The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-03-12
THE SQUIRREL FAMILY.

One day father squirrel said to
mis- wife,
My dear, have found the incest
place you ever saw for our home this
winter. Take the children and fol-
low me and will show you where
it u.s."
There were three little squirrels
and they ran along the limb OF the
tree after their father and mother to
the top Of a house over which the tree
hung.
DO you see that hole?' said the
father. THAT is where our home is to
be-in the roof Of the house. 1t VIII
be nice and warm v And now we must
begin gathering nuts for the winter.
In the house the squirrels had Sc
lected for their home lived three chill
dren-Jack, Dick and Helen-and one
day when 1t was showing very fast
and they could not go out they went
to their playroom at the top OF the
house. There was q rocking horse
which looked like a truly horse, and
bNluG uuuB lIULl lut btdhIo' hStH
We're roller skates and a croquet set
on table, and all sorts of things for
children to play with. Now the SPUR
rel family had made an opening In
this room and the little squirrels
Chick, Gray and Flash-had often
wondered about all the strange things
they saw there. Today. when they
heard voices, Flash darted to the open
ing and looked into the room. Gray
and Chick followed, and they were so
inquisitiye and eager to see that they
pushed poor Flash out of the hole, and
down he went into, the room.
oh! here is q squirrel" said Dick,
jumping up Let us get the old bird
cage and catch him." said Jack. And
you get some nuts" they told Helen.
AS soon as the children we're out Of
sight, Flash ran up the brick chimney
which was built in the room. and
back into the hole, where Gray and
Chicl, sat trembling with their father
and mother, who were scolding them.
When the children returned they
looked everywhere for the squirrel.
HE must have run up the chimney
through the fireplace" they said, and
we will leave the cage here and
put nuts in it."
He will come for the nuts, am
sure" said Dick
That night when everybody was In
bed and father and mother squirrel
were dreaming of forests filled with
nuts, Flash awakened Chick and Gray
and told them to follow him. Well
have some fun" he told them, as they
ran down the chimney to the play
ground.
Il saw Dick on this horse" said
Gray. Il should like to ride horse
back"
But can't make it rock" he said.
"You get on one end of the rocker,
Flash, and Chick on the other" "Oh!
you are having all the fun" they told
him after awhile. I'VE are going to
play croquet." And away they scam
pered.
They rolled the balls around and
ran through the wickets and over
them, when all at once they did not
see Gray on the horse. He was eating
nuts in the cage the children had left.
"Oh! you pig" they called to him,
Don't eat all the nuts" but Gray had
eaten every one
You are a selfish fellow" they told
him. 1--WE won't let you play croquet
with us" 81 don't want to-" replied
Gray. I'D rather skate" so he ran
and jumped In one of the roller skates.
which slid with him across the floor.
Flash and Chick ran over to the swing,
and up and down the ropes they went
until it began to swing. They sat on
the seat and called to Gray. but he was
having too good time to stop.
He is having more fun than we
are" said Chick. There are more
skates: bet US skate. too" In few
minutes all three were rolling In all
directions and making such racket
that they awakened their father and
mother, and they looked out of the
hole. Mother squirrel almost fell out
when she saw her children rolling over
the floor on the skates
What are you doing?" called the
father. Come back to your beds at
once" They did not dare disobey
their father. so they went very slowly
back to theIf, beds and were soon
sleeping soundly.
The next morning when the chill
dren came to the playroom. they
looked with surprise at the skates,
which were scattered around the
floor. And look" said Helen. "the
nuts are gone. That squirrel came
back and ran all over this room"
''kf that bird cage had been trap"
said Jack. I'VE would have caught
him,
Perhaps he will come again and we
can tame him That will be better