Transcriber's notes: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the
public domain.
[Illustration: CORWIN'S NEST,
OR, STORIES OF BESSIE & JAMIE.]
BESSIE
AND
THE SQUIRRELS.
[BY]
[Madeline Leslie]
"_It is more blessed to give than to receive._"—JESUS CHRIST.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY ANDREW F. GRAVES.
20 CORNHILL.
Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
A. F. GRAVES,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Massachusetts.
CORWIN'S NEST;
OR, STORIES OF BESSIE AND JAMIE.
6 vols. 16mo.
[Illustration]
_For Girls._
Vol. I. LITTLE TOT'S LESSONS.
" II. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
" III. BESSIE AND THE SQUIRRELS.
—————
_For Boys._
" IV. THE CHILDREN AT PLAY.
" V. WHISTLING HORACE.
" VI. JAMIE AND HIS PONY
[Illustration: CONTENTS.]
CHAPTER I.
MISS PRIM'S RIDE
CHAPTER II.
THE SQUIRRELS
CHAPTER III.
VISIT TO THE HUT
CHAPTER IV.
THE STARVING CHILDREN
CHAPTER V.
THE GRATEFUL FAMILY
CHAPTER VI.
MAMMA'S STORY
CHAPTER VII.
THE VISITORS
CHAPTER VIII.
THE VISIT
CHAPTER IX.
THE DEPARTURE
CHAPTER X.
THE RIDE
CHAPTER XI.
LITTLE FLOSSY'S TRICK
CHAPTER XII.
THE THIEVING SQUIRRELS
BESSIE AND THE SQUIRRELS.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I.
MISS PRIM'S RIDE.
ABOUT three miles from one of our chief cities there once lived
a family by the name of Corwin. There was a large farm with an
old-fashioned house upon it, long known by the name of Corwin's Nest.
Here lived father, mother, and two children, Bessie and James, or Jamie
as he was called. There were also a woman, Nurse Blake, a cook, and
chamber-maid.
It was a lovely morning in May. Near the house, there was a pleasant
fragrance from the pear and apple blossoms. The robins had returned
from their winter quarters to their old homes in the great trees, and
were now busily engaged in making nests for their young.
The great tulip tree was in full bloom, and looked very gorgeous. The
lower branches were so high from the ground that it would take a very
long ladder to reach them; but the boughs almost touched the nursery
windows, so that the flowers could be reached from them.
On the piazza in front of the house, childish voices could be heard
mingling with the songs of the birds, and the cackling of the hens who
had been laying eggs, and could not keep the secret.
Presently there was a bark of a dog, and Flossy ran down the granite
steps, looking back for Bessie and Jamie—or Junior, as papa called him,
to follow.
"I'll ask mamma if the ground is dry enough now," said the little girl.
She darted into the house, up the stairs, and quickly returned with a
beaming face, bringing with her a great doll, almost as large as a live
baby.
"She says 'yes,' Jamie; come, let's carry Miss Prim and all her family
to ride. O Flossy!" she added, laughing merrily. "How lazy you are
growing! You always like to ride too."
"Carry Miss Prim to see chickies," lisped Jamie, picking his way
carefully down the steps.
The great doll sat up very straight, holding two or three smaller
dolls; but she didn't pay much attention to them—she stared straight
before her with her dull black eyes.
There were ever so many chickens in the hennery, and little turkeys
running in the barn-yard; but the children were too much afraid of the
great gobbler, who strutted about with his red comb, to go very near
them.
"Me isn't afraid," said Jamie, bravely; but when the old fellow turned
toward them screaming, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!" his little feet
carried him away pretty quick.
"I wish Nellie's school didn't keep all the time," said Bessie. "I want
her to play with us."
"Ganma in there; ganma giving bossies dinner," exclaimed Jamie,
pointing his fat finger toward the barn.
[Illustration: THE FARMER'S WIFE FEEDING THE CHICKENS.]
So they trotted on, dragging the wagon full of dolls.
When they reached the barn-yard, the farmer's wife was scattering corn
to some of the chickens. They stopped to watch her a few minutes when
grandma saw them, and beckoned them to come to her.
"Hi! Little folks," said the old lady. "How's Miss Bessie to-day and
Master Jamie?"
"Pretty well, ganma," lisped the boy. "I'm going with you to see the
bossies."
She laughed as she said, "That's right. I have some milk, I'm going to
make the new bossy drink."
But the old lady found this was a very difficult matter. She poured the
milk into a pan, and put the calf's nose into it; but he only snuffed
and shook his head, and cried for the mooley his ma.
Bessie and her brother stood by, looking very sober, and pitying the
little creature very much.
Grandma tried every way to teach bossy to lap up the milk; but he
didn't know how. At last she put her finger in the milk, and let him
taste of that. He caught her finger, and began to suck it with all his
might; so she laid her hand in the pan, and in a few minutes he had
sucked all the milk up. Then he was quiet, and went to lie down on the
straw the man had piled up for his bed.
"I like bossies," said Bessie; "but I should think their own mothers
would take care of them and feed them. Why don't they?"
"Mrs. Mooley would be glad enough to do so," answered grandma; "but
your father means to raise this calf; and he can't spare all the new
milk. While it is young, it can drink skim milk, and soon it will begin
to eat meal and hay. But there comes nurse to look for you."
When they went out from the barn door, they found Miss Prim had kept
her family very quiet; and Flossy was sound asleep at the bottom of
the carriage. She roused up at the sound of their voices, and began to
whine for attention.
[Illustration]