Johnnie and Billie Bushytail Read online

  IX

  LOST IN THE DARK WOODS

  DID any of you children ever run away? No, I'm sure you never did, and I hope you never will. But you can't always tell what squirrels are going to do, especially when their names are Billie and Johnnie. Of course, I'm not saying that if their names had been something else they wouldn't have run away from Grandma and Grandpa Lightfoot, for I can't be sure of that. Anyhow, Billie and Johnnie Bushytail ran away, and this is how they did it:

  In the nest at the top of the big tree everything had been going nicely for some days. Johnnie and Billie went out day by day and gathered acorns, nuts and grains of corn, or else they got some sweet bark or some chewing gum from wild cherry trees. They practised jumping, and they washed their faces and hands and kept their bushy tails in order. In fact, they were as good squirrels as they could be, until suddenly an idea popped into Billie's head.

  One day, when everything was as still and as quiet in the woods as it is in church when nobody is there, Billie said to his brother:

  “Let's do something.”

  “What shall we do?” asked Johnnie.

  “Let's run away,” suggested Billie.

  “Where?” asked Johnnie. “I don't want to go down to that park in Newark again, where the fire engines and the trolley cars make so much noise.”

  “No, we'll not go there,” agreed Billie.

  “Where will we go, then?”

  “Oh, let's run off in the woods, and see what happens.”

  “What for?” asked Johnnie. “Isn't it nice here? We have a good nest and plenty to eat.”

  “Yes, but nothing ever happens here,” complained Billie. “Come on, let's run away. Jennie Chipmunk isn't looking, grandma is taking a nap, and grandpa has gone to the postoffice.”

  So the little squirrel brothers ran away. Would you believe it? They did. Yes, sir, they slipped into the nest, got some nut sandwiches to take along in case they got hungry, and ran away.

  At first it was lots of fun. They jumped about in the trees and saw many strange sights. They got farther and farther away from home, into a part of the big park on top of Orange Mountain, where they had never been before. They looked up at the blue sky and they looked down at the earth, which was just getting green, ready for spring, and they shouted and called to each other, they were so happy.

  “Let's eat our sandwiches,” suggested Johnnie, after a while, so they sat down on a log and finished them up in less than no time, if you know how long that is. This done, they went on again, playing tag and leaping about, until it began to get dark. Then they were not quite so happy, and Johnnie would have been glad to go home, only he did not like to say so, for fear Billie would think he was afraid. So they kept on, and it was getting darker and darker and darker.

  “Where will we stay to-night?” asked Johnnie.

  “Oh, we will find a hollow tree somewhere,” said Billie. “We are travelers now, seeking our fortune, and it does not much matter where we stay.”

  They looked and looked, but they couldn't find a hollow tree to stay in, and it got darker and darker, and colder and colder. Pretty soon they heard a noise in a tree over their heads, and a big bird swooped down on them. It almost caught them, only Billie pulled Johnnie away in time. Then a snake tried to catch them, and they had to hide under the leaves. Oh, how frightened they were, and, all at once, just as they were wishing they were safe home, what should they hear but some one calling:

  “Who? Who? Who?”

  “It's me--Billie Bushytail,” answered Billie, but the voice called again:

  “Who? Who? Who?” and Billie told Johnnie to answer, so Johnnie said: “It's me --Johnnie Bushytail.” But the voice sounded again, “Who? Who? Who?” oh, so loud and shivery. Maybe those little squirrel boys weren't frightened! They cuddled down under the leaves as far as they could cuddle, when all of a sudden they saw two big fiery eyes staring at them. And the eyes came nearer and nearer, and the squirrels were shivering and wondering what was going to eat them up, when what should happen but that they heard a jolly laugh! Oh, such a jolly laugh! And who should the eyes belong to but Jennie Chipmunk. They knew her at once by her laugh. Then she called: “Oh, you poor, frightened little chaps. Lost all alone in the deep, dark woods! My, how worried grandpa and grandma are! I've been hunting everywhere for you, and now I'm going to take you straight home.”

  Which she did, leading them through the forest by the light of a last year's firefly preserved in a bottle. And who do you suppose it was that called to them? Why, of course, you've guessed it--an owl! What do you think of that? Now, provided the doctor says it is all right, you shall hear about Possum Pinktoes to-morrow night.

