Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-10
HOMEGROWN
SQUIRRELS.

In cottage on the Dhnk OF a Mlcni-
gan lake last summer fate directed
into their protecting hands three
baby squirrels, too young to run ana
| too weak to fight, that had fallen
from the home nest in an oak tree.
| With a cheerful disregard for future
possibilities in the way of develop
ment the Chapins promptly adopted
the helpless strangers into the fam
lily.
| They will be so lovely for the
children to play with, Fred" said Mrs.
Chaplin, bending over the blinking lit
tie balls of fur curled up in her
apron, and Wen get cage for them
when we get back to Chicago"
IF you ask me" said Chaplin, who
had studied the squirrel in its ma
tive haunts, Il think we would better
get three dog collars and chains for
them when they get little bigger.
Maybe we could train them to har-
ness so they could pull the babys
| wagon"
Mrs. Chaplin met her husbands
suggestion with silent scorn and pro-
ceeded to feed the squirrels on bread
and milk, which they absorbed with
refreshing enthusiasm. In fort
night they had all developed teeth
and an appetite for walnuts.
II think it would be the better part
OF wisdom to leave these frisky desi-
xens of the forest on this side OF the
lake." said Chaplin when the family
was preparing TO return to civiliza-
ton. Il fear they would not be happy
In modern Chicago home unless we
put up q tree for them in the parlor
and that would mar the color scheme
of the room, not TO mention injuring
the rug"
Don't be silly, Fred" said Mrs.
Chaplin. I'VE can take them home in
a box with piece of wire window
screen over II for a cover. They will
be all right and when they get quite
tame the children will have a good
time playing with them. They're
much prettier than rabbits, / think"
Eyes, and they're fonder of chill.
dren," said Chaplin. In fact be-
Iieve they'd eat EN- alive II they got
chance. However" he added with
the patient sigh of the dutiful mar
ried man who does just what his wife
wants, IF you think three boxed
squirrels would add to the JOY of liv-
ing, Florence, | suppose Wen have to
transport them
The next day the scared squirrels,
snugly boxed up and supplied with a
winters rations of nuts, were deposit
ed in the dark basement of the Chaplin
household and left to their own de-
vices while the establishment was
righted after its weeks of idleness.
but no self-respecting squirrel, able
| to Enaw a hole In 50-year-old oak
tree, will allow little thing like the
side of a pine box to interfere with
the freedom of it's movements. When
Chaplin went to the basement In the
dark that night for the baby carriage
and CROPPED along the wall, squirrel
took flying reap from the stationary
laundry tub and alighted In his sur
prised countenance, where II chung
desperately for moment.
Il knew they were pretty lively"
| he remarked later as he dabbed srnica
on the scratches that made him look
like Heidelberg student, but
didn't think they were flying squirrels.
You probably frightened it," sug-
gested Mrs Chaplin.
Her husband, with stern self-com-
mand. refrained from answering.
Two days later the squirrels were
missing from the basement, but when
IMarjorie's tam o'shanter and Bar
nard's stockings and one of Mrs.
Chapin's opera slippers also disap-
peared a grave suspicion developed
that the Michigan pets had not aban-
doned the Chaplin menage.
It's ten to one they are setting up
housekeeping on their own hook" said
Chaplin, land the only thing ] regret
| Ia that the children will not have
chance to play with them. They are
so much prettier than rabbits, yoa
know"
When a hole in the side of Chapin's
ulster and a faint odor Of peppermint
were all that remained to tell where
D packet of lozenges had been. there
was some talk Of . punitive expedi-
ton to locate the squirrels and Grad
Icate them. But when they located
themselves. bright-eyed and apparent.
| ly happy, In the basement box with
| the hickorynuts, the Chapins melted
and forgave them.
II remained for Miss Hortense NO
Dermott, lineal descendent of a long
line of Milesian kings, to issue the
hnal decree.
| I'm be leaviD' you Saturdah,
ma am" she announced simply to Mrs.
Chaplin at breakfast on Wednesday.
What is the matter. Hortense?"
asked Mira Chaplin.
IT'S thin sauirruls. ma'am, said
Miss McDermott, firmly. I've had