win DIV
he said, "unless you can get Pussy ID
take care OF them for you. I'm afraid
she will not consent to do it; but Won
can try, as there is nothing better caD
be done with them now.''
So Walter and James carried The
squirrels into the chamber of the wocd.
house, and put them into Pussys bed
with her kitten. The kitten was grsy
like the squirrels, but was larger than
they were. Pussy was out doors iust
then. hunting something for hersupper.
When she came back, she seemed
rather startled to find four babies il her
bed where she had left only one. But
she soon appeared to be quite pleased
and nursed them all. She treated liz
squirrels exactly as she did her own
kitten. The boys were delighted, and
thought Pussy was the best cat in tho
whole world. And everybody thu,
heard about the affair praised her yery
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 wars
Sometimes one of them would run up
on the top of her head, and sit there
while he ate nut or piece of apple.
The boys named them Dick and
Prim. They had a large cage made
Tor these pets with q wheel on ons
tide. which they soon learned to ttrn
Very fast
One day man came to the houss
who wished to buy one of them. The
boys felt sorry to part with either Of
hem, but let him have one. It wM
lot sale to have two squirrels playing
n wheel at the same time. There was
LANCER that one might get hurt, II moi
TILED. So they let Prim go for two
dollars. They chose to keep Dick. b.
ause he was larger than his mate.
And he is still larger now. and doe
many curious things. He has q littls
hamber in his cage where he sleeps y
light, and he is as careful about string hls
'ed as any housekeeper could be. The
'ed Is made OF moss. and early every
morning. as soon as he is upr he bring
he whole of it down. Then he viii
pread it out in front of the care and
hake it well over. About the middle
# the forenoon he will carry it all back
gain. 1t is very amusing to see him
10 SO every day.
He is fond of all kinds OF nuts, and
Vhen he has more than he wants TO est
{ once he takes them to his chamber
hen, when he is hungry, he will bring
hem down and eat them.
When he is ont of his cage he will
ometimes get into the workbasket, e.
omebody's pocket, and 90 to sleep.
)ne day the boys father put on hls
oat to go to the village. The cast
ad been hanging ON chair for short
|me. After he had started he put BIZ
and into the pocket, and there W.
,ick fast asleep. So he had to carIy
i'm back and leave him. Pussy Is q
rays friendly with him, but other csts
rould catch him if they could. 60
Walter and James have to take goa
are OF him. But they are willing todc
his because they are so glad to hass