Chapter XVII

When Tiny learned to write letters, he spent many happy hours corresponding with his mother and his friends at Squirreltown. Almost every day a messenger pigeon brought him a letter, which he read with great pleasure. Here are a few of these letters that passed between Beaver Creek and Squirreltown:

Beaver Creek, Joy Co.,
Animal Kingdom,
May 1, ----.

My Dear Mother:

While you were sleeping away the long, cold winter, I was studying
with all my might, trying to keep at the head of my class.

I like Beaver Creek very much. Miss Hare is a good and capable
teacher. I shall be sorry to graduate from here in June, and yet I am
anxious to get back to Squirreltown again.

The spring flowers are blooming all about Beaver Creek. I wish you
could see how beautiful they are. The daisy, which is like a white
star, opens with the morning sun. The morning glory shuts up its
sweet petals before noon. The dandelion opens early, but closes when
the heat becomes too great. The anemone, so blue and so fragile,
sleeps at the approach of a storm; while the water lily curls up and
hides itself in the mud at the bottom of the pond. The marsh marigold
is a hardy little flower. It drinks, drinks, drinks, from morning
till night, pleased with any kind of weather.

I will tell you more about the beauties of Beaver Creek, one of
these days. In the meantime, please write and tell me about dear old
Squirreltown.

Your affectionate son,
TINY.

Mrs. Jane Redsquirrel,
124 Oak Avenue,
Squirreltown,
Animal Kingdom.

* * * * *

124 Oak Avenue,
Squirreltown,
Animal Kingdom,
May 8, ----.

My Dear Son:

I was very glad to hear from you and to learn that you are well and
happy.

Dr. Flyingsquirrel, the mayor, and many of your friends inquire about
you each day. Peggy and Bushy Graysquirrel, who have grown quite
large since you saw them, are planning to give a party for you when
you return.

You will be glad to learn that Chatty Chipmunk returned home just
before winter set in. He had been wandering for a long, long time.
Once he thrust his inquisitive nose into a nest of yellow-jackets,
and it took him a long time to recover.

I feel so sorry for the Chipmunks. They are all, with the exception
of Chatty, such active, industrious creatures. I fear he will never
outlive the bad habits formed in his early youth. He does little but
sleep in his round room at the end of the long hall, and eat large
quantities of beechnuts.

Now, my son, learn all you can. Do not eat too many acorns, and be
sure to keep your fur clean and smooth.

Your devoted mother,
JANE REDSQUIRREL.

Mr. Tiny Redsquirrel,
Beaver Creek, Joy Co., Animal Kingdom.

* * * * *

Beech Hotel,
Squirreltown, Animal Kingdom,
May 14, ----.

Dear Friend:

I received your jolly letter, and I am going to show my appreciation
by sending an early reply.

Sister Peggy and I are spending a few days with our friend, Polly
Blacksquirrel. We are all well, after our long winter’s nap, and are
enjoying ourselves greatly.

The other day, Polly took Peggy and me down to the pond to hear a
famous orchestra. We sat upon a mossy seat close to the blue water,
and patiently waited until all the musicians had come out of the
water and had taken their seats on the green lily pads. The leader
of the band was very pompous, and his white vest was covered with
medals. I had to laugh at the airs he put on.

The musicians, of course, were frogs, and they all wore green coats
and white vests. They looked so odd with their bulging eyes and
swelling throats! One large bull frog played a bass viol. He was a
savage fellow, and, frequently, he would go down into the water to
eat poor little tadpoles.

Now you know that gray squirrels are more fond of music than are any
other kind of squirrel; but, so far as I am concerned, I do not like
to be too close to a frog orchestra.

Is it not queer that frogs and fishes, both of which live in the
water, are so unlike? Polly’s father said that if a frog keeps his
mouth open very long, he will die; while a fish has to keep his mouth
open most of the time to permit his breathing organs to act properly.

Peggy and Polly join me in sending you our kindest regards.

Your true friend,
BUSHY GRAYSQUIRREL.

Tiny Redsquirrel, Esq.,
Beaver Creek,
Animal Kingdom.

* * * * *

Beaver Creek, Joy Co., Animal Kingdom,
May 18, ----.

