A DIGRESSION ON SQUIRRELS 



there I be'held a sight that would have 

 frozen the blood in the veins of the mater- 

 nal-hearted Jenny, could she have under- 

 stood the purport of the deed. 



A mother robin was flying frantically 

 around, calling out in an agony of distress 

 while a cannibal of a red squirrel sat on a 

 branch, calmly devouring one of her nest- 

 lings. There was no question of rescue, for 

 the baby was dead, half-eaten in fact; but I 

 took a savage satisfaction in spoiling the 

 remainder of the meal of the bloodthirsty 

 little kidnapper. He was only one of a 

 band inhabiting the ravine. I will frankly 

 acknowledge that then and there I. expe- 

 rienced a revulsion of feeling towards his 

 whole kind. 



And now I should like to tell you how 



my gradually decreasing prejudices against 



squirrels in general were finally overcome 



(not that I ever entertain any but revenge- 



177 



