192 



Suddenly Mrs. Whiting said softly, " Look, 

 boys, there's the mother squirrel." 



There she was, sure enough, on top of the 

 wire netting. She had come in search of her little 

 one. 



" Let's try to catch her," said Billy. He stole 

 very softly toward the porch. The mother squirrel 

 waited until he reached the door, and then she was 

 gone like a flash, and she did not come back. 



When Joe went home a few days later he took 

 his squirrel with him. It had become perfectly 

 tame. His mother thought it was one of the pret- 

 tiest little pets she had ever seen. 



As it grew older, Joe carried it about with him 

 in his pocket or in the breast of his blouse. It 

 liked the blouse best. It would curl up and sleep 

 there, warm and snug. Then when it awoke it 

 would run up and peep out over his collar, with its 

 tiny pretty head and beady eyes. How soft and 

 furry it felt against Joe's neck ! 



One time he took it to school with him and when 

 it climbed down his sleeve, it tickled so that, before 

 he knew, he laughed out loud. 



" Joseph, was that you ?" asked the teacher. 



"Yes, ma'am," answered Joe, very much fright- 



