Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-12
MIR. AND MRS. BusHY.TA1L

MIR. AND MRS. BUSHY-TAIL.
1t was clear, cold January morn.
| ing. and Mr.. Bushy-Tail was sitting
at the door of his house. Such a
queer house it disappearing below
bearing the marks of frequent attacks
from Mr.. Woodpecker, who often
passed that way. Bushy-Tail had
labored long to fashion his house, and
to stock it with winter supply for
himself and his dear wife. His pa
tient little jaws had often acfled
| with the heavy loads he had brought
| to the hollow old tree. Mr.. Jack Frost
had come in autumn and opened the
prickly burs. Uncle Wind had shaken
the leafless poughs, when Mr.. and
Mrs. Bushy-Tail, eyes swapping and
plumes waving. had gathered in the
harvest. Now they could play with a
clear conscience, and BushyTail's
heart leaped for joy as he hoped to
the ground. His brisk little wife fol-
lowed MN, and The two scampered
away for a morning frolic over the
crisp snow.
Down the woodland path came a
sturdy little figure. we'll enveloped IN
overcoat, cap and tippet. With one
hand he carried slate and books close
~ strapped together; with the other
he swung the dinner-pail. This was
Billy Black on his way to school, AS
he passed Bushy-Tail's house his
merry whistle ceased, and his bright
black eyes took on look of cunning.
Cautiously he approached the tree,
and " pee pc III" in .: al II 1he open door.
Quickly he drew of his mitten and
thrust his hand into the opening,
carefully cropping about until he found
the apartment sought for-the store
room. Then it was surprising how
fast the little hand went in empty and
came out full, till cry from old
Aunty Bushy-Tail. awakened from her
comfortable nap by this intrusion, cut
short all further operations. For the
old aunty still had sharp teeth. and
Billy knew this TO his sorrow. SO
he quickly withdrew his hand and
hurried on his way to school.
1t was an unlucky morning for him
The columns Of figures refused to be
added and the letters in the spelling
lesson danced about and made faces
at him. One thought cheered him
the contents of his dinnerpail; sand
wches. apple pie. doughnuts and
cheese. He could hardly wait fer the
clock 10 strike twelve. aud when the
teacher ssnt him to the next house
on an errand. just as he was going TO
npen the pail. he could have cried
for disappointment. But there was
no use complaining. so with num-
bled Vest m." he started on his
way.
1t was late when he came back. and
he was nungrier than ever-half-
starved. he said. He pulled off the
cover to his pail before he pulled off
his red mittens. but oh. what a terri
BILE surprise. The dinner was gone
In an instant he understood it all.
and a ilowl of rage and despair sound
ed through the deserted room. fol
lowed by the angry wall. Teacher.
the boys have stole my dinner." 1t
was no use to try to comfort him: for
he must live through the afternoon.
ever conscious of "A big. aching void,
and then run Two miles before he
could have even piece of bread and
i butter
Soon the bell rang and the boys
trcoped in from coastins on the hill
back of the sclloolhouse. Billy took
his geography and tried to study.
Strangely enough. the lesson describ-
Ell now the sman fur-bsaring animals
OF New England gather their winter
supplies. He threw down the book
and opened his grammar. o dear!
The first sentence to be diagramed
was. The squirrels gather their store
of nuts for The long, cold winter.
Billy hid his face behind his book
Through his shame and hunger this
| thought came to him; If it is SO
hard for fellow to lose his dinner
what must it be TO go without your
dinner all winter long,"
Four O'Clock came al last, and reso
lutte little fellow was once more
ready to face the cod. He was nun
CRY, but he did not complain or try
to find cut and punish the thief who
had invaded his dinner-pail. He onl!
ran as fast as he could over the
cracking snow to the wood parf
which led to his home. The though
of the steaming supper waiting fol-
him, and then of another supper. ant
of the joy that it would bring.
The theft had been discovered
When old aunty sounded the alarm
Mr.. and Mrs. Bushy-Tail scampefet
home. but only to find the empt.
storehouse. Shrill notes of ange,
rent the air. but only for short time
The Bushy- fails are noted for thei
courage, and it's no use to cry fo
spilled milk. They soon stopped wall
ing and started out In quest of food
for now they must fight famine. Blu
| little remained for them. only few
scattered, frozen buds, so with heav.
J hearts and light loads they wendet
their way homevard and entered tn