Morris tribune., 1886-03-31
MIR. THOMPSON AND THE
'SOUIRRELS.

MIR. THOMPSON AND THE
SQUIRRELS.
Mr.. Thompson had been out cunning
all day; not that he was fond OF gun
ming. but everybody else went cunning;
so in order to be in fashion Mr.. Thomp-
son purchased a shotgun, some pow
der and shot, and pipe. Mr.. Thomp-
son never smoked, but he had read OF
hunters smoking their pipes; so ne
bought-a pipe as part of his outfit.
After he had tramped around through
the woods all the morning and had not
seen living thing to shoot at, he be-
came tired and sat down under tree
to rest and eat his sandwiches, and, as
he had read it was the proper thing
for hunter to do, to smoke his pipe.
He sat at the foot of a largo hickory
tree, and as he puffed slowly and pain
fully at the pipe, he began to consider
that hunting was not so much fun after
all. His legs were tired, his hands
were scratched by the brambles, and
there was big blister on his shoul-
der where he had been carrying his
gun.
II don't believe there are any squlr-
rels in these woods, anyhow" he NUT
tered in disgust. A litter in the tree
above him attracted his attention, and
he stopped to listen.
HE don't believe there. are any
squirrels! Ha, ha, ha!''
"Teel he, he, he!'
"How that smoke smells! Phew. it's
worse than gun-powder, came from
the tree.
81 don't see how men can smoke
the nasty stuff" chartered the second
voice.
Nor L Let's drop a nut on his pipe
and put it out. )"
Then followed another titter,. and
plump down came big walnut on the
bowl of the pipe; the stem slipped from
Mr.. Thompson's nerveless lips, and the
pipe fell on the ground beside him.
"Good!" exclaimed both voices in
unison.
Mr.. Thompson looked up. There,
on branch just above his head, sat
two squirrels gazing down upon him
with great satisfaction.
1--WE put your old pipe out cried
the larger one, in great glee.
'sCome up here" added the second
voice, invitingly.
Mr.. Thompson looked at the tree
fifteen feet smooth and solid, without q
limb or knot to afford a foot-hold. 81
can't come up," he replied. 49,
"Come on! come on! why notP
shouted the two squirrels in chorus.
'sJust stick your claws into the rough
bark, and come on.
MIR. Thompson shook his head sadly
and looked down at his hands. He
gave an involuntary start. His hands
had grown smaller; he had growI
smaller, and in place of his carefully
kept white fingers and his rather small
feet, of which he was very proud, were
four hairy paws just like a squirrels;
| his gray corduroy shooting-ooat had
changed into gray fur, and he was con-
scious of long bushy tail which swept
over his back. He shook himself for a
| moment to realize that the change was
true, then sprang TO his feet and
scampered lightly up the side of the
| tree.
1--WE told you, you could come up
all right" exclaimed the larger squir,
rel, as Mr.. Thompson gained the limb.
"You look quite like respectable
squirrel" said the other.
81 say" interrupted the other,
"what do you want to shoot us for!
We never do you any harm, but you
men are always after us.
Mr.. Thompson looked very sheepish
| for few minutes; finally he muttered
| something to the effect that he did not
shoot any.
81 know" answered the squirrel,
| cheerfully, ''you never shoot, because
in the first place, you are SO much in.
terested in what is going on on the
ground that you never think to look uI
| in the trees; then, if somebody points
us out to you, you do as you did the
other day, and stop to see what we are
going to do;" and the squirrel laughed
again.
"Well, you. see,'' explained Mr.
Thompson, yolubly, Il don't care fol
cunning, but I am interested in tht
habits of animals, and / try to study
| them at every opportunity"
interested, ehp Well, then, / think
| L Call SHOW JOu a. 1uIuS VI OWO. Sohs
on, said the larger squirrel.
He jumped from branch to branch
Mr.. Thompson following. tlast they
reached tall tree, nearly at the toI
ofewhich was what appeared to be {
great bunch of dry leaves lodged in {
crotch. But when Mr.. Thompson
came close to it he discovered that il
was made of twigs, curiously twineo
together, and made into sort of {
! nest.
This said the squirrel, ''is my
summer residence. You see it is strong
ly enough built to Withstand the lighter
storms Of summer, then the foliage OF
the trees protects it as well.
"How do you get IMP" inquired Mr.
Thompson.
Here is the doorway, on the south
east side"
"Why on the southeast sidep"
/ The squirrel laughed, then answered
"You know we squirrels are very fond
of sunshine, and we even 60 so far al
| to always build the doors of our house!
toward the south, unless some obstacle
prevents. Won't you come inpn hi
continued, politely.