burt] BAD MR. SQUIRREL 307 



Of all animals, the pig is naturally the neatest, keeping its 

 bed clean in spite of the filthy surroundings. I do not know how 

 the wild hogs protect their young but in defending them, the tusks 

 are used to good advantage. Sometimes it is dangerous to. 

 attempt to take a little pig from its mother, for one is in danger 

 of being bitten quite badly. 



When the weather is cold pigs form a bed and huddle close 

 together for mutual warmth and protection. 



Bad Mr. Squirrel. A Story for Primary Pupils 



Aden a K. Burt 

 Lake George, N. Y. 



It was the brightest morning you ever saw and Mr. Squirrel 

 woke up^very early; long before you and I ever think of getting 

 up. He scampered out on one of the tip end branches to look 

 around and see if any of his friends were up too; the branch 

 wouldn't have held us even when we were tiny babies. He sat 

 there washing and rubbing his eyes to send Mr. Sandman home. 



But he wasn't the only one who wanted to play in the pretty 

 sunshine, right below him scampering along the stonewall was 

 Mrs. Chipmunk with her cheeks all puffed out. She looked like 

 Big Brother when he had the mumps. "Good morning, Mrs. 

 Chipmunk," called Mr. Squirrel, "and what are you doing up so 

 early?" "Oh, I am very busy gathering all kinds of good nuts 

 for my family to eat this winter. You see I keep my food away 

 down under the earth in a big room and when I wake up in the 

 winter, I don't have to come out in the cold and snow like you 

 to get my breakfast, it is right before me, Mr. Squirrel. Be- 

 sides, I have to be up before the little children come to school or 

 they will fill their pockets with my nuts for their teacher." 



"Oh, I store up my food too," said Mr. Squirrel, "but not all 

 in one place under the earth like you. I keep mine in attics 

 way up here in the trees. In the winter when I get hungry I 

 come out and go to my little attics and eat ; I don't mind the cold 

 at all." 



"Did you see that little boy here last night with that big, 

 big gun," said Mrs. Chipmunk. "Oh, yes I did," said Mr. 

 Squirrel, "and I sat just as still, curled up in a little ball on that 



