GALLAHER A STORY OF JIM, THE NORMAL SCHOOL SQUIRREL 251 



One day Jim made a sad mistake. He chewed up part of his 

 bed and tipped what was left to the floor. That was all right 

 while it was bright and sunny but bitterly did he repent when 

 it grew dark and cold. When I cam.e hom_e that night some 

 thing was stirring over by the trunk. I guessed that Jim was 

 in trouble and soon had him in my arms. A very tired and sleepy 

 baby he was, perfectly willing to snuggle up close while I found 

 what was left of his bed. I put the bed clothes in the box and 

 put Jim in. He stretched out, rolled over on his back and was 

 almost instantly asleep. 



Som,e time after, in the course of his investigations, he dis- 

 covered that the back of the bureau drawer was a good place 

 to chew. He chewed for some time and then found that he 

 could climb into the drawer. After that no other bed suited 

 him. He did not object if I opened the drawer and petted him 

 as he lay curled up in a fluffy ball. On hot nights he didn't 

 mind if I opened the drawer half way. When once he had gotten 

 into his bed he liked to have his ears rubbed. He would roll 

 over on his back, stretch out his tail and his four paws and close 

 his eyes in bliss. Som.etim.es he would take m.y finger in his 

 little forepaws and half nip and half suck it. 



Oh, Jim. was a most lovable little creature at bed tim,e! There 

 were a number of cool nights during the sum.m,er and on those 

 nights he curled into a ball with his tail close about him. Often 

 we would spread a blanket over him. and there he would lie, 

 cosy and warm, sometimes the entire night. 



Jim was very particular about his personal appearance and 

 seemed specially proud of his lovely bushy tail. It was a never 

 ending source of enjoyment to watch him m,ake his toilet. 

 As soon as he got out of bed he would climb to the window-sill, 

 sit there and wash his face over and over with his fore paws. 

 Then he would seize that beloved tail, fluff it out and nip it with 

 his teeth. Next he would stretch— and such stretches! He 

 even spread out his tiny fingers, at the sam.e time yawning 

 and sticking out his wee red tongue. Then he was ready for 

 breakfast. In fact I never saw the time when Jim was not ready 

 to eat. His com was kept in a tin coffee box. He learned to 

 tip it over and push ofi" the cover with his teeth. So I jmt it 

 in a drawer where he couldn't get it. Jim soon learned where 

 it was kept and when I started for the bureau he would hurried- 



