Mexico Missouri message., 1916-04-27
WOOD CRAFT STORY
FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.
Fourth Story.


- had heard wonderful tales of the bungalow OF
Brother and Sister Muskrat and wanted to
for himself just how it looked inside. Several little
folks of the woods that could swim had inspected
the new home and pronounced it little wonder.
Hello Muskrat, Hello" he calls when he reach
es the waters edge 81 tell you, Slim Weasel,
this is the finest home in. the woods, and l will
give an armful Of wild celery roots to the
that show much skill in building home"
That sounds almost like Dragging" thought
Brother Terrapin So diving under the water
he squeezed through the door of the Muskrat
home and crawled up stairs.
"Ah here is old friend Terrapin," remarked
Muskrat you are the very fellow wanted to see.'
Mother Muskrat remarked 'You have caught
this house in pretty mess. We have had the
Muskrat carpenters and the Beaver plasterers
the entire week and l telling Father Muskrat
last night would never build another house.
l would rather live in hole in the bank like
some Muskrats do" Brother Terrapin replied,
Your home looks fine beside mine You see,
| go to bed when the frost comes and sleep until
the violet call me in the Spring, and my house
is something awful But l must be going
Sister Muskrat who showed him the way to
the front door suggested that she thought it
would be fine for the one that had the incest
home to be Queen of the Forest Mrs. Channel
Cat who listening at the foot of the stairs
had barely time to swim away before Terrapin
appeared
1t was agreed upon that committee of three
and Red Squirrel were chosen.
"Why not leave it to Brother Terrapn,' re-
marked Gentle Dove, He is a good fellow and
is always square," What she really meant was,
not that he square like board, for when
he takes his bath the end of a log in the
creek, draws his head and feet and tail in his
shell, he is almost as round as a dollar; but Gen
tie Dove, like good many people | know, always
wants to say something nice about someone, and
some way or another it always helps fellow.
Don't you think soo
The Committee called at Gray Squirrels house
in the water oak tree. Gray Squirrel showed
them the incest little cupboard filled with hick-
ory nuts and with wanuts, and, strange to
say, still another with hickory nuts.
What are these for" asked the owl.
These are to plant in the ground to make trees.
Some one whispers in our ear to do so and that
is all can tell you about it."
Oh remarked DR.. OWL Il see"
They found Sister Rabbit at home with ten
3 aittle babes. Each with little white spot in
his forehead and looking just like his brother
"My, but that is a warm nest said the Weasel,
81 wish | had one like it in the drift"
When they reached the Mockers' beautiful nest
Mother Mocker just in the act of giving
her two children shove over the edge of the
nest to teach them to their wings The Owl
who sat down close by the edge of the nest saw
the many little threads she had woven into her
nest, and noticed how carefully she had laid the
twigs that made the outside of her home. 81 am of
notion to make my nest over again" he thought
as they went toward the Muskrat's home which
looked like a winner. Above the water
line in the garret were several soft, warm beds
and the family were always safe from the sleet
and snow in the winter.
ooh, Dad, look here called the boy from the
camp opposite the MuSkratS' house. Come and
look at this pretty little humming birds nest"
His father, tip-toeing to his side replied, EYES,
son, the hummng bird shows more skill in build
ing its home than any other little creature in the
forest. She's Queen of the Forest! If you will
notice, she has selected limb on this small tree
and building up an artificial knot has covered
it over with tiny bits of bark from the trunk of
the tree, and, lining the nest with silk from the
weed podS has made little castle of her own
DR.. Owl, looking away in the woods remarked,
Il vote for the tiny Humming Bird" Red Squir-
rel replied, 81 do declare l always before this
thought that was a knot" Weasel exclaimed, "She
is my choice, too"
The boys father was heard to say, Come on,