The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-12-03
THE LITTLE cAPTlvEs.


THE LITTLE CAPTlvES.
Adventures OF Family Of Squirrels How
the Children Lost Homo and mother BY
Dlsobedlence.
One beautiful day in the early sum
mer. when the woods were green and
the birds were singing, and all Nature
seemed to be saying: The summer is
really here, . three little red squirrels
lay cuddled in their nest. up in an old
oak tree.
II wonder where Mother isl" said
Tiny. 1T is q long time since she went
away. hope she will bring us some
nice nuts, for am very hungry"
II wish she'd come" sighed Trip and
Tumble.
Il shall be SO glad when she will let
me go with her. peeped out OF the
nest this morning as she was going
away, and 1t looked very pleasant.
am sure nothing would hurt me, and
have a great mind to look out now"
said Tumble; but Tiny and Trip began
to cry, so she gave it up for that time.
The afternoon passed and Mother
Squirrel did not come. Il am afraid
Mother has met one Of those cruel
creatures of which she told us, who
roam about the woods and shoot rab-
bits, and squirrels, and little birds with
gum said Trip
just as 1t was growing dark Mother
Squirrel jumped down into the. nest, to
be greeted with joyful cries from the
three little squirrels. .'Where have you
been. and did you bring us some nuts?r
they all asked at once.
When Mother Squirrel had rested
moment she told them of her adventure,
how as she was on her way home early
in the afternoon, with nice large wal
nut that she had found buried under the
leaves, she caught sight of a hunter
with a gun. She was SO frightened
that she dropped the nut, which at
tracted the hunters attention, and
in seconds time that terrible
guns was pointed toward her. II
thought my time had come" she con-
tinued, 'and thought Of my dear lit
tie squirrels at home in the nest as i
gave q jump to a branch Of another
tree and lay very still. There was
loud noise like thunder, but when the
smoke cleared away was not hurt at
all ] waited SO quietly that although
the hunter looked all around he failed
to find me, and after awhile he went
away. ! am thankful to find you all
safe; and now you must promise me
that you will never leave the nest when
am away"
For the next few days Mother SPUR
rel remained at home, and after she
had carefully reconnoitered she allowed
the little squirrels to go out and sit on
the old oak boughs, where they had
many merry game hiding among the
green leaves, and were as happy as
squirrels need be. But one morning
she called them in and told them to
stay quietly in the nest, for she must
go down in the valley TO the old chest
nut tree to get MORE nuts, as their
stock was getting low.
After she had been gone short time
Tumble peeped out and saw how bright
the sun was shining, then began TO fret
because they must stay in dark hole
all day when 1t was SO pleasant Final |
ly he boldly resolved to go ont little
while. He felt sure there was no dam
ger, everything seemed so quiet. Tiny
and Trip remembered their promise to |
their mother, and would not go out, so
Tumble went alone. 1t did not seem as
pleasant as he had expected without
Trip and Tiny, and he was just starting
to run back TO the nest. when he saw
something at the foot Of the tree. His
little heart almost ceased. to beat as 1t |
flashed over him that 1t was one of |
those terrible hunters. He started to |
run into the nest, but his feet slipped
and down he fell through the bushes to
the ground. -
He knew nothing more until he woke |
and found himself in a dark place, with
Tiny and Trip beside him. When he |
asked where they were he was told that |
the hunter had climbed the tree. taken
the others from the nest and put them
In this dark place with him. When |
Tumble tried to move he suffered such |
severe pain that he lay very quiet until
they were taken from the hunters |
pocket and put into q wire cage. 1t was |
SO light at first they thought they were
free. Tiny and Trip ran around the |
cage and climbed up the sides, trying to |
find some way of escape; all in vain. !
Poor little Tumble could not walk at |
all He LAY on the floor Of the cage,
thinking that II he had been good and |
stayed In the nest they might all have |
been there now with dear Mother Squir-
rel.
At last the hunter came and put q |
dish of milk into the cage and some
nufs hrf thav uara fo<. f,s;<rl,t.rsd -