204 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 



"This one is James," announced Mr. Prindle, as 

 the first chipmunk hurried across the porch toward 

 his chair. "His full name is James William Francis, " 

 he explained, "after a second-cousin of mine who 

 looked a good deal like him. I generally call him 

 James for short. The other two are Nip and Tuck, " 

 he went on. "Old Bill will be along in a minute. 

 You see," he continued, "he's an old bachelor and 

 lives all by himself quite a ways off. " 



"What about James?" inquired Honey. 



"He's been a widower," said Mr. Prindle, sadly, 

 "ever since his wife stayed out one day to get a good 

 look at a hawk." 



As he spoke, another chipmunk came around the 

 end of the porch and hastened to join the other three. 



"Here's Bill now," announced Mr. Prindle. 



Then the old man reached into his pocket and took 

 out a handful of butternuts and gave two to each of 

 the Band. 



"Hold one in your closed hand and the other 

 between your thumb and finger where they can see 

 it," he advised them. 



A moment later there was a chorus of delighted 

 squeals. Each chipmunk had run up and taken the 

 nut which was in sight, and was burrowing and 

 scrabbling with soft little paws and sniffling little 

 noses into four sets of clenched fingers, in an attempt 

 to secure the other hidden nuts. When the last of 

 them had disappeared, looking as if he had an attack 

 of mumps, the Band thanked Mr. Prindle and 

 started for home. 



