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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..24d4eae --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #61079 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61079) diff --git a/old/61079-0.txt b/old/61079-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4954f04..0000000 --- a/old/61079-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3160 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Snythergen, by Hal Garrott - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Snythergen - -Author: Hal Garrott - -Illustrator: Dugald Walker - -Release Date: January 2, 2020 [EBook #61079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SNYTHERGEN *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: _“I did not call you over to give me a bath,” cried -Squeaky_] - - - - - SNYTHERGEN - - BY - HAL GARROTT - - ILLUSTRATIONS BY - DUGALD WALKER - - [Illustration] - - NEW YORK - ROBERT M. McBRIDE & COMPANY - 1923 - - Copyright, 1923, by - ROBERT M. MCBRIDE & CO. - - First Published, 1923 - - _Printed in the United States of America._ - - - - -TO HAL AND JEAN - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I SLENDER FOODS AND ROUND FOODS 1 - - II A TICKLISH TREE 11 - - III PLAYED ON A MUSICAL SKIRT 21 - - IV A BIRD AND A TREE PLAY AT HIDE AND SEEK 29 - - V HOW A PIG LEARNED TO TALK 37 - - VI THE HOUSE AT THE END OF A ROPE 45 - - VII BEAR ON ICE 53 - - VIII A RUNAWAY TREE 65 - - IX THE DOCTOR DISCOVERS A TREE WITH ST. VITUS’ DANCE 71 - - X THE BEAR SEES THE “GRASSHOPPER PIG,” HEARS THE - “HUNTSMEN,” AND IS PRESENT AT THE “ESCAPE” 87 - - XI THE JOURNEY TO THE WREATH—A SPIN IN A HUMMING-TOP—AN - UNKNOWN FRIEND 99 - - XII ABOARD A FLOATING BEARD 113 - - XIII THE PIE ROOM—BEAR AGAIN!—SANCHO WING SCOLDS 123 - - XIV SNYTHERGEN’S TROUBLES 135 - - XV TOY FOODS 147 - - XVI HOME 155 - - - - -THE ILLUSTRATIONS - - - IN COLOR - - “I did not call you over to give me a bath,” cried Squeaky _Frontispiece_ - - FACING PAGE - - It was inspiring to hear this chorus accompanied by full orchestra 24 - - The house was left dangling above ground to receive an airing out 46 - - “Bears should not talk when their mouths are full of food,” said - Santa Claus kindly 128 - - IN BLACK AND WHITE - - PAGE - - His father would stand on one hand and his mother on the other 5 - - Like mothers the world over she knew how to sacrifice herself 13 - - His feet projected out of the window in the butler’s pantry 19 - - Snythergen cried, “Don’t do that!” 33 - - To die in her arms would have been a happier lot than leaving her 41 - - “At least I can relieve his headache” 59 - - “Stick out your tongue!” 75 - - He would strike a tree-like pose 83 - - Then went around again to see if he had overlooked any crumbs 91 - - “Some unusual weight behind” 101 - - “The only kind of humming-top to have” 105 - - “Stop the top, stop the top!” bellowed Squeaky 109 - - “Squeaky, who is a voice with a pig’s body” 117 - - The door-man, turning his head sideways, wiggled his left ear 125 - - A traffic butler stood at hall intersections 141 - - And squeezed him almost as tightly as the farmer’s wife had done 151 - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER I - -SLENDER FOODS AND ROUND FOODS - - -Snythergen’s mother was poor—so poor that she did not feel able to -support her baby boy. So she put him in a basket—it had to be a large -one—and left it on the doorstep of a little old couple who had long -wished for a child. - -The pair were very much surprised, not only at finding Snythergen, but at -his unusual appearance. He was thin as bones and very long—so long that -he appeared to be wearing stilts. His body was very ungainly and the -couple’s first feeling was one of disappointment—until they looked into -his eyes. These were bright and roguish and something else not easy to -name—something that made them know he was their child, and they loved him. - -The new papa and mamma were very proud. First of all they wanted their -boy to fill out into a healthy well-fed child, so they stoked his -neglected stomach with the richest of farm foods. The effect was prompt. -It was amazing how Snythergen changed from day to day. His cheeks -rounded, his shoulders broadened, and the layers of flesh spread over -his lean trunk until he was as bulging as a rubber ball. He was getting -enormous and his parents were beginning to sense a new danger. - -“He will burst if he keeps on getting fatter,” said his mother anxiously. - -“I must study the question,” said his father, who was a philosopher. - -One day the father came in much excited. “I know what it is that makes -baby so fat! He eats the wrong kind of food. His diet is too round. It -is all pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, eggs, oranges. Now to get thin he -should eat thin foods, like celery, asparagus, pie-plant, and macaroni.” - -So they fed him long slender foods, and he began changing at once. He -shot up almost as fast as Jack’s beanstalk, until they were alarmed for -fear he would never stop shooting up. He had