193 



ened, and, hastily slipping the squirrel into his 

 pocket, he put his hand over it so that it could not 

 get out. 



"Come here, Joseph," said the teacher. Then, 

 as he mounted the platform, she asked, "What 

 have you in your pocket ? " 



Joe was afraid to tell her. He only looked at 

 her in silence. 



The teacher put her hand in his pocket. When 

 she felt something warm and furry and alive, she 

 gave a little cry. Then the squirrel peeped out. 



"Joseph, you horrid boy, what have you in your 

 pocket .? " the teacher cried, rising from her chair, 



" It's my flying squirrel." 



All the scholars began to laugh, and the teacher 

 could not help smiling a little herself, but Joe 

 looked ready to cry, 



"You shouldn't have brought it," she said. 

 " School is no place for pets. You'll have to shut 

 it up in your desk now until you go home, and 

 never bring it here again." 



Joe was glad to get off so easily. He shut Dicky 

 (that was the squirrel's name) inside his desk and 

 began to study, but the little animal was not con- 

 tent to be left there in the hard, cold desk alone ; 



Pyle's Humble Friends.— 13. 



