I
Bang, bang, bang!
Snap, snap, snap!
All day long Bobby Gray Squirrel hid in his nest because he did not
like the noise.
He poked his nose out once or twice to see what was the matter.
But each time he heard a loud bang, snap!
Then he jumped back in his nest to hide.
All day long he lay there and listened. And all day long the children
played with their fire-crackers.
Fourth of July is fun for boys and girls.
But it is not so much fun for rabbits and squirrels.
At last it was quiet.
Bobby had not heard a sound for a long time.
So he peeped out of his door once more.
The sun was not shining now. The big round moon was looking down to
see if all the children were in bed.
He was looking to see if all the rabbits and squirrels were in bed, too.
Bobby saw the moon and then he skipped back into his house once more.
"Oh, dear me!" he said to himself. "I am hungry. But I must wait
until the sun comes up again.
"I am afraid I could not find anything to eat by the light of the moon."
Bobby went to sleep and the next time he opened his eyes it was morning.
He jumped up and ran out of doors.
He ran down the branch of the oak tree and off through the woods.
"Good-morning," Bunny called to him, as he ran past the three rabbits
who were eating clover for breakfast.
"This is a good morning," said Bobby. "It is so still and quiet."
Bobby ran on and on.
Every few minutes he stopped to hunt for some hidden nut.
But he could not find many.
At last he said to himself, "I am going to the orchard to get an apple.
"I like to eat the seeds. I might find an apple on one of the trees."
Bobby skipped through the woods and across the field.
He came to the stone wall that ran along one side of the road.
Bobby jumped up on the highest stone to look around and see if any one
were in sight.
He looked up the road, and he looked down the road. But no one was in
sight.
He jumped down from the wall, and then he stood still.
Right at his feet wag a paper bag.
And the bag smelled so good that the little squirrel stopped to take
another sniff.
"That smells like peanuts," Bobby said to himself.
"I will make a hole in the bag and see what is inside."
Bobby took hold of the bag with his sharp little teeth and tore a big
round hole.
He tore a hole big enough to put his paw through.
And then he was just like little Jack Horner.
He put in his thumb
And pulled out a plum,