The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-04-10
The Squirrels Spring Festival,

SONS.
one morning fine old gray squirrel came from
his winter quarters in huge hollow tree and sat
-. d pare pranch' enjoying the aspect of a change
OF seasons with apparent delight Spring he
all the seasons" o0"e u
On, why should YOU say that dear friend Mister
GRAY ~! 1t was a soft voice that spoke and old
Mister Oraytall (for that was the name of the old
SQUIRREL turned about and looked for the owner
of the voice which he had recognized a. that of .
pretety nelghbor lady squirrel On seeing her
perched on the nearby limb he smiled and said.
Morning to you, Lady Pinknose Isn't this a plor-
lous dawn See the sun coming over the eastern
NILS. And scent the warmth that is coming from
old Mother Earth, IN whose bosom sleep the billions
OF blossoms and grasses only waiting to be called
from sumber by the lovely maiden Miss Sprinr"
y es. 1t is divine morning, and | have come
forth early to enjoy It," said Lady Pnknose and
now | wish | had brought nv son and daughter IN
ENJOY the early spring sunshine. It's the first time
that we have had warmth early in the day during
this month, But returning to your soliloquy Mis-
Ter GTaytall, YOU saying that the spring is the
mostglorious of all the seasons. Now don't quite
agree with YOU"
"What-don't agree that the spring is the most
glorious of all the seasons asked old Mister Gray
tail in some surprise. well how can YOU say such
a thing! Isn't the spring just right in tempera-
lure! Isn't everything coming into life in the
spring Doesn't old winter steal away when he
Spring" And old Mister Graytail sat upright and
wiped his with the end of his tail
Yes, the spring is very lovely" admitted Lady
Pinknose. But so is the summer. And I can say
the same for autumn and the winter. They are all
glorious?"
ooh ha, ha, ha p laughed old Mister Graytal
The winter glorious Why, it is cold enough to
freeze the hair brass monkey, my dear. How
YOU say the winter is lovely!"
"I'll admit that the winter brings us some very
ol6 nd
with those cold days and nights many happy
hours. For instance, when the snow is flying about
and the winds bowling through the branches.
aren't we Just too happy to be in snug houses
with warmth and with plenty to eat! And you
should remember the keen enjoyment of running
out for bit of exercise and a game of hideand-
seek when the snow lies deep the ground. Why,
I've seen you as happy and merry your young
when frolicking in the And, then, how
all gather together in cave under the rocks
and have winter festival Why, my good friend,
how can any season be finer than the winter! It's
glorious And the winter sunshine is the most per-
feet of sunshines for it never bisters nor burns,
but it is just genial and welcome"
well, guess you are right about the winter"
agreed old Mister Graytail. ''You see, | had not
thought over the many joys we have together dur
ing the storms and colds. But now do recall the
many pleasures of games and social intercourse we
have had during the past few months, and the cold
it was the jollier all became. Yes, I'll with
j
remain pat on what have intimated about Dame
Summer and her daughter. Mistress Autumn. They
are both very disagreeable.'
oh say not so, say not so, my friend. cried
Lady Pinknose.. "What can be nicer than the
lner? Why think of the long, warm days when not
leaf strs on the branches and the water in the
brock looks like the sky dropped to earth And
how green everything is-trees, grass, hedges-aH
50 fresh in the morning when laden with dew. All,
the summer is so joyous"
But it is hot" declared Mister Graytail. "If
il were cooler I would like it more
NO, you would like it less" declared Lady
Pinknose. "for then it would be different from
the spring or autumn. So, you see the summer,
like the winter is characteristic of itself and has
advantages that the other seasons do not possess
say the summer the winter, the spring, the autumn
are all alike beautiful-delightfu"
well, I'll grant that the summer IS better than
had thought it, admitted Mister Graytail. Since
listening to your description of some OF its bc1ues
have changed my mind regarding it. | guess the
heat is balanced by the many lovely calm days and
long. peaceful nights when the moon shines hike
second sum- all yelled to make it cooler. Yes. l
should not like to be without the summer-old Dame
Summer. as we call it And Mr. Graytail again
rubbed his nose with his broad tail but l shall
still contend that / do not in the least see much
beauty In the autumn 1t has falling leaves. gray
lays, hazy skies, and everything is dying
Lady Pinknose sighed "Sir Mister Graytall,
ron are q poor reasoner. What Everything dy-
ngi Not at all Everything is ripening in the au-
umn. What if the leaves do fall! So do the nuts
all. And were it not for the fallen nuts, where,
h, where would we poor squirrels be- We find our
God in the autumn and then is our great harvest
inc All. how little you seem to appreciate ma
ure's changes and the splendid things they bring
ORTIZ"
Yes. | hadn't thought about the harvest time
.oming in the autumn" confessed Mister Graytail-
But YOU must admit that the days OF autumn are
gray and drear."
There you are again said Lady Pmkn9se.
growing a bit impatient. What could be nicer than
,ray DAYS following the perpetual sunshine Of sum
aer. After we have feasted 50 to say, on sunshine
md Green Is il not kind of nature to bring gray,
hull days full of soft shadow and cool wind: with
he falling of leaves and nuts and the rlpenmg OF
he harvest: All, alb. my good trend learn TO READ