My Dear Dr. Flyingsquirrel:

Mother told me that you would appreciate a letter from me; so, on
this beautiful morning, I have decided to write to you.

Yesterday, Miss Hare and we pupils were out in the thicket and on the
great moor east of Beaver Creek. We were studying nature, by which to
test the books that we read.

My companion was Winkie Weasel. He has a long, lean body, and a
short, black tail. He is very good-natured most of the time, but,
occasionally, he gets very angry over small things. Then his nose
seems to grow pointed, and his eyes turn green. He wears a yellow
coat now. Later he will change it for a dark brown one, while in
winter he wears white. Although Winkie takes things that do not
belong to him and tries to act innocent, I like him because he is so
bright and shrewd.

Such a glorious day as it was! The birds were chattering all about
us, building nests in which to rear their broods. Miss Hare said I
was fortunate to be able to climb so well, for it gave me such good
opportunities to inspect birds and their nests.

Once we were startled by a loud thump! thump! thump! Then we heard
a chorus of piping voices, and saw a covey of partridges running
through the tall grass. They are peculiar little creatures, and they
never try to run until some one almost steps upon them. They were out
hunting for seeds, buds, and insects. Miss Hare told us that the
partridge wears bristles that serve as snowshoes in winter, so it can
walk on the soft snow without sinking.

We saw pigeons fluttering about in the blue sky, while swallows, with
graceful, slender wings, flitted by, busily building their nests.

The sweet scent of spring had brought the cuckoos to the north. I
could see one of them flying in a very straight line, his long tail
steadying his flight. I have always loved the voice of the cuckoo;
but I do not admire the bird, since Miss Hare has told me how very
unprincipled she is.

I should like to tell you about some of the other birds I saw, but I
fear you would think my letter too long. Busy people like you do not
like to waste so much time reading letters.

Wishing you health and success, I am,

Yours very respectfully,
TINY REDSQUIRREL.

Dr. Airy Flyingsquirrel,
64 Hickory Ave.,
Squirreltown, Animal Kingdom.

* * * * *

64 Hickory Ave.,
Squirreltown, Animal Kingdom,
May 25, ----.

Dear Tiny:

Your letter filled my heart with delight. We old squirrels appreciate
letters from our young friends, and we are glad to be remembered in
our declining years. The young who remember the old will be rewarded
when they themselves are no longer young.

I, too, fly about a great deal, studying the various birds and their
eggs. You wrote about the cuckoo, and I agree with you that she is a
very unprincipled creature.

She lays her eggs on the hard ground, because she and her mate are
too indolent to build a nest. She places her eggs in various nests
for other birds to hatch. Usually she prefers robins’ nests, for they
are very comfortable. You can imagine how surprised the robin or any
other bird would be, when its brood hatches, to find among the number
a large, healthy cuckoo with a wide mouth and an enormous appetite.
But the kind foster parents feed the young cuckoo just as they do
their own children.

And what does the cuckoo orphan do to repay such kindness? He eats
and sleeps and grows larger all the time; and, finally, one day when
the old birds are away, he tumbles his foster brothers and sisters
out of the nest, and stretches himself out comfortably, waiting
for his dinner. The selfish, cruel bird never thinks of anyone but
himself. When his foster parents return, they are grieved not to find
their little ones, but they do not scold the cuckoo at all. They keep
on feeding him until he is full-fledged. Then, on some bright day,
he takes wings and flies away, leaving his foster parents to grieve
after him.

Jenny Wren is a neat, modest little body. Do you know her? She wears
a plain brown gown, for she has so much to do she cannot dress very
stylishly. Her wings are hard and stiff, so she can beat the air when
she flies; but the feathers close to her tiny body are soft and warm.

She likes to build her nest beneath the gnarled roots of a tree or
against a stone in a bed of moss. It is covered with a little dome
and has a tiny door, which opens on the sunny side. I once peeped
into Jenny’s home and found it neat and cozy. An orderly housekeeper
she is, I can tell you! Her bed is made of fine feathers, hair, and
delicate grasses. The roof of her home is made of moss, twigs, and
lichens.

We are all very well, and we hope that you will call to see us soon
after your return home.

Cordially yours,
AIRY FLYINGSQUIRREL.

Mr. Tiny Redsquirrel,
Beaver Creek,
Joy Co., Animal Kingdom.