The San Francisco call., 1910-03-26

as they could And I made before
them fast as | could. And, we'll
YOU saw the rest yourself. II it hadn't
been for you, little girl, the widow and
her flock might have had to go to the
squirrel poorhouse.
She'll have plenty Of work to keep
her busy for all those nuts have to be
brought all that distance one at a
time
"Oh, let me carry them to her." said
the little girl Il can put them in my
apron and make just one trip"
That's fine idea and extremely
polite of you" said the elf trying to
bow low. IN tell you whore to GO"
He was still too lame to walk, he
lay in her muff, saying: Turn to the
right-straight ahead-to the left
over the bridge--climb the hill--go
down those steps-crawl through that
bush--climb over that wall--duck
under that shrub-and here we arer
And there they were.
In a jiffy. or at the most in four
jiffies, the little girl and Bridget had
scooped up the entire winters supply
Of the Brindlecoat family. Then they
set off for her home, and once more the
elf directed them. Duck under that
shrub-climb over that wall-go down
those steps-climb the hil--over the
bridge to the left" etc.
At last they crossed. an open field to
a lone tall tree.
This is the Brndlecoat apartment
house" said the elf Put the larder
down here and go over and hide be-
hind that bush, and then you'll see
what you see."
The little girl spilled everything out
of her apron and released the squirrel
elf from her muff. Then she and
Bridget scurried across the snow and
crouehed behind a shrub. There they
tlnA fat n
tree.
Pretty soon tiny twinkly nose was
stuck out of hole far UP the tree
The nose was followed by a pair of
twinkly eyes Then the eyes were fol-
lowed by pair of twinkly ears, a pair
Of twinkly sides, twinkly tail. And
Mother Brindlecoat was out on a limb
and looking down. The squirrel elf
called up to her.
Come down, Mrs. Brindlecoat; your
lost treasure is here" Mrs. Brindle-
coat stared and barked
"Oh, palatial pecans I can hardly
believe my own eyes" But she be-
Heved her nose. Then shifting with
delight, she turned and called inside
the tree house:
Children, come quick The elf gen
tleman has brought back our long lost
peanuts"
Then the little Brindlecoats came
first. He gave one look and cried, "Oh,
brilliant brazil nutsv'
And he coasted down the tree like a
sled. The eldest daughter was next.
and she cried:
"Oh. fashionable filberts.' and she
slid down the tree.
The second son was next and he
howled, ooh, welcome walnuts" And
down he came. The twin sisters were
next and one said, "Oh, unreasonable
raisins! and the other said, "Oh, ag-
gravating almonds" And down they
raced
The entire Brindlecoat family came
shutting and scratching down the tree.
sticking their claws in like carpet
tacks. The young ones pitched in and
began to gobble, but their mother cuffed
their ears soundly and grated her teeth
at them, and soon they began carrying
them UP the tree, one at q time, In a
procession up and down, down and up,
like the little buckets on a pump chain.
The little girl clapped her hands and
chortled in glee to see the busy hustle.
Then the elf squirrel came hobbling
slowly over the snow. He was still a
little lame. He put out his paw and
shook hands with the little girl, saying:
And now my work is done, must go
home and report"
"Home?" sighed the little girl anX-
iously.
Eyes, back to Elfiand. I'll be glad to
get out of these uncomfortable clothes"
But | don't want you to go. I've
grown so fond of you," the little girl
protested.
And I Of you, little girl said the
elf, brushing his paw across one very
wet eye. Perhaps we'll meet again
some day. Be on the lookout You can
never tell what disguise I'll be in next
time. I may be a flamingo or a June
bug or fish. If you meet a rhinoceros
in the street or find boa constructor on
a streetcar, be very polite, for you may
be speaking to me. Be kind to all
animals and birds and insects-for they
all have troubles of their own, Good
by, Mile ORourke."
She saw him pick his way across the
snow to tree. He climbed 1t wearily
IN a lOnp hOuOh He fnnobad III.