J. D. Williams

“ Tiny asked why she had left the City Wonderful.
“Because of family troubles,” replied the queen, somewhat ashamed. “We lived in perfect harmony until I learned that my daughter, the princess, would come out of her nursery cell in a few days to enter society. Princess bees are the only ones that cause trouble. They are fed on the finest food, and the nurses work hard to make their bodies as smooth and comely as possible. Of course, daughters that live in luxury and never have any responsibility are likely to be spoiled. Like all queen bees I am in fear of the eldest princess.” ”

“ All day long butterflies flit about in the shimmering sunlight, and by night thousands of fairies come out to dance in the pale moonlight.
In this town there once dwelt a young red squirrel named Tiny. He lived with his mother near the top of an oak tree. Mrs. Redsquirrel was a poor but industrious widow. Although red squirrels are said to be the most mischievous animals of the forest, she had taught Tiny to conduct himself in a proper way. In fact, he was much better behaved than Chatty Chipmunk, who lived in the ground at the foot of the tree. ”

“ Tiny scurried down the tree to find his hunting bag, and what was his delight to find other delicacies that would make his winter store complete.
“What a glorious jungle this is!” he cried. “I am glad I followed the advice of the owl prophet, for no squirrel has ever before been so fortunate. The ground is covered with pine cones, the seeds of which are delicious. Across the way is a large quantity of beech-nuts, and all around me are blackberry bushes. There is nothing else so delicious as dried blackberries.” ”

“ Squirreltown at once became the liveliest place you ever saw. All the citizens mingled together as if they belonged to one family, and they cheered loudly for Tiny Redsquirrel, whom they called their deliverer. ”

“ The upholsterer stores honey and pollen that looks like rose-colored jam. I dare say it is very delicious. The mason bees take bits of chalk, sand, and woody material, which they make into tiny bricks to use in building their little houses. Another kind of bee hunts for an old snail shell in which to make her house. There is another variety that builds its nest in the heart of the scarlet poppy. Some bees throw out sweet perfume. Although most bees work in the sunshine, there is a class, with wings tinted like the rainbow, that works by moonlight. ”

“ The fairy crawled upon a lady’s-slipper close by and flapped her wings until they were quite dry.
“You have done me a great service,” she said. “I’ll repay you some time when you least expect it. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“Don’t try,” said Tiny, with a polite bow. “I’ve been taught to protect the helpless, provided they are not too big for my protection. I hope you are quite dry now.”
“Yes, I shall be able to fly back to the city as soon as I get my breath,” she said. “I am a queen bee and I should not be out of my hive. ”

“ Opossum, Jolly Gopher, and his other chance acquaintances, he turned to bid his classmates goodby. The bird choir was still singing its sweetest airs.
“Your poem was very good for a beginner,” said Miss Hare, with a smile. “I suspect that you spent much time in its preparation.”
“I expect to write a better one in a year from now,” replied Tiny.
“You did not get frightened at all,” said timid Katie Goose, who had been unable to read her composition loud enough for her audience to hear.
“One is never afraid of an audience unless he is afraid of himself,” said Tiny. ”

“ We intend to keep them out of this jungle. We will watch your city every day and woe betide the bear that enters! Should one attempt to pass the city limits, an alarm will be sent out, and at least a thousand bees will chase him until he falls down exhausted. Bears, deer, and buffaloes are cowards. However, they do look very dreadful to small creatures like us.”
“I can never repay you for your courtesies,” said Tiny, this time bowing so low that his bushy tail looked like a canopy over his head. ”

“ Red squirrels are too mischievous to learn a great deal. They worry robins in their nests, frighten field mice, steal from the farmer’s granary, and spring the traps that hunters set for martens. Can you tell me who is the wisest of all living creatures?”
“I think it must be the donkey,” said Tiny after hesitating a few moments.
“The donkey is as stupid as a stump,” said the owl impatiently. “What makes you think that the donkey is the wisest of all creatures?” ”

“ Her wings are hard and stiff, so she can beat the air when she flies; but the feathers close to her tiny body are soft and warm.
She likes to build her nest beneath the gnarled roots of a tree or against a stone in a bed of moss. It is covered with a little dome and has a tiny door, which opens on the sunny side. I once peeped into Jenny’s home and found it neat and cozy. An orderly housekeeper she is, I can tell you! Her bed is made of fine feathers, hair, and delicate grasses. The roof of her home is made of moss, twigs, and lichens. ”

“ At that moment a terrible thumping sound was heard.
“What is that!” exclaimed Tiny, unconsciously drawing nearer to Reynard for protection.
“It is a warning for us to keep quiet,” said the fox. “Billy Beaver, the janitor, makes that noise with his tail whenever we become boisterous at night. You know that whenever a beaver wishes to warn his companions that danger is near, he makes a thumping sound with his tail. Really, the only clever thing about a beaver is his tail.”
The fireflies settled down to rest, leaving the roommates in darkness. ”

