THE NUTCRACKERS OF NUTCRACKER LODGE. If) 



sure that Tip would bring everything out right for them, 

 and have plenty laid up for winter. 



Now Featherhead took it upon him, for some reason or 

 other, to look down upon Tip Chipmunk, and on every 

 occasion to disparage him in the social circle, as a very 

 common kind of squirrel, with whom it would be best not 

 to associate too freely. 



"My dear," said Mrs. Nutcracker one day, when he was 

 expressing these ideas, "it seems to me that you are too 

 hard on poor Tip ; he is a most excellent son and brother, 

 and I wish you would be civil to him." 



" O, I don't doubt that Tip is good enough," said Feath- 

 erhead, carelessly ; " but then he is so very common ! he 

 has n't an idea in his skull above his nuts and his hole. 

 He is good-natured enough, to be sure, these very ordi- 

 nary people often are good-natured, but he wants man- 

 ner ; he has really no manner at all ; and as to the deeper 

 feelings, Tip has n't the remotest idea of them. I mean 

 always to be civil to Tip when he comes in my way, but 

 I think the less we see of that sort of people the better ; 

 and I hope, mother, you won't invite the Chipmunks at 

 Christmas, these family dinners are such a bore!" 



"But, my dear, your father thinks a great deal of the 

 Chipmunks ; and it is an old family custom to have all 

 the relatives here at Christmas." 



" And an awful bore it is ! Why must people of refine- 



