Bedtime Or Nap-Time Story: The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin

A reading of Beatrix Potter's original tale all about a cheeky little squirrel called Nutkin. I hope you enjoy this beautiful woodland tale by a beloved British author - read in a soothing voice, for relaxation, sleep or a cosy space in your life.

Transcript

Hello, I'm Alison and I'm going to read you a story. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter wrote stories about animals, Woodland animals, That she came across on her walks in the Lake District in England. And her books have wonderful illustrations, So if you can get hold of copies, You'll see the way she drew these animals, As if they were also in some way a person dressed in little clothes. This is a story that you can have at bedtime or anytime, Because anytime is a good time for a story. So settle down and get comfortable and I'll begin. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter This is a tale about a tail. A tail that belonged to a little red squirrel and his name was Nutkin. He had a brother called Twinkleberry and a great many cousins. They lived in a wood at the edge of a lake. In the middle of the lake there is an island covered with trees and nut bushes, And amongst those trees stands a hollow oak tree, Which is the house of an owl who is called Old Brown. One autumn When the nuts were right. And the leaves on the hazel bushes were golden and green. Nutkin and Twinkleberry and all the other little squirrels came out of the wood and down to the edge of the lake. They made little rafts out of twigs and they paddled away over the water to Owl Island to gather nuts. Each squirrel had a little sack and a large oar and spread out his tail for a sail. They also took with them an offering of three fat mice as a present for Old Brown, And put them down upon his doorstep. Then Twinkleberry and the other little squirrels each made a low bow and said politely, Old Mr. Brown, Will you favour us with permission to gather nuts upon your island? But Nutkin was excessively impertinent in his manners. He bobbed up and down like a little red cherry, Singing. Riddle me, Riddle me, Rock-top tote, A little wee man in a red, Red coat. A staff in his hand and a stone in his throat. If you tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat. Now this riddle is as old as the hills. Mr. Brown paid no attention whatever to Nutkin. He shut his eyes obstinately and went to sleep. The squirrels filled their little sacks with nuts and sailed away home in the evening. But the next morning they all came back again to Owl Island, And Twinkleberry and the others brought a fine fat mole and laid it on the stone in front of Old Brown's doorway and said, Mr Brown, Will you favour us with your gracious permission to gather some more nuts? But Nutkin, Who had no respect, Began to dance up and down, Tickling old Mr Brown with a nettle, And singing Oh Mr. B, Riddle me re, Hitty Pitty within the wall, Hitty Pitty without the wall, If you touch Hitty Pitty, Hitty Pitty will bite you. Mr Brown woke up suddenly and carried them all into his house. He shut the door in Nupkin's face. Presently, A little thread of blue smoke from a wood fire came up from the top of the tree and Nutkin peeped through the keyhole and sang. A house full, A howl full, And you cannot gather a bowl full. Squirrels search for nuts all over the island and fill their little sacks. But Nutkin gathered oak apples. Yellow and scarlet. And sat upon a beach stump playing marbles, And watching the door of old Mr. Brown. On the third day, The squirrels got up very early and went fishing. They caught seven fat minnows as a present for Old Brown. They paddled over the lake and landed under a crooked chestnut tree on Owl Island. Twinkleberry and six other little squirrels each carried a fat minnow. But Nutkin, Who had no nice manners, Brought no present at all. He ran in front, Singing. The man in the wilderness said to me, How many strawberries grow in the sea? I answered him as I thought good, As many red herrings as grow in the wood. But old Mr. Brown took no interest in riddles, Not even when the answer was provided for him. On the fourth day. The squirrels brought a present of six fat beetles. Which were as good as plums in plum pudding for Old Brown. Each beetle was wrapped up carefully in a dock leaf, Fastened with a pine needle pin. But Nutkin sang as rudely as ever. Oh, Mr. B, Riddle me re, Flower of England, Fruit of Spain, Met together in a shower of rain. Put it in a bag tied round with a string, If you tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring. Which was ridiculous of Nutkin, Because he had not got any ring to give to Old Brown. The other squirrels hunted up and down the nut bushes. But Nutkin gathered Robin's pincushions off a briar bush. And stuck them full of pine needle pins. On the fifth day the squirrels brought a present of wild honey. It was so sweet and sticky that they licked their fingers as they put it down upon the stone. They'd stolen it out of a bumblebee's nest on the tippity top of the hill. But Nutkin skipped up and down, Singing. Hum-a-bum-buzz-buzz, Hum-a-bum-buzz. As I went over to Tippletine, I met a flock of bonnie swine, Some yellow-nacked and some yellow-backed. They were the veriest bonnie swine that e'er went over Tippletine. Old Mr. Brown turned his eyes in disgust at the impertinence of Nutkin, But he ate up the honey. The squirrels fill their little sacks with nuts. But Nutkin sat on a big fat rock and played ninepins with a crabapple and green fur cones. On the sixth day, Which was Saturday, The squirrels came again for the last time. They brought a new laid egg in a little rush basket as a last parting present for Old Brown. But not can run in front laughing and shouting. Humpty Dumpty lies in the back with a white counterpane round his neck. 40 doctors and 40 rights cannot put Humpty Dumpty to rights. Now old Mr. Brown took an interest in eggs. He opened one eye and shut it again, But still he did not speak. Napkin became more and more impertinent. Oh, Mr. B. Oh, Mr. B. Hickamore, Hackamore are on the king's kitchen door. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't drive Hickamore Hackamore off the king's kitchen door. Nutkin danced up and down like a sunbeam. But still, Old Brown said nothing at all. Nutkin began again. Arthur O'Bower has broken his band. He comes roaring, Roaring up the land. The King of Scots, With all his power, Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower. Nutkin made a whirring noise to sound like the wind. And he took a running jump right onto the head of Old Brown. Then all at once there was a flutterment and a scufflement. And a loud squeak. Other squirrels scattered away into the bushes. When they came back, Very cautiously, Peeping round the tree. There was Old Brown, Sitting on his doorstep, Quite still, With his eyes closed, As if nothing had happened. But Nutkin was in his waistcoat pocket. This looks like the end of the story, But it isn't. Old Brown carried Nutkin into his house and held him up by the tail, Intending to skin him. But Nutkin pulled so very hard that his tail broke in two. And he dashed up the staircase and escaped out of the attic window. And to this day. If you meet Napkin, Up a tree and ask him a riddle. He will throw sticks at you. And stamp his feet, And scold, And shout, Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka. The End What a curious story about quite a naughty squirrel and what happened to his tail. I hope you enjoyed it. And if you do enjoy these stories by Beatrix Potter of the Woodland Creatures, You might like to listen to some of the other stories that I've recorded of hers. In any case, It's wonderful to listen to a story. And settle in for a while into another world. And I hope this reminds you of how good that is. Bye for now.