  X

  POSSUM PINKTOES AND BILLIE

  GRANDMA and Grandpa Lightfoot were so glad to have Jennie Chipmunk bring back Johnnie and Billy Bushytail, after they had run away, that they did not scold the little boy squirrels very much. Indeed, Johnnie and Billie were quite ashamed of themselves for making their kind grandparents worry, and they promised never to do so again.

  Well, it was about three days after this, or maybe it was three days and a half--I can't be quite sure, because, you see, Jennie Chipmunk took my calendar to use for paper on the pantry shelves--anyhow, it was not very long after, that Billie Bushytail was walking alone in the woods. Johnnie had gone to the drug store after some more wild cherry bark for Grandpa Lightfoot's cough, and Billie was all alone. He jumped from one tree to another, his tail whistling in the wind, when all at once, he heard some one call to him;

  “Where did you learn to jump?” asked a voice.

  “My grandfather taught me,” answered Billie, “or, to be more correct, it was a big bird that scared me and Johnnie, so that we jumped before we knew it. But who are you?”

  He looked down, and all he could see was a little bunch of fur, curled up on a limb of the tree.

  “I'm here,” the voice continued. “I'm practising sleep, so when I'm caught folks will think I'm dead, and let me alone.”

  And what do you suppose? if it wasn't that bunch of fur that was talking. Yes, sir; that bunch of fur, that looked just as pussy does when she curls up in front of the stove. Now what do you think about that for something strange?

  “Who are you, anyhow?” asked Billie, and he was beginning to get frightened.

  “Oh,” said the bunch of fur, “I'm Possum Pinktoes,” and with that out of the fur came a little sharp nose, and some sharp claws, and a long tail, and two bright eyes looked up to Billie.

  “Possum Pinktoes,” repeated the squirrel. “Why are you called that?”

  “Well, because I have pink toes,” answered the little creature. “My father is Dr. Possum, you know, and he named me. He ought to know what to name me.”

  “I suppose he ought,” said Billie. “But what are you doing here?”

  Then Possum Pinktoes told how he had to practise making believe he was asleep. Don't you think that was a very strange thing to do? But, you see, he did it for a reason. When some animals see what they think is a dead creature, they will not touch it, and Possum Pinktoes, by making believe he was asleep, could look as if he really were dead, when he was very much alive. But thing of making believe he was asleep! I've known lots of children who pretended they were wide awake, when they were as sleepy as they could be, but I never saw any children who made believe they were asleep when they were awake.

  “Is that all you are doing?” asked Billie.

  “Oh, no, indeed,” answered Possum Pinktoes. “That is only one of the things I can do. Presently I am going to hang by my tail. I have to do that. Watch me.”

  He made a quick motion, and--would you believe me?--there he was hanging down from the limb of the tree by his tail.

  “My gracious!” cried Billie Bushytail. “That is a very good trick indeed! A very good one! I wonder if I could do that?”

  “Did you ever try?” asked Possum Pinktoes.

  “No,” answered Billie, “I never did.”

&nb
sp; “Then,” said Possum Pinktoes, “you don't know whether you can do it or not. You never know whether you can do a thing until you try it. Watch me carefully, and see if you can hang by your tail. You have a nice, large one. I should think you could.”

  So, after Billie Bushytail had watched Possum Pinktoes for a few minutes, and saw how gracefully the furry creature hung by his tail, the little squirrel decided to try it.

  “Who knows?” said Billie. “Perhaps some day I may get into a circus, and can do this trick.”

  So he tried to wind his tail around the limb, as he had seen Possum Pinktoes do, and he let himself drop toward the ground. Then, what do you suppose happened? Why, Billie Bushytail fell right to the earth, as quick as could be, and my! what a bump he gave his nose. It bled a little, not quite as much as did the maid's nose who was out in the garden hanging up the clothes, but pretty much. Then Billie ran home crying, and his grandfather told him he was a foolish little squirrel, and should never try hanging by his tail again. And Billie never did. Now, what shall I tell you about to-morrow night? Oh, I know. How would you like to hear about Johnnie and the sly, sly old fox?

