The record-union., 1899-12-31
4 FOREST TRAGEDY.

- Oub6&u uuuUO - -
Proving Little Squirrels Grati-
tude,
written for the Record Union by Harold
In quiet, secluded nook in the
heart of a forest, siIver-gray sqnir-
rel and his pretty mate took up their
abode. It was a charming retreat and.
with the practiced eye Of an expert,
they selected Tor their home a cosy hol-
low in a large leafy, moss-grown oak
tree, whose branches shaded a clear
deep brook which threaded it's way
among the trees Water lilies, which
almost covered its surface, rocked by
the gentle movement of the water,
swayed gracefully to and fro with their
white flowers. Here and there rustled
a clump of slender reeds, on which the
wind played it's accustomed song. DAM
| ty forget-me-nots. purple violets, pink
daisies and tender ferns and scented
musk grew in profusion on the banks,
while in the background there was a
| wild tangle of creeping vines, verdant
underbrush and noble pines, birches
and oaks. In short, it was just such
an ideal spot as wood nymphs usually
seek
| At the entrance to the home of these
little squirrels an orchid bulb lay en-
bedded in the messy bark ard When
strange noises were soon heard in the
i depths of the tree, it stretched out it's
slender neck, opened it's bril-
liant eyes, and, delighted beyond de-
scription, beheld two tiny young ones
nesting at their mothers breast. 1t
did not take long for them to become
friends, for soon they were able to VEN
ture forth. How it amused the orchid to
watch the pert darlings playfully pat
ting one another as they basked in the
sun or scampered about in the branches
of the tree! They would rush frantic
ally up and down in feigned alarm, stop
abruptly, then covering themselves
roguishly with their bushy tails, would
teasingly say: Don't you wish you
were one of us?"
But soon these innocent fellows found
that life was not one long play-day.
Their parents, like all wise squirrels,
gave them to understand that not only
| must they secure their own food, but
while the long, summer days lasted, lay
aside daily certain amount of nuts,
seeds, and other edibles to tide over the
winter months. Being sunny-tempered
and obedient. however, they CID not
| cav.l at this, but gradually grew strong
er, and wiser and more useful to their
elders. Their rosy views Of this Won
! derful world We're soon to be even
more badly shaken, for, alas, one day
| they beheld their first man and-sadder
still-lost one of their dearest playmates.
| 1t happened in this wise:
| While playing about in the upper
branches of the oak tree, they suddenly
heard a strange explosion, which fairly
| frightened them out of their senses.
They rushed to their friend the orchid,
crying, What is it?"
"A hunter she replied, Run to
| your home or you will be killed"
| They needed no second warning. Their
little playmate, however, laughed at
their fear. Picking through a crevice
| they saw huge face peering in their
direction. Then there was f1ash-and
| a second later their imprudent little
| friend dropped to the ground. Proba-
bly, they, too, would have been killed
for the hunter patiently awaited their
appearance-had it not been for the
orchid who watched the movements Of
| intruder and whispered to them to re-
main hidden and not be too curious
| In few weeks they had almost for
gotten this unhappy episode and, mas
much as their solitude was not invaded
by any more hunters, the whole family
decided to take up their summer home
in meadow near by. So it came to
pass that the pretty orchid lost her
dearest friends g. But she did not lack
for other comrades and admirers. The
bees hummed pretty airs in her dainty
ears; the birds serenaded her in her
lofty bower; even the wind whispered
| words of love to her. Each day found
her more beautiful In her exquisite
gown Of pink and purple and purest
white.
| Now it happened that vain vine
that grew at the base Of this oak tree
became envious of the modest orchid
No birds, no bees, no gentle zephyrs,
paid court to her. She tried to enlist
the sympathies of the other flowers
but they all Stunned her, for her breath
was poisonous and her branches were
like the tentacles of an octopus.
Before you came" she said one day
to the orchid, things were not so. I
was considered beautiful, for my leaves
are far more gorgeous than your pale,
sickly tints."
The orchid, having done nothing to
merit her wrath, made no answer, but
q saucy bluejay who overheard the
vines outburst sarcastically ex-
claimed:
yes, my dear, but fine feathers don't
make fine BIRDS
And" ventured a tiny blue forget me
not as it nestled up closely to another,
! you are not content to burden the will
ing oak tree with your useless self, but
you are gradually erowding us all out
with your countless progeny
To which all the other flowers nodded
in approval.
| So cried the enraged vine, you
have entered a conspiracy to abuse me,
have you? Very well. / accept your
challenge" And then, addressing the
trembling orchid, she said threatening
ly: From now ON my sole ambition
will be to climb up high enough to
grasp your throat you simple beauty'
And turning to the little forgotten
nots, daisies and violets, she added:
AS for you, I'll attend to you later.
Not one of you shall survive"
| A month later the vines threat had
almost been fulfilled. Already the
timid orchid could feel her poisonous
breath upon her cheek Every attempt
at reconciliation had failed The jeal-
| Gus creeper remained steadfast in her
purpose, and when the poWerless flow