What the Squirrel Did for Richard. 103

a bit dazed by these quick changes, he rushed into
the house. His mother was sitting before the fire,
sewing, while the big pet cat, “‘ Tabby,” lay curled
upon the rug at her feet. Richard was in a state
of great excitement, and when Mrs. Burton heard
the story of the squirrel, which he told her, she
smiled and said :

“My little boy must not lie down in the woods
and take his naps again.”

“Oh, Mamma, you think I was dreaming, but
this was no dream. I can really turn myself into
a squirrel, whenever I like—I will show you.”
And Richard rubbed the little finger of his right
hand over his chin, and then, how it happened
Mrs. Burton could never tell, but the first thing
she knew, her boy had vanished, and running
across the room she saw a little red squirrel |

But alas! the cat had seen it, too, and like a
flash was after it, giving it no time to press the
knob, and change itself back into a boy. Poor
Mrs. Burton screamed in her fright, while round
the room, over chairs and tables, flew the two!
Then the boy-squirrel ran to his mother’s arms for