Evening star., 1933-12-18

TINE MORE some people have the
more they want, or so it seems,
anyway. Having more than they
ever can use, they are not salts
fed, and would take from others
who have less. 1t is a form Of selfish
ness. Sammy Jay could get all the corn,
peanuts and sunhower seeds he needed
and more on feeding shelf at Farmer
Browns window. There was plenty
there, and every day a new supply.
Was Sammy satisfied? He was until he
discovered that in a tree In the Old
Orchard Farmer Browns Boy had put
up a box with a supply of corn and
nuts, but so arranged that one must
enter the box through hole to get at
those good things, and this was some
thing Sammy didn't care or didn't dare
to do.
That box had been put up especially
for Happy Jack, the Gray Squirrel. and
his relatives, who could not reach the
feeding shelf at the window. Yet when
Sammy saw Happy Jack and Mrs.
Happy enjoying the things put out
for them he wanted a share, and be-
cause he couldn't get it he didn't want
them to have any. A worse form Of
selhshness than that I do not know.
He knew that Chatterer, the Red Squir-
rel was not afraid Of Happy Jack and
that If he found this feeding box he
would try to drive Happy Jack away.
So he dropped a hint to Chatterer
Acting on that hint, Chatterer had
reached the Old Orchard without be-
ing seen, and now was hidden in the
old stonewall watching Happy Jack and
Mrs. Happy, fairly itching to get over
to that box, yet biding his time, for
while he was not afraid Of Happy Jack
alone, he knew he was not a match for
two.
AT last Mrs. Happy Jack, having I'm
ished her breakfast left for the Green
Forest. Happy Jack was not yet ready
to 60 home. Black Pussy and Flip. the
Terrier, were not in sight. so he decided
to run over to Farmer Browns house
only until Happy Jack was half way
across the dooryard. Then he darted
from his hiding place in the old wall
and q moment later he was up at that
box in the apple tree and inside.
There were no hickorynuts, for the
Happy Jacks had taken the few there
had been, but there were peanuts and
corn. Chatterer fairly Rugged himself
in sheer delight in such bounty. He
wasted no time in beginning his break
fest.
He was sitting on the little shelf eat
ing peanut when Happy Jack returned
on his way to the Green Forest. He
decided that he had room for one more
peanut and looked up to that box.
There sat Cousin Chatterer. Instantly
Happy Jack few into a rage and started
up that tree.
Thief Robber!" he shrieked. Get
away from there! That food Is mine.
all mine! You have no right to til Go
on back to the Green Forest, where you
belong. You have no business over
here. Go on! If you don't I'll"
with s T oIsh Sau fa hs ssns sye:
me What you will do! I have Just as
much right here as you have. Just try
on the branch where he had stopped
just within easy jumping distance Of
that little shelf where Chatterer sat.
But he didn't jump. No. sir, he didn't
jump. His impudent. bright-eyed, red
coated cousin was less than half his
size, yet Happy Jack didn't Jump. He
ground his teeth and poured out q tor
rent Of threats and bad names. but he
remained where he was. Chatterer I'm
ished his peanut, darted inside the
house for another and was back again
on that shelf before Happy Jack could
make up his mind what to do.
Meanwhile, Sammy Jay had arrived
and was adding his voice, calling both
thieves. Altogether it was a most un-
pleasant quarrel, and all because of
selfishness, the most foolish kind Of
selhshness. Sammy Jay couldn't get
that food anyway, but he didn't want
the others to have it. There was plenty
for Happy Jack and Chatterer, too, but
each wanted all Of it. SO they quar-.
relied and called each other names and
made a most disgraceful scene. Alas!
how many human folk there are Just
like them. ~
(Copyrisht, 1933)