The Adventures Of Chatterer The Red Squirrel – Part 5

This is the final part [5] of a children's story written by Thornton Burgess many years ago (public domain) containing wonderful life lessons as well as an entertaining story about this rascal of a red squirrel who learns and grows personally along the way. The music is my track Glacier Sunrise, which can also be found here on Insight Timer.

As I am transitioning into full time artistry (music, painting, etc.) donations are very welcome at this time ( but certainly not required).

Namaste.

Transcript

The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel by Thornton W. Burgess The Final, Part Five Chapter 17. Sammy J's Sharp Eyes Everybody knows that Sammy J has sharp eyes. In fact, There are very few of the little forest people whose eyes are as sharp as Sammy's. That is because he uses them so much. A long time ago, He found out that the more he used his eyes, The sharper they became. And so, There are very few minutes when Sammy is awake that he isn't trying to see something. He's always looking. That is the reason he always knows so much about what is going on in the green forest and on the green meadows. Now, Of course, Chatterer the Red Squirrel couldn't disappear without being missed, Particularly by Sammy J. And of course, Sammy couldn't miss Chatterer and not wonder what had become of him. At first, Sammy thought that Chatterer was hiding. But after peeking and peering and watching in the old orchard for a few days, He was forced to think that either Chatterer had once more moved or else that something had happened to him. Perhaps Shadow the Weasel has caught him after all, Thought Sammy, And straight away flew to a certain place in the green forest where he might find Shadow the Weasel. Well, Sure enough, Shadow was there. Now, Of course, It wouldn't do to ask right out if Shadow had caught Chatterer. And Sammy was smart enough to know it. Chatterer the Red Squirrel sends his respects and hopes you are enjoying your hunt for him, Called Sammy. Shadow looked up at Sammy and anger blazed in his little red eyes. You can tell Chatterer that I will get him yet, Snarled Shadow. Sammy's eyes sparkled with mischief. He had made Shadow angry and he had found out what he wanted to know. He was sure that Shadow had not caught Chatterer. But what can have become of him, Thought Sammy. I've got no love for him, But just the same, I miss him. I really must find out. Yes, Sir, I really must. So, Every minute that he could spare, Sammy Jay spent trying to find Chatterer. He asked everyone he met if they had seen Chatterer. He peeked and peered into every hollow and hiding place he could think of. But look as he would, And ask as he would, He could find no trace of Chatterer. At last, He happened to think of Farmer Brown's corn crib. Could it be that Chatterer had moved over there, Or had come to some dreadful end there? Very early the next morning, Sammy flew over to the corn crib. He looked at it all over with his sharp eyes and listened for sounds of Chatterer inside. But not a sound could he hear. Then, He remembered the hole under the edge of the roof through which Chatterer used to go in and out. Sammy hurried to look at it. It was closed by a stout board nailed across it. Then, Sammy knew that Farmer Brown's boy had found it. He's killed Chatterer. That's what he's done, Cried Sammy, And flew over to the old orchard filled with sad thoughts. He meant to wait until Farmer Brown's boy came out, And then tell him what he thought of him. After that, He would fly through the green forest and over the green meadows to spread the sad news. After a while, The door of the farmhouse opened and Farmer Brown's boy stepped out. Sammy had his mouth open to scream when his sharp eyes saw something odd. Farmer Brown's boy had an odd looking box in his arms which he put on a shelf where the sun would shine on it. It looked to Sammy as if something moved inside that box. He forgot to scream and say the bad things he had planned to say. He waited until Farmer Brown's boy had gone to the barn. Then, Sammy flew where he could look right into the odd box. There was Chatterer the red squirrel. Chapter 18. Chatterer is made fun of Ha ha ha! Ho ho ho! Smarty caught at last! Sammy Jay fairly shrieked with glee as he peered down from the top of an apple tree at Chatterer in the cage Farmer Brown's boy had made for him. Sammy was so relieved to think that Chatterer was not dead and he was