Tlutsxj Wouldn't By Betty Bruechert
until they reached a very secluded spot in some thick juniper bushes. There he spoke very quietly. “Now for a few lessons. Nutsy, see that big rock over there?” “Yes, Sir,” answered N u t s y promptly. “ I want you to go over there and lie down right beside it. Be as quiet as you can.” Nutsy did as he was told. The other little chipmunks looked ques- tioningly at their father. “ Now look carefully at the rock. Do you see Nutsy?” “ No!” they replied in surprise. “ Good! Well, he is there all right. His fur is just the color of that rock. That is true of many trunks of trees, bushes, and other outdoor objects. People cannot see us against them. That is One way we protect our selves.” The little chipmunks murmured “Oh-h-h-h!” admiringly, as Nutsy came running back, bubbling Over with excitement and chattering away for all he was worth. “ Nutsy!” exclaimed his father, “ Do you want to spoil the whole lesson with your noise?” Nutsy flipped over a couple of times and the other chipmunks laughed out loud. But Mr. Chipmunk did not think it was funny. “ Please pay attention, all of you,” he continued, “That is only one safety measure: to lie or sit perfectly still beside some object the color of which resembles your own. Some times, though, you have to run for your life!” Nutsy sat up and swished his tail. “ I can run real fast, Father,” he remarked. “ I know you can, Nutsy, and some times you will have to run very hard to save your life. We can’t climb trees like Cousins Red and Grey Squirrel. They can go to the topmost limbs, but we have to stay on the lower branches and be content with bushes. So we must learn hiding places in rocks and tree stumps and bushes so we can escape quickly from Willie Weasel and Sammy Snake.” Noisy Nutsy Shivers At the mention of their worst en
emies even Noisy Nutsy shivered. Mr. Chipmunk lowered his voice almost to a whisper: “You all know about the tiny, secret opening at the other end of our burrow in case Willie Weasel ever finds the entrance to our home?” They all nodded. “ You can get out there and run for the shelters I will now tell you about." He went on to describe these hiding places. Nutsy was getting restless He kept squirming and pinching. Suddenly, his “ chip-chip-chip-r-r-r” rang out, and before any of the others realized what was happening, Nutsy somer saulted backwards, regained his feet, and was off like a streak of lightning. The lesson was ruined, so Mr. Chipmunk sadly led the other chip munks home, hoping that by night fall Nutsy would find his way back to the burrow. But Nutsy was having the time of his life. For the first time he could chatter all he wanted to without any one saying to him, “Hush! Be quiet! Keep still!” He ran along the branches of the low bushes, filling his cheeks with berries and nuts, and scampered up and down the fences, chattering, chattering, chattering all the while. He had forgotten every word of caution his father had given. He talked to some robins who were building a nest; to a green bullfrog croaking in the deep grass; then he leaned over the end of the branch and started a conversation with a fat little woodchuck below, who was gathering some food for his family. Then Nutsy felt a pressure on the branch and suddenly looked around right into the red-rimmed eyes of Willie Weasel! If he had not been chattering so much, he would have felt the soft footfall long before W il lie was so close. He had no time to think. He simply leaped off the bush, and ran with all his might. He looked wildly for a place to hide (he remembered that much of his father’s lesson!). Sure enough, ten yards ahead was an old drainpipe which had been dis carded. Could he make it in time? His feet just flew. If he could get in there, he felt pretty sure Willie Weasel couldn’t follow. Out of
r. and Mrs. Chipmunk were very discouraged about their youngest child, Nutsy. Long after their six children were rolled into tight little balls (like fur muffs) and sound asleep in their burrow, they lay awake discussing their prob lem. “ He’s as plump as he can be,” said the mother, looking at him ad miringly. “No wonder, the beechnuts he eats,” said Mr. Chipmunk with a smile, “ His cheeks are always fu ll!” “ And his stripes are so beautiful!” sighed Mrs. Chipmunk, “ The black seems blacker and the white whiter than any of our children’s.” “Yes,” added the‘father, “ and he is so good-natured, and such a tease!” “ That’s part of his trouble,” con tinued the worried mother, “ He’s such a clown he won’t pay any atten tion to anything serious, >and he won’t be quiet a minute.” Just then a faint little “chip-chip- chip-r-r-r” came from the right-hand comer. Mr. and Mrs. Chipmunk had to laugh in spite of their anxiety. “ See! he even talks in his sleep!” exclaimed the father. “Well, let’s get some sleep,” said Mrs. Chipmunk, “ and in the morn ing you will have to try again to instruct Nutsy so he will know how to protect himself against our en emies. If he would only keep still long enough to leam something!” “ All right. But you can’t get any thing in your head when your mouth is always open,” commented Mr. Chipmunk wisely. For Breakfast: Mushrooms and Pumpkin Seeds The next morning, after a delicious breakfast of mushrooms and pumpkin seeds, which had been carefully stored in the second room of their burrow (chipmunks do not eat in the room where they, sleep), Mr. Chip munk led Nutsy and his five brothers and sisters along an old stone wall
26
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs