Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-18

hoped up again, apparently looked
very hard in all directions to make
sure no one would detect him, and
then set industriously to work to open
the pail.
The cover was on tight. and the pail
was tall, but Skipjack was persevering.
Using his little front paws like hands,
and pushing with his little black nose,
he had the cover almost off, when off
rolled the pail with a great clatter to
the ground.
! Such an unexpected interruption
Of his pine tree, and Joseph threw him
, self flat on the ground and pressed
both hands hard on his mouth. But
presently Skipjack was back, very in
dignant, and more than ever bent on
getting that cover off-and yes-bang!
there it went, and Skipjack had the
pail on it's side, stuffed peanut into
each cheek, took third one between
his teeth and scampered gaily for his
| hole.
"Well!" said daddy 81 wouldn't
have believed it,"
ooh, daddy, isn't he the smartest,
| cunningest Skipjack!" Joseph shouted
| with long pent-up laughter.
"I'll take hand in this game now,
too," said daddy, and we'll see how
much the little scamp does know"
He took the pail, put few nuts in
side. put the cover on tight as before,
then stood the pail bottom side up on
the log and once more they all went
into hiding.
Soon Skipjack reappeared, always
wary, but intent on finding his pea
nuts He spied the pail at once, and
Immediately set to work. But where
was the part that came off? He chat
tered very wrathfully; then in sud-
! den flash he seemed to solve the prob
lem. The pail was pushed over, cover
off, and peanuts carried off as before.
I'm his friend now" laughed daddy,
land he can have all the peanuts he
wants this summer"
"But he doesn't eat them, does he?"
asked Joseph. ''He can't eat all he
carries Off"
mo, he has various storehouses-
the holes you see him pop down-and
he eats some, and puts away the rest
for winter He'll have very COM
Portable time next winter, won't he?"
don't come and camp near him and
give him peanuts?"
ooh, there are pine nuts, you know,
and hazelnuts, but he seems to prefer
peanuts. doesn't he? Or maybe he is
lazy and thinks it's easier to have pea
nuts handed out to him, all ready to
store. than it is to skirmish all
through the woods after his own win
ter supplies.
All that summer Joseph and mother
and daddy grew more and more in
innate with bright, furry little Skip
jack, and he apparently trusted them
more ard more daily, till at the end
of the summer he considered himself
one of the family, and would dart up
on Joseph's shoulder, or into his peck
ct after peanuts-but only if Joseph
would keep still. He never learned
quite to trust any sudden movement.
When it came time to pack up to go
home, poor little Joseph was almost
in tears, but not quite, because, you
see, he was "seven-going on eight
Never mind, DEAR comforted
mother; Eve all know he has plenty
of peanuts for all winter-more than
dozen Skipjacks could possibly eat
and he will sleep in his holes, and
wake up and eat the peanuts you gave
him, and next winter you can think
about him all curled up snug and
warm underground. with lots and lots
of peanuts around him, all ready to eat
whenever he wakes up. We have all
had such a good time here that you
know we are coming back next sum-
mer, and we'll bring flour sack of
peanuts with us. and put some out on
the wash basin log just the first min
ute we get back; and I'm sure little
Skipjack will whisk right out Of one of
his holes to see us, and after he has
sat nm on his little hind legs and folded.