94 RIVERBY 



time she is a constant source of amusement. It is 

 impossible to remain long angry with her, however 

 atrocious her crimes are. We are obliged to let 

 her run loose through the house, for, when shut up, 

 she squeals and chatters and rattles her cage so we 

 can't endure it. From one piece of mischief to an- 

 other as fast as she can go, she requires constant 

 watching. She knows what is forbidden very well, 

 for, if I chance to look at her after she has been up 

 to mischief, she quickly drops down flat, spreads her 

 tail over her back, looking all the time so very inno- 

 cent that she betrays herself. If I go towards her, 

 she springs on my back, where I cannot reach her 

 to whip her. She never bites me, but if others 

 tease her she is very vicious. When I tease her, 

 she relieves her feelings by biting any one else who 

 happens to be in the room; and it is no slight mat- 

 ter being bitten by a squirrel's sharp teeth. Know- 

 ing that the other members of the family are afraid 

 of her, she amuses herself by putting nuts in their 

 shoes, down their necks, or in their hair, then stand- 

 ing guard, so that if they remove the nuts she flies 

 at them. 



"Chuck will remember an injury for months, 

 and take revenge whenever opportunity ofi'ers. She 

 claims all the nuts and candy that come into the 



house, searching Mr. B 's pockets on Sunday s^ 



never on other days. I don't see how she distin- 

 guishes, unless from the fact that he comes home 

 early on that day. Once, when she caught one of 

 the girls eating some of her nuts, she flew at her, bit 



