38 Bird Day Book 



the oak away over there — farther than any squirrel has ever tried 

 to leap.' 



"The rest of the family teased him dreadfully. 



" 'Do !' cried one of his brothers. 'He is so little and good-for- 

 nothing he thinks the wind will blow him along !" 



"His mother fretted over his daring attempts and scolded him, 

 though to no purpose. 'You will certainly be killed !' she told him. 

 'Stop copying those silly birds ! Play with your own kind and help 

 gather acorns for the winter ! There will be few birds to play with 

 then, and fur is better than feathers for cold weather.' 



"The little squirrel did help with the acorns, but he would not 

 stop trying to fly. He loved the birds, and he spent so much time 

 with them that he grew happier and more joyous than before. He 

 loved to listen to the robin's evening song, and when the cardinal 

 and the oriole made the lane ring with their clear whistled notes he 

 thought of many lovely things and was glad to live in such a beauti- 

 ful world. 



"All the birds were fond of him. They helped and encouraged 

 him always, and when the bluebird left with the others for the 

 South he said to the youngest squirrel: 'Who tries his best to fly 

 may find his wings, little friend !' 



"The squirrel thought of that often during the long winter and 

 never ceased to try. By and by he felt that he was improving a 

 good deal. At last, one day in early March, he made a wonderful 

 leap from the old maple and landed quite easily on the distant oak. 

 How delightful it was ! He was so happy he wished he could sing, 

 and then, to his great surprise, he heard from the fence along the 

 lane the lovely spring song of his friend, the bluebird. He made 

 another splendid leap and reached the fence-rail to welcome the 

 returning traveler. 



" 'O little squirrel !' cried the bluebird. 'What did I tell you ? 

 You have tried your best, and you have found your wings !' 



"It was true, for the squirrel learned in that second leap what 

 had helped him to fly, if not quite like a bird, at least as no other 

 squirrel had dared to hope. Between his body and his strong little 

 legs the skin had grown in wide, loose folds, and when he flattened 

 himself for a leap they really made a sort of wings. 



"What a joyful little squirrel he was ! He never tired or trying 

 his new-found power, and when he chose a little gray mate, and 