grown until he could look -into the second story windows standing on the ground, and could place his -hand on the top of the chimney without getting on tiptoes. Again it was -time something was done, and they sat down to think the matter over. - -[Illustration] - -“I have it,” said the papa at last. “Son must not eat all round nor all -slender foods! The two must be mixed!” - -So they mixed them just in time to save Snythergen from shooting up like -a skyrocket. But by the time his growth was arrested he was altogether -too big for a boy. - -There was no room in the house large enough for him to sleep in and he -could not go upstairs; the passage was too small and the ceiling too low. -But they found a place by letting his legs and body curl around through -the hallways and connecting rooms of the ground floor. His head rested on -a pillow in the living room and his feet projected out of the window in -the butler’s pantry. Every night before he went to bed his mother tucked -him in carefully, unfurling a roll of sheets and quilts that had been -sewed together and were long enough to stretch from his feet to his neck. - -[Illustration: His father would stand on one hand and his mother on the -other] - -Before he left for school in the morning his parents always kissed him -good-by affectionately. The parting took place outdoors in front of -the house. Snythergen would bend over and place his broad hands on the -ground, palms up. His father would stand on one hand and his mother on -the other, holding tightly to their son’s coat sleeves. Then Snythergen -would raise his arms, lifting his parents until they were on a level with -his face. - -“Now be a good boy, Snythergen,” said the little father, “or I shall -spank you severely!” - -“Of course he will be a good boy,” said the mother, as she leaned over -and kissed him. - -Then the papa would climb up his ear and place his hands on his son’s -head and give him his blessing. Snythergen would then lower both parents -gently to the ground and start for school. - -Snythergen was nearly always late in starting for school. He seldom slept -well, for his bed was uncomfortable and he could not turn over or even -change his position, without injuring the house. Every night before going -to sleep he would resolve to be up early on the morrow, but regularly -failed. And one morning he arose so very late that it was necessary to -find a short cut if he were to arrive at school in time. - -What could he do? He tried to think of a scheme while collecting his -books. Bending over to pick up his slate pencil, he placed his head -between his heels, just for the fun of it. And this gave him an idea! -With his head still in this position, he bent his body into a circle -making a hoop of himself. Then he began to roll down hill across the -fields, slowly at first, then faster and faster, then so fast he could -not stop. He bounded over fences and ditches, until, all out of breath -and very much flushed, he found himself at the school house door! This -short cut saved him at least a mile, and it was such fun rolling down -hill, he went that way every morning thereafter, rolling up to the door -just as the school-bell was ringing—to crawl into the passage on his -hands and knees. - -There was not room enough for Snythergen to stand up in school, so the -janitor cut a trap door beside his desk so that his feet extended into -the basement. Even then he stood taller in the school room than the other -pupils. But he would have managed very well had the janitor not been -absent-minded and near-sighted. He seemed never able to remember that -those long shanks were legs—not pillars. Again and again he would tie -the clothes-line to them, and on wash days when Snythergen went out at -recess, usually he trailed a piece of clothes-line behind each leg, with -the washing hanging on. And the janitor got such a scolding from his wife -for this that he grew to dislike Snythergen almost as much as Snythergen -disliked him. - -One morning the janitor painted the basement. And when Snythergen went -out at recess his legs were a brilliant yellow and pinned to each was a -sign: “Fresh Paint.” That day he had an easy time playing tag, for no one -wanted to get smeared with paint badly enough to touch him. - -One day the janitor was so forgetful as to start to drive a nail into one -of Snythergen’s legs. This was too much! The poor boy jumped out of the -cellar, and in rising thrust his head through the roof. So angry was he, -he hardly knew what he was doing. He stepped over the walls carrying the -roof with him, then tossed it on the ground and hurried away. “I won’t, -won’t go back to school,” he kept saying to himself. Rather than go back -and face the ridicule of his schoolmates he decided to run away. