The National tribune., 1890-10-16

e0Rl on each Of his half dozen doukeys
for the use Of the town kitchens In that trop-
icRl country only charcoal fires are used, in
little ranges or in hrazieTs Of iron, either Of
which holds but few haDdfUls of coal, and
cooks but one dish at a time.
The squirrel was accepted as an evidence of
good will and without much consideration of
where il was TO stay until suitable cage or
house c0ulG be made for IL. As there happened
70 be an empty bird cage at hand that was Sc
lectod as a temporary home for the lively
little animal, and furnished with 4 nest of cot
ton and a cup Of Eatcr with proper food from
time TO time consisting Of fruit. bread or cake
and nuts Of various kinds.
But my squirrel was anything but quiet and
coutonted in its new homo. and spent much
time 10 irving u escape from IL: and in many
OF It's efforts within few days II WAS so sue
eessful, aad also so difficult to recapture, that
finally IL was thought best TO let il have lis
freedom, even at the risk of its going away
from the house and. If IL eScaned the city cats
back into the mountains.
Bot next 90 the kitchen there was al open
room in which were slowed macy things not in
daily use and one day, after the squirrel had
been thought TO be gone for some time, a
glimpse was caught Of il in that room. Later
IL was seen from time TO time. and as IL seemed
contented 10 make its home there and a cage
had Dot been finished, Il WAS left to itself, with
no further efforts FOR its Imprisonment
II s llttie baCk NdI0--Og iilll, As IL Is calitl
IN Spanish cOUDtrigS-there was =. collection g!
other presents made by the mouutainoers. in
Gliding cave " pronounced Ia two syllsblCs)
or htue wild pig. and several cuails Of the
country, smaller than our own hut otherwise
quite like them. From TINE 10 time quail
would disappear. bu. leave behind 70 3 trace Cf
feathers ou tie patio floor. The pig was &C
cused Of this slaughter and as he was incapable
Of denying il. and was intended 10 he eaten, IS
one o. she game luzuries al the country, he was
duly brought upon the table one day IS a deli
cate and Wcll-fay0red roast.
But strange 70 relate, tie quails still disap-
pesTei, one after another Gutil very few were
LEFT. Then q watch Was kept. and finally the
squirrel was caught in the act of capturing a
quail There could be no doubt Dow that all
which were missing had been killed and eaten
by ne pet squirrel Put il was the first lime
had suspected an animal Of the kind TO Toe
eater Of foEl. A only two quaiis were leit.
they were secured for the table TO which the
falsely -aocused little Wild pig had been brought,
brOiled and extended npon toast, and the sgCir-
rel stA went free, but - a. seldom seen for
days together. This shyness in a lively AMI
ma which seemingly chose 10 make it, home
IN The house, subject o. much curiosity
20 the other am larger inhabitants.
But this mystery well that of the regu-
lar disappearance Of tie quaIs was not long
without 8 natural explanation. One day an
w 4AtiA AA4~tiael EAtsAsE4 VIII IIG NuaklEH
cork VAS wanted. in order that the shay.Hgs
might be used 70 make thin. cool mattress.
Il iay doubled tOrethCr UPON a box, ard upon
being opened nice little nest was foand, out
Of which the squirrel escaped. bat left asleep.
rolled up like Bttle halls OF taWuy silk, two
pretty young squirrels one Of wh .ch Was half
Er0En and the other much smaller. AND having
head much too large for ITS Fury body This
discovery was a very pleasant one 20 everyone
bat the mother, who had kept the secret Of her
nest 50 closely aud we'll until now. and who
showed much disturbance running back and
forth rs il equally afraid # being caught her
self aud 81 having Der lstt!e family broken up.
