Bannertail 



for the lively, long-tailed Foundling. So 

 did others of importance, men and women 

 folk of the farmhouse, and neighbors 

 too. The frisky Graycoat grew up amid 

 experiences foreign to his tastes, and of a 

 kind unknown to his race. 



The Kitten too grew up, and in mid- 

 summer was carried off to a distant farm- 

 house to be "their cat." 



Now the Squirrel was over half-grown, 

 and his tail was broadening out into a 

 great banner of buff with silver tips. 

 His life was with the old Cat; his food 

 was partly from her dish. But many 

 things there were to eat that delighted 

 him, and that pleased her not. There 

 was corn in the barn, and chicken-feed 

 in the yard, and fruit in the garden. 

 Well-fed and protected, he grew big and 

 handsome, bigger and handsomer than 

 his wild brothers, so the house-folk said. 

 But of that he knew nothing ; he had never 



[12] 