so tickled to think that Chatterer, Who always thought himself so smart, Should have been caught that he just had to torment Chatterer by laughing at him and saying mean things to him until Chatterer lost his temper and said things back quite in the old way. This tickled Sammy more than ever for it sounded so exactly like Chatterer when he had been a free little imp of mischief in the green forest that Sammy felt sure that Chatterer had nothing the matter with him. But he couldn't stop for very long to make fun of poor Chatterer. In the first place, Farmer Brown's boy had put his head out the barn door to see what all the fuss was about. In the second place, Sammy fairly ached all over to spread the news through the green forest and over the green meadows. You know he is such a great gossip and this was such unusual news. Sammy knew very well that no one would believe him. He knew that they just couldn't believe that smart Mr. Chatterer had really been caught and no one did believe it. All right, Sammy would reply. It doesn't make the least bit of difference in the world to me whether you believe it or not. You can go up to Farmer Brown's house and see him in prison yourself just as I did. So late that afternoon when all was quiet around the farmyard, Chatterer saw something very familiar behind the old stone wall at the edge of the old orchard. It bobbed up and then dropped out of sight again. Then it bobbed up again only to drop out of sight just as quickly. It looks to me very much as if Peter Rabbit is over there and feeling very nervous said Chatterer to himself and then he called sharply just as when he was free in the green forest. Right away Peter's head bobbed up for all the world like a jack-in-the-box and this time it stayed up. Peter's eyes were round with surprise as he stared across at Chatterer's prison. Oh, It's true gasped Peter as if it were as hard work to believe his own eyes as it was to believe Sammy J. I must go right away and see what can be done to get Chatterer out of trouble. And then because it was broad daylight and he really didn't dare to stay another minute, Peter waved goodbye to Chatterer and started for the green forest as fast as his long legs could take him. A little later who should appear peeping over the stone wall but Reddy Fox. It seemed very bold of Reddy but really it wasn't nearly as bold as it seemed. You see, Reddy knew that Farmer Brown's boy and Bowser the hound were over in the old pasture and that he had nothing to fear. He grinned at Chatterer in the most provoking way. It made Chatterer angry just to see him. Smarty, Smarty, Mr. Smarty, Glad to see you looking hearty. Weather's fine as you can see. Won't you take a walk with me? So said Reddy Fox knowing all the time that Chatterer couldn't take a walk with anyone. At first Chatterer scolded and called Reddy all the bad names he could think of. But after a little he didn't feel so much like scolding. In fact, He didn't half hear the mean things Reddy Fox said to him. You see, It was coming over him more and more that nothing could take the place of freedom. He had a comfortable home, Plenty to eat and was safe from every harm. But he was a prisoner and having these visitors made him realize it more than ever. Something very like tears filled his eyes and he crept into his hollow stump where he couldn't see or be seen. Chapter 19. Peter Rabbit Tries to Help Peter Rabbit is one of the kindest-hearted little people of the green forest or the green meadows. He is happy-go-lucky and his dreadful curiosity is forever getting him into all kinds of trouble. Perhaps it is because he has been in so many scrapes himself that he always feels sorry for others who get into trouble. Anyway, No sooner does Peter hear of someone in trouble than he begins to wonder how he can help them. So, Just as soon as he found out for himself that Sammy Jay had told the truth about Chatterer the Red Squirrel and that Chatterer really was in a prison at Farmer Brown's house, He began to think and think to find some way to help Chatterer. Now, Of course, Peter didn't know what kind of a prison Chatterer was in. He remembered right away how Prickly Porky the Porcupine had gnawed a great hole in the box in which Johnny Chuck's lost baby was kept by Farmer Brown's boy. Why shouldn't Prickly Porky do as much for Chatterer? He would go see him at once. The trouble with Peter is that he doesn't think of all sides of a question. He is impulsive. That is, He