The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-12

lneY seemed TO prefer pounding
around with a circular motion, using
the curving sides of the cage as the
means OF giving special impetus to
their wonderful, rounded leaps.
1t was marvellous to see the Unborn
knowledge, or instinct, displayed by
this little trio. A handful of nuts be-
ing given them, they would deny
themselves the liberty of eating any
till part had been stored away for a
possible time of want. But a wire
cage has few "hidie-holes," as our
Scotchman would say. Where, then.
did our little friends conceal their
foods They hid it in the only posi-
BILE place within their reach-their
drinking cup. They would push
them in 80 fast that if the cup was
nearly full of water, it soon over
flowed. Some visitors said the squir-
rels put the nuts there ito soften"
B It those who understood squirrel
nature, as we'll as human nature,
knew better; tho 1t was seldom that
any one felt called on to combat this
original theory.
The squirrels had not been in the
house a week before their love of mu-
sic was apparent. Della was playing
guitar in distant room, while Flo
was watching the antics of her new
pets. She soon fancied that they
heard the music, and called to Della
to bring her guitar and play it for the
squirrels. She did so, and was sur
prised to see all three, at the first
touch of the strings, fatten them
selves on the wires that formed the
floor of the cage, as if to say: Now
we're settled down to enjoy ourselves.
Play away" Whenever the music
ceased they bounded about the cage
as usual; but when the music recon-
menced they quoted down in a way
that would put to shame many
fashionable gathering.
But the little flyer, Charles Lamb,
did not take kindly to city life, and
almost before they realized this he
died. His little companions bounded
around the cage as if nothing un-
usual had occurred; and if they felt
any sorrow they concealed it under
the guise of great gayety.
1t was later in the season, one
morning when the whole family were
at the breakfast table, that Della
gave one Mortified glance at the
squirrel cage, and, half rising from
her chair, exclaimed: George Ken
mani"
All glanced at the cage in time to
see those squirrels leave it; for some
one, after feeding them, had careless
ly left the door open.
'Shut the door, exclaimed some
one.
"And the window" cried another
A moment later and six people were
on their knees, on the floor, making
frantic snatches at those 1.-the, springy
and altogether uncatchable little
creatures, whenever they came with
in reach.
1--WE got-no, l haven't"
There he goes! Nov! mol"
They'll bite'
put your napkin over your hand,
and he can't bite you'll"
But it was all to no purpose till
Mrs. Morton said to the maid stand :
ing by: Margaret, bring the big
gray shawl from the hall closet"
The shawl was brought, and when
the little runaways got in corner,
the shawl, heavy one, was thrown
over them, and they could move but
little. The clever little mother picked
up two small protuberances under
the shawl, and quietly transferred
them to the cage. They at once be-
gan the unending circular springs,
and only painting family bore wit
ness to their escapade.
The next summer, when all the
family except Heber Newton and
George KEENAN,, were again enjoying
the beauties of Lake George, some of
them noticed steady fall of the
outer husk of certain buds that had
appeared ON some of the trees. This
shower was quickly traced to certain
squirrels seated on the topmost
boughs. They seemed to be having
as much fun among themselves as
crowd of youngsters with quart of
peanuts. There was an idea in the
whole proceeding which was instant
ly seized on by Flo.
"If those squirrels like the buds SO
WE'LL" said she, "whY should not
George KEENAN, and Heber New
TONI"
AS this raument was simply I'M
answerable, no reply was hazarded,
1 4 II l.