New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-02
A TAME SQUIRREL.
THE MOST CHARMING OF PETS.


About year ago a baby gray squirrel was found
crawling helpessly at the foot of one of the great
pine Round Lake He the most fas-
chatting bit of silvery-gray and white babyhood that
could be imagined. He had tiptilted pink nose and
a slender plume of tail that gave no promise OF
great featiery proportions II afterward attained.
He fell into kindly keeping. and was brought up
in of the cottages, like Pip. of Great Expecta-
tons" by hand" When he had attained the ma
ture age of four weeks nearly could be es-
timated he began to eat nuts. Candy was given to
him. occasionally ripe apples and other tdbits He
built nest in the of the cottage and esta5-
lshed himself in his home. He sent out into
the woods when he about six weeks old, and
learned the secret of climbing the heights of the
great pine trees and eapng from bough 10 bough.
He found where the sweetest forest nuts grew, ana
learned all the pleasures Of wild squirrel life. Never
theess he did not desert his human friends, but
came back regularly 10 his nest as soon as the
shadows of evening began 10 gather. After snow
came the little fellow would come into the house
several times during the day. apparently for
other purpose than warm himself by the glowing
hearth fire in the living ROOM He was full Of froc
on these sions sat by the fire. and danced the
lounge making the most picturesque little circles in
the air in the progress of his play.
\ ball of rubber, spool of gay silk, almost any
thing became a plaything. He played with paper
napkins. and rolled them into the most absurd
crinkly balls for no purpose but play. Sometimes he
would disappear in the midst of his fun and return
with air of ION business bent bringing couple
OF nuts. which he would proceed to put down the
back Of the neck of any female friend who might be
playing with him: he stunned the male shirt collar
As he never looked for these again. it sup
posed that he regarded them as his contribution to
the general support of the family and did not
slider his friends in the light of walking storepaces
for his own benefit. He very fond OF candy
and showed delight whenever box Of fresh bon
hnnc apeI He Ia n.
other when they offered him, and would eat
them with the air OF a connosseur in sweets After
this he would smooth down the lace papers around
the candy box with his deft little paws and tuck
them around the remainder of the candy, watching
to see the put on. He never attempted to take
any away to store" he did He trusted APP
parenty to his human friends to save the candy for
him. a confidence which was often abused.
About Christmas time the little squirrel left his
friends Ii was mating season. and they had long
known that there another little gray squirrel in
the woods to whom he took nuts. They could see
him eaping (or thought they could about in the
great branches of the highest hemocks. but appar-
entity he had forgotten his friends. When spring
came the workmen who repairing the cottage
found little squirrel who often came about and
showed appetite for cooked dainties in their lunch
con pals On one occasion piece of custard pie
was missing and the man looked up and saw a gray
squirrel sitting under Il with piece OF pie In
his paws eating 1t gravely down from the point in
human fashion. not nibbng the crust in vulgar rat
fashion style. Apprehension felt that the little
pet squirrel the thief. but nothing more was
heard OF him during the summer mating season. In
the fall when the nutting season was at its height
the SQUIRRELS In the grove owing to the partial fall
IRE of the nut crop unusually clamorous al the
cottage doors There with them one little TEL
low who .orclby demanded entrance, instead or
timdly standing off like the others lie sprans up
ar the door and scratched like the old pet Tor ad-
mlttance When he let in he proceeded 10 Jury
Gotta I'm al
the young ladies tried the effect OF drumming on me
lounge movement which the year before wouid
invariably set him into an ecstasy OF play . 49,,
He answered the signal. and laid himself on ms
hack and played in the old kittensh fashion
SQUIRRELS movements are so much lighter and more
| rand than those Of kitten that the comparison
seems inadequate 1t is thing OF the wild forest
beauty OF motion born amid the waving pine needles
"A grace that cannot be compared with tnat OF any
domestic thing The little squirrel from TINS m9ment
was known In his mute wild way ne nau tod MS
story He now comes regularly to the cottage ana
asks to come in He sleeps in the pine trees pu. IN
the cold gray dawn he comes TO the bedroom WIN,
dows and fattens his against the pane ana
neads IN be let in and have his breakfast with the
family.