goes right ahead and does the thing that comes into his head first. And sometimes this isn't the wisest or best thing to do. So now he scampered down into the green forest as fast as his long legs would carry him to hunt for Prickly Porky. It was no trouble at all to find him, For he had only to follow the line of trees that had been stripped of their bark. Good afternoon, Prickly Porky. Have you heard the news about Chatterer? Said Peter, For he was quite out of breath. Yes, Replied Prickly Porky. Serves him right. I hope it will teach him a lesson. Peter's heart sank. Don't you think it is dreadful? He asked. Just think, He will never, Never be able to run and play in the green forest again, Unless we can get him out. So much the better, Grunted Prickly Porky. So much the better. He was always a nuisance. Never did see such a fellow for making trouble for other people. No, Sir, I never did. The rest of us can have some peace now. Serves him right. Prickly Porky went on chewing bark as if Chatterer's trouble was no concern of his. Peter's heart sank lower still. He scratched one ear slowly with a long hind foot, Which is a way he has when he is thinking very hard. He was so busy thinking that he didn't see the twinkle in the dull little eyes of Prickly Porky, Who really was not so hard-hearted as his words sounded. After a long time, During which Peter thought and thought and Prickly Porky ate and ate, The latter spoke again. What have you got in mind, Peter? He asked. I was thinking of how perfectly splendid it would be if you would go up there and gnaw away out of his prison for Chatterer, Replied Peter timidly. Ha, Grunted Prickly Porky. Some folks think my wits are pretty slow, But even I know better than that. Put on your thinking cap again, Peter Rabbit. Why can't you? You are not afraid of Bowser the Hound or Farmer Brown's Boy and everybody else is, Excepting Jimmy Skunk, Persisted Peter, For the very good reason that if I could gnaw into his prison, Chatterer could gnaw out. If he can't gnaw his way out with those sharp teeth of his, I certainly can't gnaw in. Where's your common sense, Peter Rabbit? That's so. I hadn't thought of that, Replied Peter slowly and sorrowfully. I must try to think of some other way to help Chatterer. I'd be willing to try if it was of any use, But it isn't, Said Prickly Porky, Who didn't want Peter to think that he really was as hard-hearted as he had seemed at first. So Peter bade Prickly Porky goodbye and started for the dear old Briarpatch to try to think of some other way to help Chatterer. On the way, He woke up Unc Billy Possum and Bobby Coon, But they couldn't give him any help. There really doesn't seem to be any way I can help, Sighed Peter, And it seemed there really wasn't. Chapter 20. Chatterer Has Another Great Surprise Chatterer had never had so many surprises, Good surprises, In all his life, As since the day he had been caught in a trap in Farmer Brown's corn crib. In the first place, It had been a great surprise to him that he had not been given to Tom the Tomcat as he had fully expected to be. Then had come the even greater surprise of finding that Farmer Brown's boy was ever and so much nicer than he had thought. A later surprise had been the wire wheel in his cage, So that he could run to his heart's content. It was such a pleasant and wholly unexpected surprise that it had quite changed Chatterer's feelings towards Farmer Brown's boy. The fact is, Chatterer could have been truly happy, But for one thing, He was a prisoner. Yes, Sir, He was a prisoner and couldn't forget it for one minute while he was awake. He used to watch Farmer Brown's boy and wish, With all his might, That he could make him understand how dreadful it was to be in a prison. But Farmer Brown's boy couldn't understand what Chatterer said, No matter how hard Chatterer tried to make him. He seemed to think that Chatterer was happy. He just didn't understand that not all the good things in the world could make up for loss of freedom. That it is better to be free, Though hungry and cold, Than in a prison with every comfort. Chatterer had stood it pretty well and made the best of things until Sammy Jay had found him, And Reddy Fox had made fun of him, And Peter Rabbit had peeped at him from behind the old stone wall. The very sight of them going where they pleased and when they pleased had been too much for Chatterer, And such a great longing for the green forest and the old orchard filled his