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER II - -A TICKLISH TREE - - -For some time Snythergen had been thinking of running away and had -planned to go to the forest and live with the trees, whose size was about -like his own. While waiting for the time to arrive, he had made himself -a disguise—and a very good one it was, too,—it was a suit of brown and -green that made him look just like a tree. For a long time he had kept it -hidden in some bushes. Yes, he had quite made up his mind to run away. - -He went home that night and looked into the upstairs windows for a last -sight of his dear mother and father. His father was already asleep -when he arrived, but his mother was sitting anxiously by the window -waiting for her little boy to come home. He rubbed his nose on the glass -until she noticed that he was there, then placed a finger to his lips -cautioning her to be quiet. She raised the window softly and whispered: - -“Snythergen, what is the matter?” - -“Mother, dear, I am going away. I cannot stand going to school any -longer. I am too big and they are beginning to laugh at me. I was never -meant for a student anyway. I am going to live in the forest with the -trees. They will not make fun of me. I have made myself a suit of bark -and branches which makes me look just like one of them. Some day I will -come back to you and take you to my new home. But now I must leave you -and go and seek my fortune!” - -[Illustration: Like mothers the world over she knew how to sacrifice -herself when it was for the good of her child] - -The poor mother’s heart was almost breaking. The tears streamed from her -eyes, but deep in her heart she knew it was best for him to go. Like -mothers the world over she knew how to sacrifice herself when it was -for the good of her child. She kissed him again and again. Just then the -father turned uneasily in his sleep. - -“Hurry, hurry, my darling boy! If your father hears you he will give you -a terrible spanking.” As he rushed away, great tears were dashed from his -eyes by the branches of tree-tops. - -Snythergen went straight to the forest and very early the next morning -dressed in his suit of green and took his place as a tree. For a long -time he stood very still, holding his branches out and waving his leaves -in the breeze. “I wish something would happen,” he said to himself. “It -certainly bores one to be a tree.” He had been standing there since -daybreak and the sun was now high in the sky. The birds as yet had not -lighted on him. Some instinct made them hesitate. At last a daring -woodpecker approached his trunk, and began a series of sharp pecks. -Snythergen stifled an “ouch” and made a wry face. The first woodpecker -was followed by others. They attacked his bark until it itched and -smarted all over. In spite of his discomfort he tried to stand very still -for he thought it beneath a tree’s dignity to show its feelings. - -Unfortunately Snythergen was ticklish and whenever the birds touched -a sensitive spot he could not help wiggling. This frightened the -woodpeckers for a while and they flew to a neighboring limb to gaze at -the strange tree. But as soon as they stopped tickling Snythergen always -stopped shaking. This puzzled the birds. They could not understand why -they felt the tree shake when they pecked, but could not see it move when -they stopped to look at it. Finally they decided that they only imagined -it moved, and after that they did not fly away unless the wiggling was -very violent—which it was whenever a bird happened to blunder upon -Snythergen’s “funny bone.” Snythergen was beginning to realize that the -life of a tree is not all joy. Hardly could he wait for night to come -when the birds would fly away. In the meantime he tried and tried to -think of a plan to outwit them. “I have it!” he whispered to himself at -last. - -When it was quite dark he pulled off his tree suit, and went to a near-by -town to purchase several xylophones. These are musical instruments with -keys usually made of wood, and played on with a little mallet. Snythergen -took the keys apart and strung them about his trunk so that they hung -about him like a skirt of mail, to protect his bark from woodpeckers. -The next morning when the birds began to circle around him, he smiled -to himself. When one of them lighted and began pecking away, a cheery -sound came forth. And when the others followed his example the whole -tree became a bedlam of musical jingles. “Peck away, peck away!” said -Snythergen to himself, “you cannot hurt me now!” - -It was not long before the strange sounds issuing from the tree attracted -all the wild life of the forest. The air became almost black with flying -things, and the ground was swarming with animals little and big. Even a -bear came along and Snythergen trembled from roots to peak leaf. How he -wanted to run home to his mother! It would be easier to go back and face -his schoolmates than to stay alone with a bear. But at heart Snythergen -was really a brave little boy and his courage soon returned. He had set -out to be a tree and he made up his mind he would be a worthy one. He did -not want the forest to be ashamed of him. “I must not be the first tree -that ever ran away. It would set all the others such a bad example!” he -thought. So he held his teeth together very firmly, and stood up ever so -straight and stiff. “I must appear calm and unconcerned,” he said to -himself, but his heart beat so rapidly and thumped so loudly he thought -the bear must surely hear it. But the big brute was too much absorbed in -the strange concert to think of anything else, and did not suspect that a -spare-ribbed boy trembled behind a disguise of bark, boughs and leaves. - -After a while the novelty wore off and the bear went about his business, -much to Snythergen’s relief. The others, too, felt easier when the big -brute was gone, and crowded more closely about the strange tree. