The Arizona sentinel., 1886-06-26
J. W. DORRINGTON Proprietor.
NUMBER 30.

"Why," says Howard, ''they are it. tie gray squirrels, and 1 found them iD an old pine tree near the old mill. :" Their mother had evidently left them. or been killed by some cruel hunter. Howard had heart full of love for all God S suffering ones, and immediately adopted these orphans for his own. The next day was one of great anxiety to the foster mother. He must find some way to feed these queer children. He first tries milk with spoon and without a spoon, with straw and without a straw, but all to no avail, and now is about ready to give up. But dear grandma, sick in another room, calls to see the queer children. So Howard brings them and puts them carefully in cushioned chair before her. After looking at them awhile she said: Howard, have plan for you. You know my old cat that has lost all her kittens but one; we'll, think she would be glad to adopt these queer children in place of her missing ones" Howard was not long in getting his hat, or in getting the cat and her one lone kitten. He brought them to grandma, who placed them in the chair, and when quietly sleeping, he placed beside the cat the orphan chil- dren of the squirrels. Old Tsbby opened her eyes and looked sharp at them for a few moments, then she carefully washed each one, and fed them, and apparently concluded to take them for her own.
 Howard was very glad to give up these queer children to so good friend as old Tabby proved to be. One died in a few days, but not through any lack of care on old Tab by's part. Never had children more devoted mother or one more thorough ly interested in their welfare. She tried to bring them up as model cats; but, alasi like some other mothers, the children didn't do as they were told. New trials awaited her every day with these queer children. Sometimes they would climb up the chairs and com mence to gnaw, but old Tabby would hasten across the room and give them good smart box across the ears, seeming to say: ''Stop all these tricks! You must be cats.
 They grew very rapidly, although the kitten was much the larger, and was left to care for herself long before these new children.
 At one time the mother cat brought for the dinner of the kitten little red squirrel, not mistrusting it might be distantly related to the other children.
 Weeks passed by, and they were now full-grown squirrels.
 Tabby had gone with grandma to her own home, a few rods distant. Every day, however, she came to see her children, and would lie for hours beside their wire cage, or frolic with them about the room if they happened to be out of their cage.
 The autumn was now approaching: the nuts had begun to ripen on the trees. The squirrels had occasionally been allowed to run on the nut tree near the house, but had always re- turned.
 At last, one bright Sunday morning in October, when every thing is so beautiful out-of-doors, these queer children of the forest planned their es- cape. In the early dawn they got away from their prison-bars and ran toward the nut tree. We called them, but in vain. They ran a little way, looking around when we called them, not content to rest on the nut tree, they hastened on, faster and faster. to the thick wood beyond, and when once there all trace of them was lost. They had become handsome pets, with their long, bushy tails, and had learned many cunning tricks.
 Our queer children have never come back to us, but every autumn gray squirrels come to the old nut tree near our dwelling, and we fancy they know us, and have heard of the sojourn of their ancestors in our midst. Chr1stian U7ai0n.