heart that he could think of nothing else. He just sat in a corner of his cage and looked as miserable as he felt. He lost his appetite. In vain, Farmer Brown's boy brought him the fattest knots and other dainties. He couldn't eat, For the great longing for freedom that filled his heart until it seemed ready to burst. He no longer cared to run in the new wire wheel, Which had given him so much pleasure at first. He was homesick, Terribly homesick, And he just couldn't help it. Farmer Brown's boy noticed it, And his face grew sober and thoughtful. He watched Chatterer when the latter didn't know that he was about, And if he couldn't understand Chatterer's talk, He could understand Chatterer's actions. He knew that he was unhappy and guessed why. One morning, Chatterer did not come out of his hollow stump as he usually did when his cage was placed on the shelf outside the farmhouse door. He just didn't feel like it. He stayed curled up in his bed for a long, Long time, Too sad and miserable to move. At last, He crawled up and peeped out of his little round doorway. Chatterer gave a little gasp and rubbed his eyes. Was he dreaming? He scrambled out in a hurry and peeped through the wires of his cage. Then he rubbed his eyes again and rushed over to the other side of the cage for another look. His cage wasn't on the usual shelf at all. It was on the snow-covered stone wall at the edge of the old orchard. Chatterer was so excited he didn't know what to do. He raced around the cage. Then he jumped into the wire wheel and made it spin round and round as never before. When he was too tired to run anymore, He jumped out and right then he discovered something he hadn't noticed before. The little door in the top of his cage was open. It must be that Farmer Brown's boy had forgotten to close it when he put in Chatterer's breakfast. Chatterer forgot he was tired. Like a little red flash, He was outside and whisking along the snow-covered stone wall straight for his home in the old orchard. He shouted as he ran. Chapter 21. Chatterer Hears the Small Voice The very first of the little meadow and forest people to see Chatterer after he had safely reached the old orchard was Charlie the Chickadee. It just happened that Charlie was very busy in the very apple tree in which was the old home of Drummer the Woodpecker when Chatterer reached it. You know, Chatterer had moved into it for the winter just a little while before he had been caught in the corn crib by Farmer Brown's boy. Yes sir, Charlie was very busy indeed. He was so busy that sharp as his bright little eyes are, He had not seen Chatterer racing along the snow-covered old stone wall. It wasn't until he heard Chatterer's claws on the trunk of the apple tree that Charlie saw him at all. Then he was so surprised that he lost his balance and almost turned a somersault in the air before he caught another twig. You see, He knew all about Chatterer and how he had been kept a prisoner by Farmer Brown's boy. Why, Why, Why, Is that really you, Chatterer? He exclaimed. However, Did you get out of prison? I'm glad, Ever and ever so glad that you got away. Chatterer flirted his tail in the saucy way he has and his eyes twinkled. Here was just the best chance ever to boast and brag. He could tell Charlie how smart he had been. Smart enough to get away from Farmer Brown's boy. Charlie would tell the other little people and then everybody would think him just as smart as Uncle Billy Possum. And you know, Uncle Billy really was smart enough to get away from Farmer Brown's boy after being caught. Everybody knew that he had been a prisoner and now that he was free, Everybody would believe whatever he told them about how he got away. Was there ever such a chance to make his friends and neighbors say, Oh what a smart fellow he is? Chatterer stopped. Then he began again. You see, It was this way. I, I. . . Somehow, Chatterer couldn't say what he had meant to say. It was as if Charlie's bright merry eyes were looking right into his head and heart and could see his very thoughts. Of course, They couldn't. The truth is, That little small voice inside, Which Chatterer had so often refused to listen to when he was tempted to do wrong, Was talking again. It was saying, For shame Chatterer, For shame, Tell the truth, Tell the truth. It was that little small voice that made Chatterer hesitate and stop. You don't mean to say that you were smart enough to fool Farmer Brown's boy and get out of that stout little