New Britain herald., 1930-09-02
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AN UNDERGROUND HOUSE


 By Thornton w. Burgess Be careful how and when you
 speak,
 But keep your tongue within you,
 cheek.
 -Impy the Chipmunk.
 Impy, the black chipmunk. wa, happy. Impy was working and that vas why he was happy. Nothing makes for greater happiness than work. I know that some Of you will have hard work to believe this. You think that play makes for happi- ness. Play does make for happiness but not the kind of happiness that you get from work we'll done. Ask Striped Chipmunk if this isn't so Ask Impy.
 Impy had never done any work before. He had nothing but play. You see, while he was growing up there was nothing for him to do but to eat, sleep and play. But, now that he wanted a home of his own, he must work to get it, and he was working.
 T want to get a good bedroom , said Impy, as he dug and pushed the sand out in a shining heap. Most of that sand had to go out on the surface. you know. He did find some places where he could pack sand in around some stones, and .this helped. "Yes, sir continued Impy, talking to himself for lack of any one else to talk to, T want a good, comfortable bedroom, and ] want it deep enough in the ground to be comfortable in the cold win ter I've heard about. Of course, I have never known winter yet, but from all I've been told it is we'll to be far enough down in the ground to be warm. I may as well build it now as by and by. Besides, I want it to sleep in.
 So when Impy reached the right point, or what he thought was the right point he began digging a bed room. It was oval in shape and big enough to accommodate more than being comfortable. He intended to make a good bed in there and have plenty of room to turn around. as the saying is. Once in a while he would stop outside to rest, for dig ging is hard work. He would climb up on the pile of stones or some times up on a fence post. Once as he climbed up on fence post he discovered Blacky the Crow sitting on the next fence post.
 'Well, well." exclaimed Blacky. "Who told you you could wear black? Black belongs to my family. Where is your striped coat?"
 T haven't any striped coat" re- piled Impy. Black may belong to your family, but it belongs to me, too. Old Mother Nature gave me this black coat and there is nothing for me to do but to wear it."
 Blacky nodded That's right, E said he. We all have to do what | Mother Nature tells us we must do. But, tell me. where did you come from and what are you doing here? Are you one of Striped Chipmunk's children?"
 Impy nodded and answered the last question first Striped Chip munk is my father" said he, and, of course. came from the old stone wall. AS to what am. doing here that is my business" The eyes of .Blacky the Crow twinkled. "Of course" said he, "of course. Have you decided to make a home around .here, or are you go- ing on to see more of the Great World?"
 1mpys eyes twinkled this time. That, too, is my business" said he. And I suppose that little pile of sand over back of those stones is your business, too," said Blacky. However. I won't tell anybody about It. No. sir, I won't tell any body about it.
 Impy couldn't find word to say, go he whisked down the post and : disappeared in the pile Of stones, while Blacky the Crow chuckled.