The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
PLANTATION PAGEANTS.
FlIT. THE FLYING SQUIRREL.
Copyright 1899. bv joel Chandler HART


children. but It fell out with him as 1t falls
out with everything we possess-he ceased to
be interesting. He was not neglected 30 far
as his food was concerned. but he ceased to be
the centre OF attraction. Other things won the
attention OF the youngsters, who were In no
wise different In this respect from other chill
dren. or from their elders. Especially was this
the case when. one day. Aunt Minervy Ann,
who was going to move to town with her for
mer master. came to bid them all good by. To
Aunt Minervy Ann this going to to wn was like
travelling to some foreign country, though
tho town was but short distance from her old
home.
She came to say good by to all the children.
as we'll as to the grown folks On her arm she
had small basket. and this. she declared. con-
tanned a small present for Buster John and
Sweetest Susan.
'Ef you had ter guess what 'twuz TO you
got 1t. I'd halter tote dis basket back homo
widout takin' de led off," So much she said
BY way Of preface.
Its u Bird Sweetest Susan guessed.
Aunt Minervy Ann laughed and shook her
head. 1t can fly some" she admitted. but
faint no bird"
It's a bat" guessed Buster John.
''Dey amt no feathers on 1t. but faint no
bat"
We'll. it can't be a flying fish" said Buster
John.
Again Aunt Minervy Ann shook her head.
"'Tain't no flyin' fish. Et:you want 6yin' fish
you'll halter go ter dem what seed um n.y."
why don't you guess. Drusilla;' said
Sweetest Susan.
"Kaze alre, dy know what tls." replied
Drusilla.
What Is it. DEM" snapped Aunt Mnervy
Ann
IT'S n whipperwill. Da.s what It's" re-
piled Drusa
'Ef l had de will I'd whip you here an
now" exclaimed Aunt Mnervy Ann. earnestly;
oats how much whipperwill got In dish
yer basket"
Don't toll us what II is" said Buster John.
Just tell us'a little something about it and
let us guess
We'll" repllnd Aunt Minervy Ann. 1T kin
fly. yt faint got no wings ter flop. 1t makes
a mes in do tree. and vii faint no bird"
"Oh. know what 1t Isl" cried Sweetest Su-
san; Its ats a-what is it. Brother? You
know"
I'm glad you think So" said Buster John.
but II 7 was going TO make a sure-enough
guess I'd say 1t is flying squirrel"
Oar. now exclaimed Aunt Minsrvy Ann
laughing. DE mules yone." This was n
current expression amCng the negroes when
they surrendered an argumen: settled n
contention. The one who was show to be in
the wrong in any matter would say. DE mules
yone."
SO Aunt Minervy Ann carefully lifted the
cover Of the basket. reached her hand in and
drew forth the cunuipgest and most beautiful
little creature the children had ever seen-the
dantiest and cutest OF all the tribe Of four
footed animals.
AS might have been expected. Sweetest
Susan went into ecstasies over this wonderful
little creature. which can fly without wings.
and which. though it is the widest and most
elusive OF animals, is tame the moment it Is
captured. 1t lay cudled in Aunt Minervy S
hand in apparent content and closed its pretty
eyes as she gently stroked it.
"Oh, it's mine! it's mine" cried Sweetest
| Susan.
We'll. take it. theh." said Buster John with
| apparent generosity.
| Sweetest Susan held out her hands and then
| drew them back. az her brother knew she
would. rs It quite tume?" she asked
Hes tame ter me-" RESPONDED Aunt Min
ervy Ann. Il cotch him yistiddy."
| Then he's not tame" said Sweetest Susan
decls lively. putting her hands behind her.
She was sorry the next moment. for Buster
! John. remembering what he had heard Old
Fountain say about the hnrmlessness OF flying
squirrels and how sinful it was to kill them
since the act always brought bad luck. lifted
! the little creature tenderly from Aunt Min
envy AIMS hand and placsd 1t in his own
Then. relenting little. he placed it In Sweet
est Susans hand.
Aunt Mincrvy Ann nodded her head vgor-
ously at this and drew Buster John toward
her, excaming. "Ef YOU alters do dat you II
make fine mana mighty fine man." And
strange us it may seem. though Buster John
F,I,a
from his elders he never failed to remember
this simple statement OF Aunt Mirervy Ann
| Perhaps it was because Aunt Minervy AIMS
words were charged with earnestness. Any
how. they suck in the lad s.mnd.
1t was all Sweetest Susan could do to keer
from loving the flying squirrel to death.
as she said. Its coat was as smooth and as
soft and as fine as silk. and it seemed to enjoy
the stroking and gentle caresses to which
| Sweetest Susan subjected 1t. Fen Drusillu
was delighted with the flying squirrel. and
wanted to held it in her apron. being afraid tc
touch it with her hands
Hes mighty purity she said. but tel
yo now. he got long tushes in dem little Jaws
III you don't believe me. you kin des look"
Buster John and Sweetest Susan were toe
much interested in the beauties OF the little
creature to expose any OF its ugly features
even IL it had any. They had never seen a fly
ing squirrel before. There were many of this
species on the place. but they we're so shy ant
elusive that the children caught only eetinl
glimpses OF them between sunset and dark
They coul3 see something dark fit before tnei
eyes. swoopinG from some tall tree nearly tC
the ground. then circlinG onward to another
tree; they could hear Il chirping curiUusly
like that OF a sparrow. and the flying squire
would 10 gone-if.it could be said to have come
Therefore the little fellow in hand was twic,
precious. once Tor the sake Of its beauty anC
once for the sake OF its rarity.
II don't SEQ how anybody ever cotch one VI
um." remarked Drusilla. You see em-tlp
an deyer gone"
How did you catch him. Aunt Minervy Ann2'
asked Sweetest Susan.
Il amt got time ter tell you right dis min
nit" replied Aunt MInervy Ann. 60 tel
do niGGers on de place Good-by. an den II
come back. an eff you amt fin out fer yo Sc I
I'll up an tell you-kazo | hear heap er tall
'mong nv color how Aon done larnt you al