  XI

  JOHNNIE BUSHYTAIL AND THE FOX

  YOU see, it all happened this way: Johnnie and Billie Bushytail had quarreled. Johnnie wanted to play with Billie's bow and arrow, or else Billie wanted to take Johnnie's knife. I really can't, at this moment, remember just what it was. But I'm sure of this, either Billie wouldn't let Johnnie have what he wanted, or else Johnnie wouldn't give in to his little squirrel brother. So they quarreled. Then Johnnie puffed up his tail, just as a cat does when it gets angry, and he went off by himself in the woods. He didn't much care where he was going, and he thought maybe, if he went a long way off, and never, never, never came back, or if a Wahoo should catch him, why then maybe Billie would be sorry for being so cross to him. I don't just know what a Wahoo is, but I'm sure it is something dreadful.

  So Johnnie wandered off by himself in the woods. Grandpa Lightfoot didn't say anything when he saw his little grandson going off like that. The old gentleman squirrel just looked over the edge of his glasses and said to Grandma Lightfoot:

  “Well, maybe a long walk will do him good.”

  “I'm sure it will,” said grandma, “only I hope he comes to no harm,” for she loved Johnnie, and, for that matter, so did grandpa, only he knew that sometimes boys had to learn by experience.

  Well, Johnnie walked a long, long way into the woods, and the first thing he knew, some one shouted at him:

  “Hello, Johnnie Bushytail!”

  Johnnie looked up, and then he looked down, but he could see no one, and he thought perhaps he had dreamed it. Then he heard the voice again:

  “Hello, Johnnie Bushytail!”

  He looked up, and what should he see but a great big, red, furry creature, with a big tail and a sharp nose and a pair of the brightest eyes you ever saw. Brighter even than Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy's eyes.

  “Oh,” said Johnnie, “who are you?”

  “Why,” said the creature with the big tail, “I'm a squirrel, just like you”; and he wasn't at all; he was a big fox--now, what do you think about that, eh? “Yes,” he went on; “I'm a squirrel. Won't you come over to my house and play? We'll have lots of fun.”

  “I never saw a squirrel as big as you,” said Johnnie.

  “Oh, well, you see I am quite an old squirrel,” said the fox, cunningly, for he wanted to get Johnnie into his den, where he would probably eat him. “When one gets old, one gets larger.”

  “My grandfather is old,” said Johnnie, “but he is not as large as you are.”

  “Well,” said the fox, “of course that may be true. Perhaps he doesn't eat enough. It takes lots of eating to make one fat. I eat lots. I am always hungry.”

  “Are you hungry now?” asked Johnnie.

  “Yes!” cried the fox, and he smacked his lips, and then he said, quickly: “Oh, I mean no--I'm not a bit hungry,” for he thought maybe Johnnie would be frightened.

  “I never saw a squirrel with such a big tail,” went on Johnnie.

  “Oh, well,” answered the fox, “that is a small matter. You see, I got this big tail when I was a boy, and I never bothered to change it. But I do assure you that I am a squirrel, and I'd like to have you come and play with me. I have lots of nice things in my den, and if you'll come along, I'll recite a little verse for you.”

  “Will you, really?” asked Johnnie, who was fond of poetry.

  “I will,” said the fox. “Listen to this,” and he recited: I dearly love a little duck, A chicken or a turkey, And when I see a great big goose It makes me feel----

  “What rhymes with turkey?” asked the fox, suddenly.

  “How should I know?” answered Johnnie. “I don't know how to make poetry. I thought you did.”

  “I do,” said the fox, “only I have just forgotten the right word. However, it is no matter. Come along to my house, and we will play `Pop Goes the Squirrel'--I mean weasel, and `Hide the Tail,' and all games like that.”

  Then that bad fox, who was pretending he was a squirrel, just to fool Johnnie Bushytail, went up to him and took hold of the little boy squirrel, and was going to lead him off to his den, and maybe eat him all up, when who should come along but Jennie Chipmunk and Billie. And as soon as Jennie saw the fox, she knew right away that he was going to harm Johnnie. So she took up a piece of bark and dropped it on the fox's head, and it frightened him so that he ran away. By that time Johnnie was all over being angry, and he was very glad his brother and Jennie had come along in time to save him. So the squirrels and the chipmunk went home very happy together. Now, if the Wiggitywog doesn't make any trouble, you shall hear to-morrow night about how Grandpa Lightfoot fell down the gatepost.

