The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-20

comfortable bed"
Eyes, and with a belly full Of my win
ters food replied Mr.. Happy Squirrel
In no pleasant voice. But my friends
here, whom you no doubt recognize as
two of the most influential squirrels of
the wood. have agreed with me that no
squirrel should live on his fellows. partic-
ularly If his fellows have not invited
him to do so. Therefore, we have de-
eided to allow you to pay for your break
fast and hours rest in my house, where
you have not been an invited guest.
Before the worthless Speckles could say
word in reply the three squirrels had
taken rough hold of him and were lead
ing him to the doorway. Once on the
limb of the tree, Mr.. Happy called aloud
to all his neighbors to come. When all
who had heard his call had arrived and
were standing about the foot of the tree,
Mr. Happy spoke thus: My friends and
neighbsrs, you see here one known as
Speckles, the worthless. He has been
regaling himself in my house during my
absence, as his protruding stomach will
testify. Now, as he has been menace
10 us for sometime, sneak thieYing from
the honest and industrious squirrels it is
high time that he was interfered with,
and that his idle existence be interrupted
by a little enforced work. What say
your
Eyes. yes" cried all the assembled
squirrels. Let us enforce some new laws
by which idle, thieving squirrels will be
put to a better use or rid the community
OF them
So it was decided then and there by the
honorable citizens of the woods to set
Speckles to work. They found big tree
in which there was fine house Tor
single squirrel. Then they set Speckles
to gathering nuts-for the ground still
held bushels of them-to carry to the
house for winter use. At first Speckles
tried being stubborn. but whenever he
refused to pick up the nuts pointed out
to him, those who watched him pulled
his tail and nose so hercely that he was
glad to set to work. And when that
evening he was told to go into the new
house and to sleep and breakfast there
his establishment was great. How finely
he felt the morning after his days work!
Just as he was meditating thus Mr.
Happy Squirrel tapped at his door
Come In" said Speckels.
How do you like your new homer
asked Mr.. Happy, pleasantly.
my homer queried Speckles, surprised.
Sure, it's yours so long as you pro-
| vide for it, Informed Mr.. Happy. I'VE
want to make you an honest citizen of the
! wood and have given you q good start.
| We helped you yesterday. as 1t is fitting
4 the Wise and Good should help the Weak
and Worthless. But you must now help
yourself. If, after you have tried the
honest and industrious life, you show us
that you will earnestly follow it, all well
and good. You shall be one of us. But,
on the other hand, we'll drive you from
our midst and you'll be a strolling va
| grant at the mercy Of wild beasts and OF
/ hunters
"Ah, you are the best friend ever
had" cried Speckles. THE one day of
honest work and Of earning what l ate
] has made a new squirrel of me. Hence
! forth / promise to live an upright life,
and will owe all my future happiness
to you who were big-hearted enough to
see the right way in which | might be
helped. Too many condemn my kind
| without trying to understand the reasons
that make us bad. A helping hand and
an earnest lesson will go far in convert
Ing bad fellows to the right way OF Iiv-
ing. Thank you, my benefactor; you have
made of me a good citizen
Aud then the squirrels of the wood gave
| a picnic in honor of the formerly good
for-nothlng Speckles. rejoicing over his
| change OF heart