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: His feet projected out of the window in the butler’s -pantry] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER III - -PLAYED ON A MUSICAL SKIRT - - -A thoughtful appearing goldfinch hovered about the strange tree. He -would sit long in one of Snythergen’s branches as if lost in a golden -study. Occasionally he would peck at the various wooden keys and listen -critically, but the sounds he produced were sickly compared to the -woodpeckers’ ringing tremolo. - -“I wonder what he’s up to,” thought Snythergen. “Some deviltry, I’ll -wager! He seems a wise little bird. Evidently he’s planning to do -something to me. I suppose I’ll find out what it is when he gets ready to -let me know, and not before!” - -The goldfinch flew among the woodpeckers and assembled about two hundred -of them in Snythergen’s branches. Then he made them a speech. - -“He is explaining his project,” thought Snythergen. The finch would flit -up to a key, peck it and return to his branch, chirping animatedly. -When he had finished the woodpeckers tossed their heads and chorused -something. Snythergen could not decide whether it was an oral vote or a -cheer. - -“The meeting must be over,” thought Snythergen, relieved. But his relief -was short-lived. The entire flock flitted down, landing on his trunk, and -covering it until there was a bird stationed beside each xylophone key. - -“Whew,” gasped Snythergen. “It wouldn’t be so bad on a cold wintry day, -but this is no time of year to be smothered in an overcoat of xylophones -and birds!” - -His sap coursed feverishly through his trunk and the veins of his leaves. -He fanned his moist bark cautiously with his upper boughs. The birds were -too absorbed in their scheme, whatever it was, to pay any attention to -the tree’s unusual motions. - -Snythergen was almost suffocated with heat. “Why don’t they tar and -feather me and be done with it!” he groaned. “It amounts to that anyhow, -for my sap is as hot as tar—and as for feathers!” - -Here he paused, struck by the sweet sounds issuing from his trunk. The -goldfinch was apparently leading an orchestra of woodpeckers and they -were playing bird calls! - -“So this is your scheme,” thought Snythergen. “Not a bad idea at all!” -A cool breeze had just sprung up from the north, enabling Snythergen to -cool off and enjoy the performance. The finch was perched on a central -limb and was pointing his bill at the different players when he desired -them to respond. He was standing on one leg. With the other he beat time, -using a tiny twig as baton. The music attracted many birds and animals -and the goldfinch made them a speech. As nearly as Snythergen could guess -from his gestures the little bird said something like this: - -“We’re going to give a symphony concert to-night shortly after bug time! -Everybody is invited to come and bring his family and friends.” - -Preparations for the concert were in progress all day. An hour before -the audience was admitted the western sky was ablaze and the animals -thought the forest was on fire. But it was only a cloud of fireflies -coming to light the concert. When they arrived the business manager (an -intelligent crow) directed them to stand just touching each other along -all the branches, twigs and leaves of the tree, until Snythergen sparkled -from roots to peak with thousands of points of light. The branch on which -the goldfinch perched was lighted more brilliantly than the others. -Festoons of acrobatic fireflies holding together hung down from it like -ropes of light. - -[Illustration: _It was inspiring to hear this chorus accompanied by full -orchestra_] - -At the appointed time animals and birds were admitted to the reserved -space about the tree. Crow ushers kept order and showed each one where to -sit. Birds were admitted to all but the stage branches of the tree, and -they covered every part of Snythergen unoccupied by fireflies. At first -the fireflies were afraid of the great birds that stood close enough to -touch them, and they would have flown off in terror if the crows had not -watched over and protected them. By this time the ground was black with -animals. Not only every seat, but every inch of standing room was taken. -By eight o’clock every member of the orchestra was perched at attention. -Beside every xylophone key a woodpecker awaited the signal to begin. - -When all were seated the goldfinch walked proudly forth from his dressing -room of leaves and took his position in