The Black Swans 



because they figured that predatory 

 cats or squirrels might reach it too 

 easily. The opening in this tiny house 

 was very small. We had observed, 

 however, that some creature of the 

 wild had been busy of late enlarging 

 the entrance. We had never had the 

 good fortune to catch any of these 

 woodmen at the task; so were un- 

 certain about the scheme in view. 

 Anyhow some one had now crammed 

 that little box full to overflowing with 

 acorns, against some day of need, and 

 we of course credit this bit of real 

 preparedness to the squirrels. None 

 of them live in the trees about the 

 house, but if the coming winter should 

 prove as hard as was the last, this 

 extra store might very acceptably sup- 

 plement the main larder located deeper 

 in the woods. So much by way of a les- 

 son from these little folk in the matter 

 of saving while the saving's good. 



All day long I have seen flitting 

 through the trees small birds innumer- 

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