“ He eats and sleeps and grows larger all the time; and, finally, one day when the old birds are away, he tumbles his foster brothers and sisters out of the nest, and stretches himself out comfortably, waiting for his dinner. The selfish, cruel bird never thinks of anyone but himself. When his foster parents return, they are grieved not to find their little ones, but they do not scold the cuckoo at all. They keep on feeding him until he is full-fledged. Then, on some bright day, he takes wings and flies away, leaving his foster parents to grieve after him. ”

“ Chatty smiled foolishly and Tiny laughed heartily. The butterfly rested a long time. Then she flew away. The birds chattered gayly as the sun smiled brightly. The brook gurgled with glee and flowed merrily on. The chipmunk seemed wide awake after his drenching. For a half hour he scurried briskly along.
“Not far away some fine blackberries grow on low bushes,” he said. “We will find them and feast until dusk. When we become sleepy we will nap for a while.”
“We have wandered from our path,” protested Tiny. “We are lost!”
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Chatty. “Someone will show us the way home. ”

“ How many squirrels live in London?”
[18]
“London is filled with people, not with squirrels. Those hunters that frightened us the other day are people. They live in houses,” explained Tiny.
“How I should dislike London!” cried Chatty. “Do all people look as fierce as those hunters? I thought that hunters dwelt in holes in the ground. I supposed that they played in the trees and wandered about with huge guns and frightened little animals for amusement. I imagine that people must look very much like bears.” ”

“ When the grand old trees of the city appeared to view, Tiny shouted for joy. There is nothing in life so dear as home and its associations, and the country in which one lives, and the individuals with whom one associates. ”

“ I saw the nursery with the little badgers playing about in their bed of moss and grass. The mother badger was very civil to me. She is about the only animal that does not fear the sting of a bee, because her skin is so tough and her hair is so thick. It seems to me that of all animals, the badger is treated with the greatest cruelty. When the hunters catch her, they permit their dogs to torture her to death. The harder the poor creature fights to get away, the worse they abuse her, and the greater it pleases the cruel hunters. ”

“ When it rains, I stay indoors and sleep and eat. A gopher’s life is a very peaceful one.”
“I wish I might have pockets,” said Tiny, wistfully. “We squirrels don’t have them, you know. I believe I am the only squirrel that carries a hunting bag. It was made for me by a tailor bird. She is a rare and curious bird who makes a nest that looks like a bag. She selects tough leaves and sews them together with long, firm strips of growing plants. She uses her bill as a needle.”
“How remarkable!” exclaimed the gopher. “I think it would be nicer to carry a hunting bag than to have pockets in my cheeks. ”

“ While they are eating corn, a pack of dogs appears and drives them back to the woods. Before the poor raccoons can hide, the men with their guns attack them.”
“You should not steal the farmer’s corn,” reproved Tiny. “Thieves deserve punishment.”
“Yes, but the farmer does not treat us right,” replied the raccoon bitterly. “He steals our fur [21] and eats our flesh. He deceives us and slays us. He does all sorts of mean things.”
“I am sorry for you,” said Tiny. “Why should little animals of the forest suffer from the acts of mankind? Are you never safe from harm?” ”

“ Some day I hope you may visit the department store of Sheep, Goat & Co., and see for yourself how animals are advancing in knowledge. I understand that this great store employs almost a dozen clerks.”
“I have also learned how to write an invitation and notes of regret and acceptance. They seem to be very simple in their construction,” said Tiny, placing the quill in a shell filled with sand.
“No self-respecting animal should neglect his correspondence, no matter how busy he may be,” said Miss Hare. “As a rule, one who hates to write letters is one who cannot write them well. ”

“ There is much to do, but there are many classes of workers, from the honey gatherers to the bees that stand inside the hive, fanning with their wings to make currents of air; for without pure air the crowded City Wonderful would not be a fit place to live in. ”

“ A thorough knowledge of language and good manners were about all that Miss Hare was capable of teaching, for the little creatures of Animal Kingdom did not require as much learning as people of the great business world. Miss Hare told her pupils many times that the schoolroom is simply a place to teach the young how to educate themselves. Tiny, from past experience, had learned that some of the greatest lessons are taught outside the schoolroom. He often thought of the owl prophet, the queen bee, and the City of Ants. ”

“ Tiny said that he must hasten on.
“Do not be in a hurry, my restless quadruped,” said the owl. “Squirrels are always in a hurry. You are very nervous animals. It makes me dizzy to look at you. I am the wisest creature of the forest, yet you do not choose to tarry long enough to get some useful information. Do you still desire an education, or have you changed your mind?” ”

“ Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, wur-r-r.”
“How fortunate it is that an ugly creature may have the power to sing!” exclaimed Tiny so loudly that the toad who had been singing grew frightened and leaped into the tall grass.
“You have taught me the song of contentment, Mrs. Toad,” he continued. “I have many privileges that you do not enjoy, for you only venture forth at night. Although hundreds of animals are waiting to destroy you, your song never loses its vigor. Your only recreation is to catch a few insects and to sit in the moonlight, singing ‘Wur-r-r, wur-r-r, wur-r-r’.” ”