the center of the stage-limb. He -was indeed a handsome fellow. His gay head-dress was gracefully arranged. -His feathers were as smooth as satin, and his manicured claws shone in -the light of the fireflies. His entrance was greeted with tremendous -applause and he had to bow again and again. When it was quiet, he raised -his baton and bill together and gave the signal. The concert began. -All listened breathlessly to the wonderful strains. Aside from the -music there was not the faintest sound of animal, bird or insect in the -forest. Even the trees kept tight hold of their leaves, to keep them from -rustling in the breeze. - -Before the concert was over the call of nearly every being present had -been given by the orchestra. The meadow lark’s song was encored again and -again. It was so short it was over in a jiffy and the audience could not -get enough of it. - -Once during the evening the leader was worried for a moment. In a front -seat he had spied an old frog and he knew his bass woods did not go low -enough to imitate the frog song. So when an usher came up and whispered -in his ear that the frog was stone deaf and would not know it if his call -were omitted, he was very much relieved. Happily the old fellow was the -only frog present. - -The favorite number proved to be the brown thrasher’s song. It was long -enough to make a piece, and seemed just suited to xylophones. Since -Snythergen wore at least twelve of these instruments in his skirt of -mail, there were enough different keys to provide soprano, alto, tenor -and bass. The audience was much stirred by the wonderful performance, and -the leader as a compliment to the brown thrashers directed the ushers -to conduct all of them present to a stage limb just beneath him. They -were lined up in a row and firefly foot-lights shone upon a long line of -feathery breasts in front and straight slender tails behind. - -It was inspiring to hear this mighty chorus accompanied by full -orchestra, in one of the most beautiful of bird songs. No wonder birds -and animals clapped until their claws and paws ached, and when the -concert was over, refused to go home until the leader announced another -performance next week. - -“Well, at last,” said Snythergen, when all had left, “I can have a -moment’s rest. There won’t be another concert if I can help it—and I -think I can!” - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A BIRD AND A TREE PLAY AT HIDE AND SEEK - - -Snythergen took off his suit and lay upon the ground. In a minute he was -fast asleep. Early the next morning he arose and put on his tree suit -but not the xylophone skirt. It was a hot day and it would be cooler -without that. And he believed that after their hard day the woodpeckers -would sleep till noon. He was right. Not one came to disturb him in the -morning. But without them there were plenty of curious eyes staring. For -the birds and animals could not understand the change that had come over -the strange tree. - -The goldfinch did not sleep as late as the woodpeckers, for he did not -believe in lying abed in the morning even if he had been up late the -night before. When he saw that the tree no longer wore its skirt of -xylophone keys he studied Snythergen curiously, hopping from twig to twig -and pondering. He discovered that this tree was much warmer than the -others—for the heavy tree suit made Snythergen very hot. The little bird -wondered if the strange tree would not be a good place in which to build -a winter home. This would save him going south every year. In place of a -one-room nest, why not build a mansion? He flew away excitedly to draw up -the plans. - -“At last I can enjoy a little peace,” murmured Snythergen and dozed off -for a standing nap. When he awoke, it was with a start. “Stop biting my -toes,” he cried. Glancing down he saw—a pig! “He must be hungry,” thought -he. “Well, I’ve eaten enough pig in my day. It would only be fair to -let one of his kind have a bite of me. But I am thankful his teeth are -not sharp. The bites feel like little pinches. I hope he is enjoying -himself, but now he is beginning to damage my costume!” He gave a kick -and the pig jumped back, so frightened that his hair and his tail stood -pompadour. He was pale and trembling and his little eyes grew big and -round. - -“What in the world is the matter with that tree?” he exclaimed. “I -thought it moved!” - -It was now Snythergen’s turn to be surprised. “Can he talk, the little -rascal? Now how did a pig ever learn to talk? I must investigate.” - -Evidently the pig liked the taste of bark; and as Snythergen stood very -still the pig’s courage returned. He approached the tree once more, and -was just about to take a really good bite when Snythergen cried, “Don’t -do that!” - -“Who said that?” cried the pig, startled. - -“Why, I did, of course.” - -“Who are you and where are you?” - -“Can’t you see, you simpleton!” said Snythergen. “I am the tree and I -want you to stop biting my roots.” - -The pig did not wait to hear more. So frightened was he that he ran away -as fast as he could. - -“Come