Besides, my dear,
this history is but a fable."
"I suppose, nurse," said the child, looking up in her nurse's face,
"squirrels do not really talk."
"No, my dear; they have not the use of speech as we have. But in all ages
people have written little tales called fables, in which they make birds
and beasts speak as if they were men and women, it being an easy method of
conveying instruction."
"My book is only a fable, then, nurse? I wish it had been true: but it is
very pretty."
CHAPTER IV.
SQUIRRELS--THE CHITMUNKS--DOCILITY OF A PET ONE--ROGUERY OF A YANKEE
PEDLAR--RETURN OF THE MUSICAL CHITMUNK TO HIS MASTER'S BOSOM--SAGACITY OF
A BLACK SQUIRREL.
"Mrs. Frazer, are you very busy just now?" asked Lady Mary, coming up to
the table where her nurse was ironing some lace.
"No, my dear, not very busy, only preparing these lace edgings for your
frocks. Do you want me to do anything for you?"
"I only want to tell you that my governess has promised to paint my dear
squirrel's picture, as soon as it is tame and will let me hold it in my
lap, without flying away. I saw a picture of a flying squirrel to-day, but
it was very ugly--not at all like mine; it was long and flat, and its legs
looked like sticks, and it was stretched out, just like one of those
muskrat skins that you pointed out to me in a fur store.
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