The Children's Corner

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 19, 25 November 1927, Page 15

The Children's Corner

By

ARIEL

Dear Radio Children.-Ne doubt you all love nuts and crack them m the approved fashion-with nut crackers; and not in your teeth or in the hinges of the door, like someone I know!- But have you ever watched a squirrel eat nuts? He is usually so shy and retiring at meal ‘times; but one, quite a leng time ago, a bonny. little fellow, with round bright ] eyes and a large bushy tail which leoked twice the size of his dainty wee; body, made a habit of visiting our garden every day. He would come quite early in the morning and visit first of all a hazel-nut bush, collect | a nut, and run nimbly up a tall fir tree. There, perched on one of its branches, safely out of harm’s way, he would enjoy his breakfast. He always set his teeth in the sharp end of the nut and made an irregular hole, through which he quickly pulled out the nut, nibbled and nibbled at it until he had finished, then away he would go for another! He looked such a darling sitting ap on his hind legs with the nut between his paws but at the slightest sound he became alarmed and disappeared away’ up the tree. We had a pissy who spent hours and hours stalking our’ little Squirrel friend, but needless to say, she never managed to get very near him! As the autumn advanced, the clever little fellow collected, a store for the coming winter. He began by digging a hole at the foot! of his favourite fir tree-quite a big one it was, too, when he had finished. He scratched and scraped, the dirt flying in all directions. Of course he didn’t complete it in one "scratching," but in little jerky spasms. when. he was quite sure Pussy had gone a-hunting. Finally. it was considered : large enough. Then began the laborious task of carrying nut after nut to the hiding-hole until it was well-filied, after which Master Squirrel scratched again to cover his treasure. We all grew very fond of him and: as time passed he grew bolder and boider, and would even remain at his branch ‘to be admired. Then one day he didn’t come, and the next day passed, and the days became weeks, and still he didn’t appear. He had either found a better hole to go to, or a happier hunting ground. At. any rate, that was the Jast of our dear little friend the Squirrel. We all missed him and his fascinating performances. Pussy said nothing, but personally I thought her unconcerned attitude was more than a trifle suspicious, as she disdainfuliy trod the garden path with tail erect and triumphantly waving.-Your a ARIEL