The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-10
Bush and Brisk. The Story of Two Very Bright Park Squirrels.
BY WILLIAM WALLACE. JR.

mans first appearance in the park. Bush and Frisk immediately stopped in the path and looked with some doubt on the little girls companion.
 On seeing the two squirrels, Bush and Frisk. the little girl held out her hands eoaxingly towards them. "Come. Bush and Frisk." she said. Qt was she who had given tie squirrels these names. And now all the children who came to play in the park called them Bush and Frisk. so the little fellows had come to answer to u, namesl But Bush and Brisk held back. for they never approached strangers without first studying them carefully.
 Then turning to the old man the little girl said. Come grandpapa, let's go down to the lake. The squirrels seem afraid of you. They usually come quite close to me and eat from my hands"
 "What! afraid of me7' and the old man seemed to feel sorry about It. 'Why, dearie, I used to be very fond of the little animals. and I never could bring myself to shoot them like so many of my acqualntances did. They surely have nothing to fear at my hands,"
 But even as the old man talked he and his little companion turned towards the lnke. leaving Bush and Brisk sitting In the grass beside the path. After watch ing the retreating figures for moment Bush spoke: Poor old man. He seems very sad about something. Pm sure he would do us no harm; let's go and scamper and cut up tricks to cheer him up bit"
 "Yes." said Frisk. AS you say-he does look very sad and lonely. l fancy he feels as you and l did when we lost our dear mother. I shall never forget the day I saw that bad boy hit our dear mamma on the head with the rock-giving her the blow that caused her death. Ohl If only the park policeman had seen the bad boy do that deed he would have made him sufferr' And Frlsk's eyes snapped with a desire to avenge his poor mothers ter rible and untlmely death.
 Just then a group of children, In care of their mothers. came noisily along the path. As the merry crowd drew near to the place where Bush and Brisk were still sitting In the grass one of the mothers looked in the direction of the lake. "Oh, walt q minutel she ex- claimed drawing the crowd to halt In The path "Theres that old man Avery, with his granddaughter Ethel, down by the lake. Now, we don't want to fall In with that old fellow. His daughter-in- law, Ethel's mother. you know, says he's the worst sOFl bl n peoSiinASts AAc nus lately lost his wife, and has come to live with his sons family. l avoid falling In with melancholy people whenever l can. He reminds one of walking tomb stone.
 Everybody laughed; they thought the speaker quite witty. No one stopped to consider the unhappiness of the lonely other mother, dwe'll go in another direc- tion. I've heard that the old fellows mind is not just right" Then the party turned down another path which would lead them quite away from the place where Ethel and her grandfather were seated on rustic bench by the lake. :,
 Now, Bush and Frlsk had heard and understood every word these two women had spoken. Bush looked at his brother and tapped himself over his heart. '.They have stones in here." he said. slgnih- cantly.
 Yes" said Frlsk. .They are mean and selfish. Suppose we go down to the lake and use our poor talents to cheer the old man up and take his mind on his sorrow.'
 Agreed" answered Bush. And away the two squirrels went to the shore of the lake, scampering up close beside Ethel to attract her attention. Ethel did not mo- tice them at first. for she was busy en- deavoring to cheer her dear old grand father up. But the poor old man seemed