back,” shouted Snythergen, “come back after dark and we can visit -without being seen.” - -Soon the little finch returned with plans all drawn, and set to work to -build in one of the strange tree’s branches. This made Snythergen anxious -for he did not fancy having his limbs tangled up in nests. And when the -finch flew farther than usual in search of thistle down, Snythergen -strolled softly to an open space several hundred feet away behind a -hillock. - -When the finch returned he could not find the tree. Nearly frantic he -flew wildly about in circles; then darted across in diameters. Was he -dreaming? He all but lost his reason and contracted a painfully stiff -neck. “That tree must be somewhere!” he exclaimed, and turning suddenly -he would charge the spot where it had been, as if to take it by surprise. -Then he described larger and larger circles until at length he came upon -Snythergen’s hiding place. - -Joyfully he returned to his work careful this time not to let the tree -out of his sight. It was now Snythergen’s turn to be perplexed. How was -he to dodge that energetic nest builder! For every time he attempted to -take to his roots there were those sharp little eyes regarding him. - -“No chance! That is the most suspicious goldfinch I ever saw!” he sighed. - -[Illustration: Snythergen cried, “Don’t do that!”] - -The nest was progressing alarmingly. The fuzzy material tickled -Snythergen’s limb, and every time he tried to rub it, the goldfinch was -watching. - -“Is there no way to get rid of the little pest?” he groaned. “Can’t I -ever get him to turn his back long enough for me to rub my itching limb? -My, but he must love me, the way he keeps staring all the while! If this -keeps up much longer I’ll get the St. Vitus’ dance.” - -He remembered that the finch had gone a long way off for milkweed silk -and thistle down with which to line his nest, and it was while he was -searching for these that Snythergen had had his chance to hide. - -“I’ll just pull out some of that fuzzy stuff and put it in my pocket the -next time birdie turns his back,” he chuckled. “When he sees it is gone -he will go for some more, and when he comes back—well, there won’t be any -tree or any nest to welcome him!” - -This thought amused Snythergen so much that he almost gave himself away -by laughing out loud. Luckily the finch thought it was a child in the -woods and turned his back to see. And the moment he did so Snythergen -jerked out most of the fuzzy stuff and put it into his pocket. When the -finch saw the damage he was very much puzzled. - -“Bless my feathers! Now how in the world did that happen?” he said. -“This place must be bewitched!” - -He looked around, painfully twisting his neck, then sat still on a branch -for a long time, watching and thinking, but he failed to find a single -clue leading to the cause of the damage. At length he gave it up and went -to work to repair it. First he looked all around carefully, then dashed -away to the place where the thistles grew, planning to grab a billful of -down and fly back in the briefest possible time. But the moment he was -out of sight Snythergen took to his roots and ran toward the place where -he had told the pig to meet him, tearing off his tree suit as he ran, and -he had barely gotten out of it when the finch flew screeching by. - -“This time I fooled you,” thought Snythergen, as he stretched out on the -ground for a nap. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER V - -HOW A PIG LEARNED TO TALK - - -Snythergen dreamed that he was sitting on a pier, dangling his feet in -the water. Little fishes were nibbling his toes, when suddenly a large -one darted up and took a bite that hurt. Raising both feet quickly, he -woke up. - -“You don’t need to be so rough,” said the pig, who had been bowled over -by the raising of Snythergen’s feet and lay on his back, waving his legs -in the air. - -“It’s you, is it! Up to your favorite trick of biting my toes! Well, it -serves you right. Of course I am glad you like me, but I wish you would -show your affection in some other way!” - -“Oh,” cried the pig. “So you were the strange tree that kicked me and -spoke to me! I recognize you by the taste of your toes. But how was I to -know that the last time I nibbled you, you were a tree,—unless I nibbled -you again to find out?” - -“In that case, I’ll forgive you,” said Snythergen, “and I hope you’ll -overlook the fright I gave you.” - -They lay on the ground side by side and gazed up at the stars. - -“Tell me, how did you learn to talk?” asked Snythergen. - -“The farmer’s wife taught me,” said the pig. - -“Why did she do that?” - -“Because I was hungry.” - -“That’s no reason. They give people food when they are hungry—they don’t -teach them to talk.” - -“This woman did. She would not give me anything to eat until I learned -to ask for it. And as I was nearly starving I learned rapidly,” said the -pig. “As soon as I could ask for things I gained in weight, and when the -farmer saw I was getting fat he asked his wife to keep right on feeding -me so that—” - -“Yes,” said Snythergen. - -“_So that they could eat me for dinner!