The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-03-18

long lsland lived little Squirrel Gray.
Everything a squirrel could have to
make happiness he had, but since a
certain day discontented was little
Squirrel Gray.
Early that morninghe had whisked
from tree TO tree, until suddenly he
had discovered the road, at the end
OF which, as far away as his little
black eyes could see, was a won
trously beautiful, rosy radiance in
the eastern sky.
Back home he few, hurrying to tell
mother about it, and to ask her what
was in the World-at-the-End-o
Road.
Danger" mother had told him.
"But how do you know" asked
Squirrel Gray.
The crows say so, and they know:
Tor to and fro, from here they go. to
the World-at-the-End- :"
his mother had said with a wise nod
OF her old gray head.
The beginning and end of each
lay afterward found him at the road.
and all the way home he was longing
-longing-longing.
Every day he teased his mother to
let him go see the World-at-the-End
of-the-Road. But always she shook
her head, until finally she realized he
never would be contented again. One
morning to satisfy him she reluctant
y told him he might go.
It was nearly night when he ar
rived at the World-at-the-End-o
Road. There he found houses and
horses. barking dogs and mewing
Eats, crying babies and people, big
and little, talking and laughing. Oh!
what a noisy place the World-at-the-
End-of-the-Road was.
He soon found out what Danger
meant.
From tree to tree, along the fences,
over roofs, scurried Squirrel Gray.
lntil darkness found him on a grape
lrbor. There he tremblingly hid
himself under the big leaves. and
there he slept all that night, dream
.ng of home and mother.
The next morning at first he
thought he was home. until he opened
his sleepy eyes. Then all the scared
feeling came back again. and he
was still asleep. and. as all was quiet
he ventured to peep out. Through
the trees he caught a glimpse of
something that made his little heart
throb with gladness. and Danger was
forgotten.
There again was the alIuring pink
sky! Down from the arbor he
sprang. From tree to tree he trav-
eled with long flying leaps. until he
came TO the last tree. Not another
was in sight. but on he sped down a
rough, rutty road, which led him to a
long stretch of pebbly beach. Yet on
be went, until he found himself at
the edge of water, the longest and
widest water he had ever seen. In
his woodland home had been only q
little pond or two that reflected the
green. leafy branches above and the
pretty ferns around, but this big wat
er was not green just then, it was
pink like the sky.
AS Squirrel Gray watched this in
wonder the rosiness from sky and
water faded and finally was gone.
Then suddenly appeared a splendid
shining ball of gold in the sky, and
across the sleepy, satiny water was a
great. glorious golden pathway, ex-
tending from the shore at his feet.
straight across to that woodland be-
yond.
With a glad little leap he started
to cross that gold path-but dear,
dear! - there, too, was Danger,
thought Squirrel Gray. as he swiftly
sprang back again and stood shiver-
Ing on the shore. The warm sun
shine soon dried his fur coat, how
ever, and pretty soon the sun-ball
grew brighter and brighter, spang-
ling the water with little sparkling
diamonds and making his eyes wink
and blink. Warmer and warmer it
grew, and he began to look around
for the shelter of a shady tree.
But all that could be seen was a
little square house painted green,
planted right there on the shore, and
under the house an open door.
No cats. no dogs, no people, were
around, so nearer he ventured; then
without a sound. into that cool dark
ness he went with bound. landing
in basket upon the ground. Then,
curling himself up in a round gray
ball he went to sleep there. with no
fear at all.
Now the Boy in that little bunga-
low early that morning arose to go to
dig for CLANS, while the tide was
low; so down cellar he went to get
the hoe. and what he found there of
course you know. When Boy spied
the little fur ball. quick as a flash
over basket and all he let a big box
softly fall. Then into the house he
swiftly sped. to wake Big Brother,
who was still in bed. When they
softly peeped under the hox there was
no longer a quiet gray ball. Instead