62 THE SQUIRRELS THAT LIVE IN A HOUSE. 



the building of their nests with the greatest interest, 

 then an opinion in favor of human beings began to gain 

 ground, and every cricket and bird and beast was loud 

 in their praise. 



"Mamma," said young Tit-bit, a frisky young squirrel, 

 to his mother one day, " why won't you let Frisky and me 

 go into that pretty new cottage to play ? " 



" My dear," said his mother, who was a very wary and 

 careful old squirrel, " how can you think of it ? The race 

 of man are full of devices for traps and pitfalls, and who 

 could say what might happen, if you put yourself in their 

 power? If you had wings like the butterflies and bees, 

 you might fly in and out again, and so gratify your curi- 

 osity ; but, as matters stand, it 's best for you to keep well 

 out of their way." 



" But, mother, there is such a nice, good lady lives there ! 

 I believe she is a good fairy, and she seems to love us all 

 so ; she sits in the bow-window and watches us for hours, 

 and she scatters corn all round at the roots of the tree 

 for us to eat." 



"She is nice enough," said the old mother-squirrel, "if 

 you keep far enough off; but I tell you, you can't be too 

 careful." 



Now this good fairy that the squirrels discoursed about 

 was a nice little old lady that the children used to call 

 Aunt Esther, and she was a dear lover of birds and squir- 



