University of Virginia Library

7. VII
JOHNNIE AND BILLIE IN THE CITY

JOHNNIE and Billie Bushytail and Jacko, the tame squirrel, sat on the branch of the tree where the nest was built. Grandpa Lightfoot was smoking his pipe, and reading the paper, and Grandma Lightfoot was mending some stockings — what's that? You didn't know squirrels wore stockings? Well, that's because you never saw the little fellows put them on and take them off. The stockings are hard to see, I admit that, but you must not interrupt me again, if you please. Well, then, Grandma Lightfoot was darning stockings, and Jennie Chipmunk was washing the dishes and singing.

She always sang when she washed the dishes, just as she always laughed when she made the beds, and swept the nest.

“I don't call this much fun, do you?” asked Jacko, the tame squirrel, of Johnnie when they had sat there ten minutes.

“Well, it isn't so bad,” replied Johnnie. “See, there is a little bird, getting some grass to build a new nest. I think it's lots of fun to watch her.”

“I don't, do you?” asked the tame squirrel of Billie.

“No; but it's fun to see that toad hopping along,” said Billie. Why, I can go ten times as fast as he can, and not hurry, either. It's fun to watch him.''

“You wood-squirrels have queer ideas of fun,” spoke Jacko.

“What do you call fun?” asked Billie.

“Why, going about and seeing things.

There is nothing to see here. Now down in the park, in Newark, where I was, why there was something exciting going on every minute. Yes, sir, think of that, every single minute in the day, and sometimes at night.”

“Oh, I'd rather sleep at night,” said Johnnie.

“So would I,” added Billie.

“Pooh! You don't know what life is,” exclaimed the tame squirrel. “Now, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take you two down to Newark with me, and show you the sights, if you like! How is that for something exciting?”

“Will you really?” cried Johnnie.

“Of course I will. Come on.”

“We'd better ask grandma or grandpa,” objected Billie.

“Oh, never mind bothering them. Come along,” urged Jacko. “If you tell them,

they may stop you. We'll go and hurry back before they miss you.”

“But how can we go?” asked Billie. “Isn't Newark a long way from the Orange Mountains?”

“Well, it is quite a distance admitted Jacko, "but — — ”

“I'll take you!” exclaimed a voice high up in the tree, and who do you suppose it was? Why, of course, the fish-hawk that had brought the little lost squirrel home. There he was, sitting up on top of the tree, looking off toward the ocean. “I'll take you to Newark,” he said, just as kind as could be. “I'm going down that way, and you all three can ride on my back. I sha'n't mind it a bit.”

“Will you bring us home?” asked Billie.

“Of course,” answered the fish-hawk, “you shall be back here by night.”

So Billie and Johnnie and Jacko all got

upon the broad back of the fish-hawk, and Grandma and Grandpa Lightfoot never knew a thing about it. Now, what do you think of that? Of course, Jennie Chipmunk knew, for she was looking out of the window; but then she was sure the fish-hawk would be kind to the squirrels, so she said nothing. Well, after a while the three squirrels came to Lincoln Park, where Jacko used to live. He knew it at once, though it was not so nice as in the summer time.

“Now you boys will see some excitement,” said Jacko, when he got off the fish-hawk's back. The big bird sailed away, after promising to stop for them on his return.

“Come on, let's have some fun!” cried Jacko, and he began racing up and down a tree.

Then, all at once, there was a dreadful noise, and something big and yellow dashed down the street.

“What was that?” cried Johnnie.

“That,” said Jacko, “was a trolley car. Don't be afraid, silly.”

But Johnnie was, and so was Billie. Then pretty soon something big and shiny, with sparks shooting out from it, dashed by with a clang of bells.

“What's that?” cried Billie.

“That,” said Jacko, “is a fire engine. Don't be afraid of that, silly.”

But Billie was, and so was Johnnie. Then after a while some boys saw the squirrels in the tree.

“Oh, come on!” they cried. “Here are some squirrels! Let's throw stones at 'em!” And they did, and Billie was nearly hit. And a big dog barked at them. Oh, how loudly he barked, and more boys came, and girls, too, and looked at the little squirrels until a policeman hurried up and drove the

[Description: Full page color illustration by Louis Wisa. Two squirrels are riding through the air on a bird's back.]

crowd away. All that day Billie and Johnnie and Jacko stayed up in the tree, and they didn't dare go down for fear of being hurt. So they didn't have a nice time at all, and were glad when the fish-hawk came to take them home. To-morrow night you shall hear about Billie and Johnnie and the toads.