_” faltered the pig, dashing a -tear from his eye. - -“Then what did you do?” asked Snythergen. - -“I ate as little as possible until the farmer’s wife saw I was getting -thin again. Then she told me to eat all I wanted and not to worry. She -said she would manage somehow so—they would not have to—eat—me for -dinner! I trusted her and after that enjoyed three good meals a day. You -see she had taken a fancy to me because I kept myself looking neat, and -tried to be gentlemanly. She called me ‘Squeaky’ and treated me like a -child of her own. Little by little I began to understand what she said, -and learned to talk. - -“One day the farmer’s wife was sitting by the window sewing. The farmer -had gone to town. I trotted up as usual for a chat, but instead of -chatting— - -“‘You must go away,’ she said, with a catch in her voice, ‘for my husband -says we must have you—for—dinner—to-morrow!’ - -“She could hardly say the words. We looked at each other sadly. Then she -took me in her arms and squeezed me so tightly I thought she would break -my bones; and I would not have cared much if she had. To die in her arms -would have been a happier lot than leaving her. - -“‘But surely I may come back some day,’ I managed to say, ‘or send for -you when my fortune is made.’ - -“‘I’m afraid not,’ she faltered. - -“I cannot tell you any more about our parting. It was too sad. Somehow I -survived it—I suppose because I was young and the world lay before me. - -“A farmer’s buckboard approached in the rough lane, thumping over -the frozen ruts, announcing its coming long in advance. I hid in the -cabbage-patch. The farmer’s wife stopped the vehicle and gossiped with -the driver, to give me a chance to climb into the back and hide. - -[Illustration: To die in her arms would have been a happier lot than -leaving her] - -“It was not easy to scramble up into the vehicle, for I was fat, and -could not get a foothold. I tried using the spokes of the wheel as a -ladder, but kept slipping and falling back. I knew one side of the wheel -would go up and the other down when the wagon started, but could not -figure out which side did which. However, I decided to take a chance. -Taking a firm grip on one of the lower spokes I braced my feet on the -one below it. It happened to be the right side of the wheel. So when -the vehicle started the spoke I was holding to began to rise, carrying -me up nearly to the top of the wagon. Bracing my legs, I gave a leap -that landed me in the buckboard upon some empty potato sacks. Hurriedly -selecting one I crawled into it. - -“The farmer thought he had heard something fall into the wagon, and -stopping his horses, he glanced back. I was hidden by this time but he -saw a bulging under the pile of sacks and was about to poke into them -when I said, ‘Please, Mr. Smythers, let me stay here until we get by -those boys in the road. I am hiding from them.’ - -“When he heard my voice Mr. Smythers, of course, took me for a boy and he -answered: ‘No, you cannot stay there. You will smother. Come out and I -will protect you from the boys.’ - -“Receiving no reply he poked about among the sacks until he found the one -I was in. - -“‘Why, it’s a pig in the bag instead of a boy!’ he cried in great -surprise. ‘Well, I’ll soon fix him so he can’t get away!’ and he tied up -the opening with a string. ‘But where is that boy that spoke to me just -now?’ - -“Mr. Smythers looked under the wagon, searched both sides of the road, -and even the trees, but of course found no one. Greatly perplexed he got -into his buckboard and drove on, glancing back every few minutes to see -if there wasn’t a boy around somewhere. After he had driven about a mile -he ceased looking around, and as we were going through a dense forest, I -decided to try to escape. The bag I was in had a hole in it (that is why -I had chosen it), and it was not difficult to make the opening larger by -tearing the rotten threads. Little by little I squeezed myself out, and -dropping off the back of the buckboard, fell in a heap in the road. - -“‘Now I am free,’ I thought, and I wandered deeper and deeper into the -woods until I found you.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE HOUSE AT THE END OF A ROPE - - -“Hm,” said Snythergen when Squeaky had finished his tale, and for some -time he remained silent. At last he spoke. - -“I think we had better build a house!” - -“Good,” said Squeaky, “but is this a safe place? Didn’t I see a bear in -the crowd you attracted?” - -“Yes, but I don’t think he’ll come back. If he does my tree suit will -save us. I can bend over until my limbs touch the ground. Then you can -climb into my top branches and I’ll lift you out of danger. The bear will -take me for a tree and leave us alone.” - -So they set to work very promptly. The plans they drew called for a round -house. And to make sure it would be big enough for Snythergen, he lay on -the ground curling up in the smallest space he could, and Squeaky traced -a line around him in the dirt to mark the