The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-24

leaves kH9 &kOTfn,
Though round its breast the rolling
clouds are spread.
Eternal sunshine settles on it, head
Milford Hall Lyon.
The Elm Tree PostOdacc.
The box fastened to the elm tree
had been q birds nest once, but ever
since Margory and Rosa mund had had
Twinkle to creep softly through tho
grass and keep an eye ON young ana
tender nestlings. Mother and Father
Bird had declared II wns too near
the ground, and had built their nest
In tho higher branches. safe from his
cruel claws.
For two years 1t had been vacant;
than one day Margery had . happy
little thought Let's have . post
Office" she said to kosamund.
But what viii be put into II In
quired Rosamund.
Letters" answered Margery, ''and
lots Of things: and We win let Evelyn
they can crawl through the slat In
the fence over there. and IL In Just =
step over the grass to the tree"
But who will be postmaster" ask
ed Rosamund. land give out the
mail?"
Each can help herself" answered
Margery. land no one must touch any
thing that does not belong to her.
Come. let's 80 ask Syoil and Evelyn
now"
They danced off across the grass ana
through the hol In the fence, and
soon all four were busy getting things
to put In the postofiice.
And such mail as that box held.
Letters. noteS packages Of ali kinds.
candiek cakes and even doi1a clothes.
passed through II as the days dew
80
was school time and playdays were
over. sun the box hello many treas
ures; and once Evelyn for her school
composition. wrote poem about Mar
gerry. and dropped 1t into the elm
tree box.
At last nutting time came. and what
fun the children did have before
school and on Saturdays gathering the
winters storei
ONE Saturday sybn found some
extra fne chestnuts, and, hiding them
carefully away from the others. after
they were safely home again. she stole
across the grounds to the elm tree
post box and dropped In two little
packages for Rosamund and Margery.
1t was late that afternoon before the
children visited the postodics. and
Rosamund gave = little scream ~
something gray and furry jumped out
~ she put her hand in 70 see,. she
cried, pulling out scraps Of paper.
some empty nutshelis, and few nuts.
that squirrel IL using our postoface
to store his nuts in,''
20 no. cried Sybii. running across
toward the tree. II put some chest
nuts In there for you and Aarwery,
and he has taken them Isn't that
too bad?'
NO" said Rosamund stout.y, mot
II he was hungry. 1t has been hard
year for squirrels. my father Says.
Let's 20 away and see II he win take
the rest He needs them more than
We do. am very sure.
Sure enough, when they came back
half an hour later. squirrel and nuts
were gone.
do you suppose he viii come
again r. asked Rosamund.
Perhaps he Will" said Msrgery.
We might leave something for HIM.
and see Ii he takes H." and taking =
couple Of nuts from her coat pocket.
she dropped them into the box
Next morning they were gone. ''Lets
put some more in said Eybi. ~ they
pseped into the empty box We viii
and leave him mail every day"
So every morning the cnitdrsn drop
ped In q handful OF peanuts. chest-
nuts. crackers and even tiny bits OF
cake; and soon they became accus-
toned to seeing. as thy came to the
box. gray-tail fiy and scramble on -
fast A. he could 70.
Soon Mr.. Squirrel did not seem
afraid Of them. and would ut tust
out Of reach and wait for thesn to drop
In his rations. rs well ~ their own
letters or packages. and 1t last ~
became 10 tame he would jump %
their shoulders AZ the goodies fell lnto
the box.
He calls every day. said Rosa.
mund. Il suppose Mrs. Squirrel aud
the babies wait for him to bring tAA
mail homo to them"
All through the fall and early win
ter Mr.. Squirrel made his daily calls
at the postofiice; but with the deep
snow he disappeared. and the last
handful Of nuts lay uncalied for.
Then Margsry's father made tight
wooden cover to keep out the snow
and rain. and the children used Il ~
winter for their holiday surprsseA
One day In March Evelyn. visited
II with her hands fuil Of letters for
the patrons Of the Office: but - she
neared the tree, she almost dropped
them all. for there sat Mr.. Squirrel
waiting for her beside the mail box.
Evelyn fairly few home ana called
the others. 20. come quick. come
quick! ene cried. Our squirrel hoo
come back and = waiting for III
mAil."
Eagerly the children gathered =
pile OF gtD,dies and ran TO the elm
tree post office. Yes. there rat NJ.
Squirrel waiting. ~ much a 70 ray:
1T = . long time since We received
any mail ut our house. and have
como for It now"
After eating all he could and stor-
Ing the rest away In hin pouchr
cheeks. he was on like the wind, and
the children watched him out U
sight.
I'VE must bring him mail every
day." said Rosamund. Lets use q
only for his mali and REQ that he hnn II
plenty. not only for the summer. but
to p1t away for the winter. Then ~
and Mrs. Squirrel wills not have u
worry about feeding the babies any
mors."-Emma +. Bush. II Zion's
Herald. ~