The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-10
16or Me Children.
Mr.. and Miss Frisky.

One bright autumn morning tnere was
not little whisking and chippering in
maple tree at the corner Of the farmers
barn. The naked old maple itself ap.
peared to grow merry over the gay scam
pering up and down its stately trunk,
backward and forward, again and again,
the length of its solemn limbs. A pair Of
young red squirrels had run into it's roomy
arms to perfect sly plan which they did
not wish such vulgar things as bushes and
dry weeds to hear. Moreover, there were
moles, and perhaps some little bugs not
yet quite stiff with the cold, that could
listen to good story. None of these in
ferior folk should catch word, if Mr..
and Miss Frisky could help it. To be
sure, so delighted we're they with what
they we're saying they ran number of
times down to the roots of the tree; but
when within hearing of the moles and
numb little bugs, they only said chick-a-
chick or "ree.reel" which didn't
mean anything.
These antic young people were indeed
very shrewd, but, what was in way I'M
fortunate, they were lovers. Love (among
squirrels) is strangely selfish, not to say
greedy. The moment love gets inside q
heart "a squirrels heart) it is almost sure
to drive even poor little inoffensive COM
nonsense out into the cold. This is what
it did in the present instance, leaving
nothing in either happy, jumping home
of heart except its own selfish
self. Consequently, before long, the
youngsters, who thought themselves so
sly, talked loud enough to be heard all
over the wood; and among the Thousand
sugary things they said to one another,
let out altogether too much of their secret
plan.
"a whole big crib full " cried the
delight. "Full to the top, and hole as
large again as need be to get in"
"But there's the old farmer. He has
keen gray eye yet. saw him shoot one
of the dearest hawks just for sailing about
overhead and looking innocently down on
a cross.pstch hen with chickens enough
and to spare"
Wee-weel" interrupted Mr.. Frisky,
with true Partisan accent.
"He is awful" (Young lady squirrels
say lawful" in the place of some dozens
of words.) az wouldn't 60 down there
for the world"
"Fudge my DEAR" said Mr.. Frisky,
coming back at jump to his mother
tongue. al could pick corn out of his
pocket, and he not know it,"
So they went on; the lover Boosting,
the lady begging him to be careful.
They had not been talking long when
fatherly voice came from walnut-tree,
saying, "My pretties, there being no
green leaves or anything to stop my ears
with, I've been obliged to share in your
secret"
"Why didn't you stay in your hole, old
gray-besrd ?" shouted back saucy Mr..
Frisky. Whereupon little Miss Frisky
set up such scolding that if venerable
Squire Gray Squirrel had not lived many
years with dyspeptic wife, and been used
to the bantering of scores of barking pet
tifoggers, while sitting as justice Of the
peace to the forest, he certainly would
have retired and stopped his ears with the
first bit of empty nutshell he could lay
paws on.
Patient servant of the public that he
was, he simply sat still in the black wal
nut crotch, and, when the little red up
starts had screeched themselves out of
breath, replied: Save your strength, my
young friends. You do yourselves harm
and me no good by abusing these gray
hairs. could have you arrested, both of
you, and brought before me for disturb
ing the peace. But l was young once,
and, no doubt, as foolish and rash as are
you"
Mr.. Frisky puckered his lips and snap
ped his tail, as if about to give the old
squire second trimming, when his lady
love turned her bright eyes so pleadingly
on him that he huddled himself up into
tiny hairy ball, and looked straight down
at the ground.
"You are only distant cousins of mine, "
continued the squire, "but that is near
enough to make me wish you well. Now,
take word of advice"
ave will, good sir; indeed we will,
and that gladly" chippered Miss Frisky.
"And l know you will forgive every
wicked word Mr.. Frisky has said"
CAS- if she hadn't said ten wicked words
to the young gentleman's oneD
"That was done long ago." answered
the squire. bowling slightly, and broaden
ing his sharp face all he could to make it
widen into smile. pray listen to my
advice. know the farmer is old and
gray and fat and clumsy, as 1 am. Prob
ably my young friend could dodge about
him and run small risk but Oh the
squire slightly raised his right paw, as
was his wont when addressing counsel or
jury)-" but have you ever seen yellow
outlaw of a creature that lords it over the
farmers house and barn OF him be-
warel"
The last three words having been de-
livered in the solemn voice the squire
employed when pronouncing sentence on
the trembling criminal, he turned aud
went slowly into his hole.
"Chee-chee Rip, rip, ripa-rip, r-r-r-r u
said somebody below.
"What are you laughing at, you little
silly, striped thingi" responded Mr.
Frisky, instantly prepared for pitched
battle. You haven't been out of jail
long enough to get your rogue's suit off
Jump from that stump and skip into the
ground where you belong, or IN be down
there in minute
A scratching sound, swift streak run.
ming from the top of decsyed stump to
its roots, and Chipmunk disappeared.
await till catch him out in the sun
shine tomorrow morning." growled the
doughty lover. "Don't cry, dear. What
is the matter I?
"Oh, Pm so frightened 2" whimpered
Miss Frisky. "You are fearfully" (youne
lady squirrels are extremely partial t
T..nx D.