prison he made for you, Do you? Asked Charlie. No, Replied Chatterer, Almost before he thought. No, I didn't. The fact is, Charlie, He left the door open purposely. He let me go. Farmer Brown's boy isn't half so bad as some people think. Laughed Charlie. I've been telling a lot of you fellows that for a very long time, But none of you would believe me. Now, I guess you know it. Why, I'm not the least bit afraid of Farmer Brown's boy, Not the least little bit in the world. If all the little forest and meadow people would only trust him, Instead of running away from him, He would be the very best friend we have. Perhaps so, Replied Chatterer, Doubtfully. He was very good to me while I was in his prison and I'm not so very much afraid of him now. Just the same, I don't mean to let him get hands on me again. Oh, Said Charlie. I'd just as soon eat out of his hand. That's all very well for you to say when you are flying around free, But I don't believe you dare go up to his house and prove it, Retorted Chatterer. I can't now, Replied Charlie. I've got too much to do for him right now, But someday I'll show you. I'm wasting my time talking when there is such a lot to be done. In fact, I'm clearing his apple trees of insect eggs. Go to it, You little red scamp, Shouted a voice behind him. And right then, Chatterer knew that Farmer Brown's boy had not left the little door open by mistake, But had given him his freedom. And right then, He knew that they were going to be the best of friends. Chapter 22. Charlie the Chickadee Makes Good on His Boast. Dee, Dee, Dee, Chickadee, See me, See me, Hee, Hee, Hee. Dee, Dee, Dee, Chickadee, See me, See me. Charlie the Chickadee kept saying this over and over as he flew from the green forest up through the old orchard on his way to Farmer Brown's dooryard. And his voice was merry. In fact, His voice was the merriest, Cheeriest sound to be heard that bright, Snapping cold morning. To be sure, There were other voices, But they were not merry, Nor were they cheery. There was the voice of Sammy Jay, But it sounded peevish and discontented. And there was the voice of Blackie the Crow, But it sounded harsh and unpleasant. And there was the voice of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, But Chatterer was scolding just from habit, And his voice was not pleasant to hear. So everyone who heard Charlie's cheery voice that cold winter morning just had to smile. Yes, Sir, They just had to smile. Even Sammy Jay and Blackie the Crow. They just couldn't help themselves. When Charlie reached the stone wall that separated the old orchard from Farmer Brown's dooryard, His sharp eyes were not long in finding Peter Rabbit and Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel and Chatterer hiding in the old wall where they could peep out and see all that happened in Farmer Brown's dooryard. Looking back through the old orchard, He saw what looked like a little bit of the blue, Blue sky flitting silently from tree to tree. It was Sammy Jay. Over in the very top of a tall maple tree, A long way off was a spot of black. Charlie didn't need to be told that it was Blackie the Crow, Who didn't dare come any nearer. Charlie fairly bubbled over with joy. He knew what it all meant. He knew that Peter Rabbit and Happy Jack and Chatterer and Sammy Jay and Blackie the Crow had come to see him make good on his boast to Chatterer that he would eat from the hand of Farmer Brown's boy and that not one of them really believed that he would do it. He tickled all over and did several little fun skips and dances just for pure joy. Finally, He flew over to the maple tree that grows close by Farmer Brown's house. Dee, Dee, Dee. Chickadee. See me, See me, Called Charlie the Chickadee and his voice sounded cheerier than ever and merrier than ever. Then the door of Farmer Brown's house opened and out stepped Farmer Brown's boy and looked up at Charlie the Chickadee and the look in his eyes was gentle and good to see. He pursed his lips and from them came the softest, Sweetest whistle. Peter Rabbit pinched himself to make sure that he was awake for it was Charlie's own love note and if Peter had not been looking straight at Farmer Brown's boy he would have been sure that it was Charlie himself who had whistled. Whistled Farmer Brown's boy again replied Charlie and it was hard to say which whistle was the softest and the sweetest. Whistled Farmer Brown's boy once more and held out his hand. In it was a cracked hickory