The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-13
STORY OF TWO PET 5 SQUIRRELS.



Mr.. ]. w. Stillman, the art critic, has
written pathetic story of two pet SPUR
rels. Billy and Hans, that he once owned
The article appears in the February Cen.
tury Mr.. stillman says: In lay favorite
summer resort at the lower ddge OF the
Black Forest, the quaint old town Of Lau-
fenburg, a farmers boy one day brought
me young squirrel FOR sale. He was a
tiny creature, probably not vet weaned,
a variation on the ordinary tyne of the
European seiarus 6seiurus v1llkarisl. gray
instead Of the usual red, ana with black
te3I and ears, SO that at first, as he con-
tented himself with drinking his milk and
sleeping 1 was not sure that nd was not a
dormouse. But examination OF the paws
with the delicate anatomy, so marvellous
~ like the human hand in their fiexibil-
ity and hardness, and the graceful curl
of his tail, settled the question of genus,
and mindful Of my boyhood and early
pets, bought him and named him Billy.
From the first moment that he became
my companion he gave me his entire
confidence, and accepted his domestica-
ton without the least indication that he
considered it captivity There is gener-
ally short stage of mute rebellion in
wild creatures before they come to accent
us entirely as their friends-a longing for
freedom which makes precautions against
escape necessary. This never appeared
in Billy; he came to me for his bread
and milk, and slept in my pocket, from
the first, and enjoyed being chressed as
completely as if he had been born under
my roof.
No other animal is so clean ia is per-
sonal habits as the squirrel when in
health; and Billy soon left the basket
which Graded his infancy, and habit
ually slept under fold of my bed cover,
sometimes making his way to my pillow
and sleeping by my cheek and he never
knew what cage was except when trav-
elins' and even then for the most part he
slept in my pocket. He went with me to
the table d'hote, and when invited out
sat on the edge of the table and ate his
bit of bread with a decorum that made
him the admiration of all the children in
the hotel, so that he accompanied me in
all my journeys. He acquired passion
for tea sweet and warm, and to my indul-
gence of this taste I fear owe his early
loss. He had full liberty to roam in my
room; but his favorite resort was my
work table when 1 was at work; and
them among my books, and then come to
hunt them out again, like child with it's
toys. sometimes found my typewriter
stopped, and discovered a hazel nut in the
Norlzs. And when tired of his hide-and-
seek he would come to the edge and nod
to me, to Indicate that he wished to go in
to my pocket or be put down I'd run about
the room; and he soon made a limited
language of movements of his head to tell
me his few wants-food, drink, to sleep,
or to- take climb on the highest piece
of furniture in the room.
He was from the beginning devoted to
me, and naturally became like spoiled
child. If 1 gave him an uncrhcked nut,
he rammed it back into my hand to be
cracked for him with Irresistible persist
ence. did as many parents do, and in
dulged him, to his harm and my own
later grief. could not resist that coax
ing nodding, and gave him what he wish
ed-tea when had mine, and cracked
his nuts, to the injury of his teeth, / was
told. In short, I made him as happy as |
knew how"