The Story of a Graysquirrel 



below and above, thus leaving her foot 

 and body scent everywhere about, then 

 gathered a great mouthful of springtime 

 twigs, with their soft green leaves, and 

 laid them in the Hawk nest for the floor- 

 cloth of her own. 



She went farther, and found a sassa- 

 fras, with its glorious flaming smell of 

 incense, its redolence of aromatic purity, 

 and with a little surge of joy instinctive 

 she gathered bundle after bundle of the 

 sweet, strong twigs, spread them out for 

 the rug and matting of the house. And 

 Bannertail did the same, and for a while 

 they worked in harmony. Then was 

 struck a harsh, discordant note. 



Crossing the forest floor Bannertail 

 found a rag, a mitten that some winter 

 woodcutter had cast away, and, still ob- 

 sessed with the nursery garnish of his own 

 farm-kitten days, he pounced on this and 

 bore it gleefully to the nest that they were 



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