[Illustration]
[Illustration: Chapter VIII
_The Gentle South Wind_]
Towards evening, they reached the top of a high hill, where Mr.
Ring-Tailed Snorter stopped leaping, and gazed towards the South.
“Here comes my friend,” said he. “Good bye,” and without a “by your
leave,” or the chance of a “Thank you again,” the South wind had
caught up Mr. Bushy Tail and was whirling him rapidly Northwards.
[Illustration]
For nearly a week they travelled on, but much more pleasantly than with
the fierce North wind.
At times the wind would stop blowing, and Mr. Bushy Tail would be
gently dropped in some pretty wood or meadow, where he could find
plenty to eat and to drink.
He filled his bag to overflowing with the most delicious squirrel’s
food, and only regretted that the bag was not bigger.
At last one evening, the wind softly dropped him, and blew on alone.
Mr. Bushy Tail looked about him, and saw that he was in his own woods,
only a short distance from home.
How fast he scampered toward his house tree. He scarcely noticed that
since he had gone away Spring had come, and the first soft green shoots
were covering the trees. The grass was full of flowers, and the birds
were singing merrily.
[Illustration]
Quickly he ran up into his nest, and there they all were, the dear
wee family; Mrs. Bushy Tail, the children, and dear old Grandmother
Chipmunk.
How delighted they were to see him. Poor little Mrs. Bushy Tail
quite broke down and cried with joy, for she had never expected to see
her husband alive again.
[Illustration]
Mr. Chipmunk and Mr. Red Squirrel had come over, a few days after Mr.
Bushy Tail’s visit, to inquire if he had reached home safely, and to
bring great bags of provisions. When they heard that their friend was
still missing, they had looked very anxious and sad.
The snow storm, in which Mr. Bushy Tail was blown away, had turned
into such an awful blizzard, that every one thought he had been buried
in the deep snow and frozen.
[Illustration]
What a fine supper Mrs. Bushy Tail cooked from the wonderful bag, and
how much they all ate.
Mr. Bushy Tail was told what a good boy Frisky had been, and how the
baby had cut a new tooth, with which he had accidentally bitten Grandma
Chipmunk.
[Illustration]
Then, after the baby had been tucked away in his soft nest, they all
sat down close to the fire, while Mr. Bushy Tail, taking Frisky on
his knee, told them of all his wonderful adventures. Of Mr. Quilly
Ant-Eater and the Ring-Tailed Snorter; of that surprising slide down
Mrs. Mole’s chimney, and of the terrible North wind.
[Illustration]
And there we will leave them, a happy and contented little family.
[Illustration: FINIS]
Composition, Presswork and Binding
L. H. JENKINS
Richmond, Virginia