The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-07

and to squirm-and in few seconds to weep copiously and pity himself and call for help.
 It was all of no use
 Tot Tim merely held the chip and just waited until Miss Fancy came within earshot.
 Still Tot Tim did not reveal nor make himself visible to Miss Fancy. All he did was to maNe the elephant begin to think:
 Mercy, what terrible noise Is that l in this tree l am coming to?
 And when she arrived Miss Fancy stopped and looked up.
 Tot Tim had known that she would want to help,
 70 you poor little gray squirrel. what can be your trouble?" roared Miss Fancy.
 Was Gone 70, my foot's caught" walled the fun maker. T can't get it out at all. It's terrible, and III just die here like this"
 Tot Tim almost snickered out loud. He was making the squirrel think himself badly hurt. In reality the |
 But there was no laughing on Miss Fancy's part. The wonderful. kindly old elephant was more than sympa- thetic, and was only trying with all 1 her might and main to get a proper perspective on the portion of chip that fastened the squirrels foot. Finally she did. Then very delight edly, Miss Fancy called out;
 Just minute I see the trouble le Itt jiffy."
 Then, with her long trunk. Miss Fancy reached right up into the tree, and with one little push of that nose, which looked like it was always ready i to be stuck around in somebody's business, she showed the chip clear off the tree, just as Tom Tim re- leased it.
 So Sorry!
 Then the gray Squirrel had a change of heart instantly. He sprang ! down the tree and stopped right at front of Miss Fancy, looking into her big, soft, patient eyes.
 T just think you're the sweetest, finest thing in the world. Miss Fancy" said the gray squirrel, sim cerely. l surely thank you and, be- lieve me, if there is ever anything that I can do for you, I'll do it."
 70 don't mention it, playi" insist ed Miss Fancy. as she began to gath CT up her feet to continue her in- terrupted walk.
 But Tot Tim wasn't satisfied
 Suddenly he let the gray squirrel see him.
 But how about those ugly things you said about Miss Fancy while ago?" lie queried.
 Whereupon the gray squirrel com pletely broke down. He begged to be allowed to explain-for squirrels would rather die than have the faries think them ugly or cruel.
 Was Ashamed
 "Oh, little Tot Tim, I am so miser- able and so ashamed of what l said But l didn't want to tell Miss Fancy all I had said to others about her. don't believe it would have been kind. I am just going around and tell all the other squirrels and ani- T mals in the park it's absolutely a lie. and what horribi, thing I am. And l really am. I really was just jealous.
 And after I tell them. can you for give me-will you forgive me. little Tot Tim?"
 When Tot Tim finally said yes, the happy little gray squirrel that had quit being sarcastic and gossipy for ever ran right away to do as he said.
 And shall I tell you the pretuest ending of the whole story?
 The gray squirrel now can't see enough of Miss Fancy. They are the greatest pals, and often. way late at night. the squirrel will creep into the hedge close to Miss Fancy's stable. and chatter to her all about how the nut crop is coming on. what the bugs are doing which live under the white stones. and how the frogs. hidden all away, have been standing the winter weather. And he will tell Miss Fancy all the jokes that the animals in the zoo are passing around among themselves. Miss Fancy Talks. There they chatter until Miss Fan cy gets inspired and will relate what the gray squirrel most likes to hear all about the jungle and when she was a little baby elephant right in the middle of it. Also you must know that the | squirrel. long time ago, got little I chance to pay Miss Fancy back for saving his life" Tot Tim saw to it l after he had become all that good 1 squirrel could be. This was the way it happened:
 i A little girl whose father was missionary in Africa sent her some pretty things from that far ;way country packed in the grasses that grow in jungle land. Tot Tim flew i over to the house and when the little l girl had thrown the grasses into the yard. he took every straw, armfui by armful, to the park where the time saucy gray squirrel was erix inV Af them Miss Fancy. It was the finest bit of eating the elephant had enjoyed in long time, and she told the gray ] squirrel it took her right back to