nut. Dee, Dee, Dee. See me, See me, Cried Charlie and flitted down from the maple tree right on to the hand of Farmer Brown's boy and his bright little eyes twinkled merrily as he helped himself to a of nutmeat. Peter Rabbit looked at Happy Jack and Happy Jack looked at Chatterer and all three acted as if they couldn't believe their own eyes. Then they looked back at Farmer Brown's boy and there on his head sat Charlie the Chickadee. Dee, Dee, Dee. Chickadee. See me, See me, Called Charlie and his voice was merrier than ever for he had made good his boast. Chapter 23. Chatterer grows very, Very bold. I'm not afraid. I am afraid. I'm not afraid. I am afraid. I'm not afraid. Chatterer kept saying these two things over and over and over. Again to himself. You see, He really was afraid and he was trying to make himself believe that he wasn't afraid. He thought that perhaps if he said ever and ever so many times that he wasn't afraid, He might actually make himself believe it. The trouble was that every time he said it, A little voice, A little truthful voice down inside seemed to speak right up and tell him that he was afraid. Poor Chatterer. It hurt his pride to have to admit to himself that he wasn't as brave as little Charlie the Chickadee. His common sense told him that there was no reason in the world why he shouldn't be. Charlie went every day and took food from the hand of Farmer Brown's boy. It seemed to Chatterer and to Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel and to Peter Rabbit and to Sammy Jay and to Blackie the Crow, All of whom had seen him do it as if it were the bravest thing they ever had seen. And their respect for Charlie grew wonderfully. But Charlie himself didn't think it brave at all. No, Sir. Charlie knew better. You see, He has a great deal of common sense under the little black cap he wears. It may have been brave of me to do it the first time, Thought he to himself when the others told him how brave they thought him. But it isn't brave of me now because I know that no harm is going to come to me from Farmer Brown's boy. There isn't any bravery about it. And it might just be the same way with Chatterer and all the other little forest and meadow people, If only they would think so and give Farmer Brown's boy half a chance. Chatterer was beginning to have some such thoughts himself as he tried to make himself think that he wasn't afraid. He heard the door of Farmer Brown's house slam and peeped out from the old stone wall. There was Farmer Brown's boy with a big fat hickory nut held out in the most tempting way. And Farmer Brown's boy was whistling the same gentle little whistle he had used when Chatterer was his prisoner. And he had brought good things for Chatterer to eat. Of course, Chatterer knew perfectly well that that whistle was a call for him and that that big fat hickory nut was intended for him. Almost before he thought, He had left the old stone wall and was halfway over to Farmer Brown's boy. Then he stopped short. It seemed as if that little voice inside had fairly shouted in his ears, I am afraid. It was true. He was afraid. He was right on the very point of turning to scurry back to the old stone wall when he heard another voice. This time it wasn't a voice inside. No, Indeed. It was a voice from the top of one of the apple trees in the old orchard. And this is what it said. Coward! Coward! Coward! It was Sammy Jay speaking. Now, It is one thing to tell yourself that you are afraid. And it is quite another thing to be told by someone else that you are afraid. No such thing. I am not afraid, Scolded Chatterer. And then to prove it, He suddenly raced forward, Snatched the fat hickory nut from the hand of Farmer Brown's boy and was back in the old stone wall. It was hard to tell which was the most surprised, Chatterer himself, Farmer Brown's boy or Sammy Jay. I did it! I did it! I did it! Boasted Chatterer. You don't dare do it again though, Said Sammy Jay in the most provoking and unpleasant way. I do too, Snapped Chatterer. And he did it. And with the taking of that second fat nut from the hand of Farmer Brown's boy, The very last bit of fear of him left Chatterer. And he knew that Charlie the Chickadee had been right all the time when he insisted that there was nothing to fear from Farmer Brown's boy. Why, Thought Chatterer, If I would have let him, He would have been my friend long ago. And so he would have. And this is all about Chatterer the Red Squirrel for now. The end.