  XII

  GRANDPA LIGHTFOOT IN A HOLE

  ONE day it happened that there was nothing more left to eat in the squirrels' nest, for all of the nuts which they had stored up for the winter were gone.

  “My goodness me!” exclaimed Grandpa Lightfoot, when Grandma Lightfoot told him this. “I must go out at once and see if I can't find some stray acorns or other nuts for breakfast. This is very serious, indeed. Oh, my goodness me, yes; and an apple core besides.”

  So Grandpa Lightfoot started off, before Johnnie or Billie or Jennie Chipmunk were up, and he looked under the leaves and in hollow trees, but not a nut could he find. Pretty soon he came to a little pond of water, with some ducks paddling about on it.

  “Excuse me,” said Grandpa Lightfoot, “but could you ducks tell me where I might find some nuts to eat? We haven't any at our nest.”

  Then all the ducks looked up and said: “Quack! Quack! Quack!” all at once, just like that. Then they put their heads down under the water and stuck their tails up in the air, and wiggled their feet, and didn't say another word. Grandpa Lightfoot was much disappointed. But he walked on, and pretty soon he saw something else swimming in the water, and who should appear but Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the muskrat nurse of the Littletail family. You see, it was her day out, and she was taking exercise for her health.

  “Why, Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy! How do you do?” cried grandpa.

  The muskrat nurse said she was pretty well, and then Grandpa Lightfoot asked about Sammie and Susie Littletail.

  “Well, Sammie got his feet wet from going out in the wet without his rubbers,” said Miss Fuzzy-Wuzzy, “and he has a bad cold. But Susie is well.”

  Then, after grandpa had told about his family, he asked the muskrat if she might happen to know where he could find some nuts. And what do you think? She did! She told Grandpa Lightfoot of an old house with a gatepost in front of it. The post was hollow, she said, and in it were some nuts. Some squirrels had put them there, but they had to move in a hurry, and could not take them along, so the nuts were there yet. Grandpa Lightfoot, after asking Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy to bring Sammie and Susie to see Billie and Johnnie some day, hurried off and found the hollow post filled with nuts, just as the muskrat had said.


  Grandpa got on top of the gatepost and looked down in. He was just wishing he had brought along a bigger bag to carry the nuts home in, when, all of a sudden, he fell right down--yes, sir, right down that hollow gatepost. Wasn't that terrible? And when he tried to climb up he couldn't, for the wood was so soft and rotten that his claws wouldn't stick. Wasn't that worse? Oh, how frightened he was! He tried and he tried and he tried, but he couldn't get up, and began to think he'd have to stay there forever.

  It was long past breakfast time, and was coming on for dinner time, and when Grandpa Lightfoot didn't come back, Grandma Lightfoot was worried. So she told Billie and Johnnie and Jennie Chipmunk that he had gone to look for nuts, and asked their advice.

  “We will go and find him,” said Billie.

  “Of course we will,” spoke Johnnie. “Come on, Jennie.” The little orphan chipmunk didn't smile or laugh, she was so worried.

  So the three started off, leaving Grandma Lightfoot at home, because she couldn't travel very well, and whom should they meet but Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, just as Grandpa had. So the muskrat told about having sent Grandpa Lightfoot to the hollow gatepost, and, hurrying there, Johnnie and Billie and Jennie Chipmunk heard him calling for help right through the post, as if it were a telephone.

  “You must try to get me out,” he said.

  “How can we?” asked Johnnie, and, really, it did seem a hard thing to do. They tried several ways, but none would answer, and they were just going to give up, when they heard a hissing noise, and what should they see but a long snake. At first, the squirrels were going to run away, but the snake said he would not hurt them, as he was a good snake, and not a bad one.

  “I will help get Grandpa Lightfoot out,” he said. So he crawled up the post and stuck his tail down inside. Then he wound it around grandpa and pulled him up as if he were a bucket in the well. My, but maybe grandpa wasn't glad, and Billie and Johnnie, too! And maybe they didn't thank the snake! But the snake only said: “Oh, a little thing like that isn't worth speaking about. Come, I will show you how to get the nuts out. I will lower Billie and Johnnie into the post; they can grab up all the nuts they can hold, and I will pull them up.”