122 BEYOND THE PASTURE BARS 



Then came an inquisitive little chickadee, behind 

 whom one of the squirrels, now only a bundle of 

 curiosity, crept down within reach of me, flattened 

 himself to the trunk, and began to talk to himself 

 about me in little broken snorts, sniffs, coughs, and 

 snickers, punctuating every snicker and cough and 

 sniff and snort with quick, short jerks of his tail. 

 What did he say about me I Making fun of me, 

 perhaps, because I could not climb trees and bite 

 off pine-buds. I don 't know. But I do know this, 

 that, whatever he said, I enjoyed having him near 

 me, for I am sure that he half enjoyed my being 

 near him. And I like the hillside better for hi's 

 sake. It would often be dull and silent if he were 

 gone, for he is a sociable little scamp, if he is a big 

 scold. 



