The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-12-15

"You remember that yesterday morn
ing we gave those shiftless Chat
ter-Reds the very last nut we
had" went on Mrs. Squirrel, putting
her paws in her apron pockets Ga very
bad sign, I assure you; it meant that
something was going to be done, and
done quickly.
Mr.. Squirrel went on stroking his
whiskers. This seemed the only reply
he could muster. He knew the facts
Of the case as well as his wife. Hadn't
he invited the Chatter-Reds in2 Hadn't
he felt sorry for them because they
looked so cold and hungry? Didn't he
know that all fall, when the nuts were
thickest, the Chatter-Reds had frolicked
instead Of getting in their winter sup
ply? Didn't he caution them a hundred
times, and hadn't they been rather
saucy about it? They had! and yet,
the day before Christmas they looked
SO forlorn he couldn't bear 1t. How
they had lived as long az they had was
something he did not like to think
about. So in they trooped, i've Of them I
They said very little and their noses
Quivered expectantly. The youngest
Of them, Charlie Chatter-Red, began to
whimper. They could not stop him.
And at last he said 1t right out loud.
He said, and the tears rolled down his
little cheeks like marbles spilled out Of
q boys pocket, I'm SO hungryl l
haven't had a thing to eat for two
days" And then he buried his head
in his mothers lap and howled. It was
all very sad. Mr.. Squirrel had q con-
sultation with his wife. They went In
a corner to talk it over. When you
yourself have just n nut left the day
before Christmas, it takes a long time
to decide to give it away. And one of
the reasons that they had just one nut
left was the fact that for some weeks
past they had been helping these same
shiftless Chatter-R Reds :! But Mrs. Squir-
tongue, and she said that she supposed
1t was their Christian duty to help
out unto seventy times seven! So the
last nut, a fine, fat one it was too, was
brought forth. Mr.. Chatter-Red almost
bowed himself in two with gratitude
and all the little Chatter-Reds danced
about like Indians. They whirled up
so much dust in Mrs. Squirrels living
room that every n began to sneeze.
At last they went home. And Mr.. and
Mrs. Squirrel stood and looked at one
another. But they said nothing at all.
And here it was Christmas and moth
ing in the cupboard!
"At least we can be thankful that
we h9"n no children" said Mr.. SPUR
rel. 'lh2y won't have to go hungry
on Christmas u....'
Mrs. Squirrel had nothing hut a
snort in answer to this. Mr.. Squirrel
crossed the and stood looking out
of the window. The landscape was not
very cheerful-gray sky. bare trees and
a cold wind that made one SILVER just
to hear it. A Merry Christmas indeed
Mrs. Squirrel still had her paws In
her apron pockets. She seemed to be
thinking very hard. The harder she
thought the more she cooked her head
on one side. She actually seemed in
danger of bending it so far it wovld
break off. Then the idea came. back
snapped her head! Out came hel
hands from her apron pockets! Over
to Mr.. Squirrel she marched anG
nudged him with her elbow.
my DEAR" she said, II have thought
Of something"
"What is it," demanded Mr.. Squire
Whirling about.
Put on your best coat, polish w
your shoes, take your silver-headet
cane and We'll go for a walk on Christ
mas morning"
But Sabrina," Chat was Mrs. SOUR
rel's name) he protested, II reall.