As tie old and rather heavy cushion had
been roughly opened, without any thought or
its being the snug home Of an interest
Ing lizzie family, be hidden nest had been
Father violently GisaTF4ugSi. To make al con
TeEieBt amends Tor tho disturbance the toru
nest and its sleepy contents, Win generous
supply o. The cork shaViu2s were placed inside
tie box Bp1n which the cushion lay. which was
% covered as 70 leave IT convenient for mother
squirrel, and al the same time qcite ecIuded
IEis was ab0rt all the apology OF amends a
man could make guder the circumstances and
b. was hoped u might bc sufficient
But u seems squirrels q o not reason as mon
do in the rear wall Of the patio. which WIS az
least = feet bigH. and built against tie side Of
TIC H0HHLain. which seems a mos - crowd the
leaving TOOTa IN somc places for only one mar
T0Y slIcet there WAS place few feet below
the top where stone b. been lelt OFT or 10 some
vas removed, aud h. this little Tiche. under
winch was the kitchen roof seed bad sometime
fallen, blown BE- the Wind or dropped By bind
and produced q sArub which had become L sin
guar aid agreeable ornament Of green az inst
the white Of the paraPet. Ry a sosiIrei this
shaded niche could be reached only through an
upper room 81 the hDule. 5y its back window
and along the kitchen roof. from which an NJ
ward leap ~ NJ least fiye feet must be finally
made Mother Egu.rrel IN WAYS best knoggn to
herself took note vi I'll the facts. aud IL Was
shown what ehe thought about them later,
when il was found that 5be and Der little family
were sHugly "a home in that airy and shaded
niche ~ the wall.
When ] discovered tie location Of tic new
nest Was almost ashamed 10 look Mrs Gquir-
Eel ID the iace5 her selection Of q home, with
Out any reliance upon f-y Judgment a. to It's
Hines, seeming 20 imply olstFu-t Of my ability
20 come 10 right conclusions upon the matter.
ano 10 say ~ plainly a. II pot iB 20 many
words: There, Low. sec Tow much better ihat
place is, with its light and SHADE. iig seelusion
and Jet Us outlook over this part o. ihe city
and ihe sea- than corner 10 r1Hs,y old box
~ yeur lumber room, with yon stumbling about
aHd soaring ny children Come az, aud sec us
scfneiime." could fancy there was atWiul.Ie
ID Afs. squirrels eyes. didn't z" up Al once.
After al, the lords 81 creation can't tx every
thing 10 best advantage perhaps.
PIT oa the perhaps after about one dav.
ia that time had seen solDething EeR attached
IN . certain way 70 the back vail on the Log.
and directly above the Dush which shaded nv
sguiTrel r neg home. This thing Istg at lea. Z
d That particular spot, I id not ike ths locks
81 il ~ al.n Tact, il rather frightened me Y.t
IL ueciiHed there c0Btentedly and in Dcrfcc;
outward quiet, ~ though 4 formed one Of the
natural parts Of the scene, and 50 was, as one
might say, II home. Bat under an that
stretched out qaiet, seemingly enjoying de-
heiOua golden dream ia the tropical sunlight.
knew craitiness and tearing claws were surel ?
hidden. The motiOnless cffigy uDon the wall
recalled suddenly tie words 50 often calculated
b. nay careful mother, and not with her wanted
Reatle affection, nor with peTceptible referenc,
q any previous conversation IN tic family,
There Inst cat" Aud SUCH it surely was
:" that cal, tnis time being Of the usual soutl
American species, thin, taWny and strineG
and ircacbcrJus as tigers; nov apparently
.dOclle and aiiectiOuate FUbhiEg against Vol
ard puuiEg, ike the usual cats educated under
tie Stars and Stripes aud then again. suddeul,
and without warning drawing back tie lipg
bhowlbg sharp. white, separate teeth, ard giving
sou . swift bi0w with uughsatbed claws tbal
leave s.re4ks ~ blood upon your caressiul
hand, and ia your mind surprised sense d
confidence ruihiessiy betrayed To see one o
these hall -dVmestlcated tigers near that snug
airy nest no tile wall, was enough to Gil me will
apprehension II d catastrophe.
Whether tie squirrel had forcseen such ,
danger 10 harFeif and family is euraI.4 mo-,