There were several cookies left in the box, 

 some slices of bread, and nearly half a loaf of 

 bread uncut. 



Down the log ran Chickaree with a second 

 slice, I watching from where I sat, following 

 him by the gleam of the white bread, which 

 showed clearly in the tangle and dark of the 

 forest. It flashed, then vanished, then flashed 

 again into view— flash, flash, flash— round and 

 round and round up a tall spruce, till I lost it 

 in the top. We were trying to catch sight of 

 him returning, when he startled us by again 

 landing, with a sudden leap, right in the middle 

 of the bor. 



This time he found the uncut loaf; and he 

 also found the measure of his wit and muscle. 

 Now he grew greedy. He should have been 

 content with the slices. Covetousness, also, goeth 

 before a fall. 



There are some of us humans who will take 

 the half-loaf when we cannot get the whole ; 

 but it were better for most of us if even the 

 half-loaf were sliced. How much better it 

 would have been for Chickaree ! 



Here was a windfall, such a windfall as comes 

 [239] 



