Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-07-08
ADOPTED CHILDREN.
How They Were Brought Up and Finally
Ran Away.


"Oh, mother, come quickly and see
what have found" cried Howard. as
he hurried up the stairs and rushed in
to the sitting-room, holding his hat in
his hands.
.Guess what I've found" said he, ms
he held his hat for inspection. OF
course we children hurried to look in
but hastily drew back and exclaimed:
"Oh, rats!"
"No. indeed, they arc not. Guess
again." said Howard.
As we looked more carefully. we saw
three little animals rolled up like a
ball. Their eyes were shut, and their
bodies were smooth and without any
fur. OF course we could not tell what
they were.
"Why," says Howard. "thcy arc lit
tie gray squirrels, and found them in
an old pine tree near the old mill"
Their mother had evidently left them,
or been killed by some cruel hunter.
Howard had q heart full OF love for all
Gods 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 spoon, with n straw and
without straw, but all to no avail,
and now is about ready to give up. But
dear grandma, sick in another room,
calls to SEQ the queer children. SO
Howard brings them and puts them
carefully in cushioned chair before
Ler. After looking at them awhile she
snid: Howard, have plan for you.
Y ,u know my old cat that has lost all
her kittens but one; well, l 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 chill
dren of the squirrels. Old Tabby
opened her eyes and looked sharp ut
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 mp
these queer children to 80 good
friend as old Tabby proved to be.
One died in q 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.
" interested in their welfare. She tried
to bring them up as model cats; but,
alas! 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
mencc to gnaw, but old Tabby would
hasten across the room and give them
a good smart box across tho 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 tho mother cat brought
for the dinner of the kitten little red
squirrel, not mistrusting 1t 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. few rods distant
Every day. however, she came to sec
her children. and would lie for hours
beside their wire cage, or frolic with
them about the room II they happened
to be out Of their cage.
The autumn was now approaching
the nuts had begun to ripen on th'
trees. The squirrels had OCCASIONAL,
been allowed to run on the nut tre'
near the house, but had always re
turned.
At last. one bright Sunday morning
in October. when every thing Is 81
beautiful out.of-doors, these quee
children Of the forest planned their es