position of the outside wall. -They planned to make the roof high enough for Snythergen when he was -lying down, but of course he would be unable to stand up or even to sit -up without bumping his head on the ceiling. The outer circle just inside -the wall was to be Snythergen’s bedroom, and Squeaky was to occupy the -space in the middle. It took several weeks to build the house and before -the paint was quite dry Snythergen spread pine boughs over the ground -floor to make a soft place for them to lie. - -[Illustration: _The house was left dangling above ground to receive an -airing out_] - -In the center of the roof was a hook to which was fastened a rope running -up over a pulley attached to the top of a pine tree. From the other end -of the rope hung a huge boulder, just as heavy as the house. The stone -and the building balanced each other so nicely that a little pull would -send the house up or down. In the daytime the house was pulled up and -left dangling above the ground to air out. At night when they went to -bed Snythergen would lie down, bending himself into the exact shape of -his bedroom by following a line marked out on the ground; and when he lay -in just the right position so that the house when lowered would clear -him, Squeaky would crawl over him into his little nest. Then Snythergen, -reaching up, would pull the house down over their ears, making them snug -and cozy for the night. - -While they had been at work on their new house a most persistent little -bird had followed them around, perching on a near-by tree or bush. He -appeared to listen to their words and moved his bill as if practicing the -sounds; and sometimes he would make the strangest noises! Squeaky, always -glad of a chance to visit, fell into the habit of talking to the bird. It -did not occur to him that a goldfinch would not be able to understand; -besides the little fellow stood so still when Squeaky spoke to him he -seemed to be taking it in. - -“Do you understand me?” Squeaky would ask impatiently. - -A strange sound not unlike “no” was the response. - -“Then you do understand!” said Squeaky. - -“No,” it came unmistakably now. - -“Evidently the finch wants to learn to talk,” thought Squeaky, so he -began to instruct him. He knew well how to set about it, for he had -learned himself only with the greatest difficulty. He used the silent -speech method—that is, he had the finch go through the motions of saying -the words with his bill and throat, without actually making a sound. -It was a good way to learn, but amusing to watch. The first day the -goldfinch learned to make the motions for several words. When he did -“cat” how he shuddered and flapped his wings as if to fly away in a -hurry. How his bill did water and what a hungry gleam came into his eyes -when he did “worm”! - -Because his teacher would not permit sounds at first, the finch learned -to put great feeling into his gestures and the expression of his face. -And in time when he had learned to talk this assisted him greatly with -animals and birds ignorant of the language. For those who did not -understand what he said, knew what he meant by his gestures. After he -had been instructing the finch for a fortnight and had come to like him, -Squeaky decided to ask Snythergen to invite the little bird to share -their quarters. “He is such a sensible little bird,” thought Squeaky, -“if he behaves well to-morrow, I’ll ask Snythergen’s permission then.” - -That was the day the house was completed and that night the owners were -very tired. They slept soundly until three o’clock in the morning when -something woke them. - -“What was that?” asked Squeaky in a shaky voice. - -“It sounded like a growl,” said Snythergen, and his trembling was so -violent it shook the house. Thereafter no more sleep was possible for -either, but the sound did not return. When morning came they investigated -and found bear tracks leading to the door. - -“What shall we do?” asked Snythergen. - -As usual the finch was perched on a branch listening, standing so close -to Snythergen’s ear that his wing rubbed against it. - -“Who’s tickling my ear?” said Snythergen, looking around. But the finch -had hidden behind a leaf. - -“What do bears want?” asked Squeaky. - -“To make trouble, I guess,” said Snythergen. - -During the building of the house Snythergen had been so busy he had not -even noticed Squeaky’s little friend. Now the finch wished to join in the -conversation, for his teacher had just given him permission to speak out -loud. He wanted to celebrate his first spoken words by saying them at -the top of his voice, so pushing his little bill into Snythergen’s ear, -he screamed: - -“Bears don’t want to make trouble, they want food!” - -Snythergen jumped as if a bee had stung him. - -“What was that!” cried he, looking around and seeing nothing. For again -the finch had hopped behind a leaf. - -“It’s my good friend, the goldfinch,” said Squeaky. “I want you to meet -him. I have been teaching him to talk, and you heard the first words he -has spoken out loud. Don’t you think he did them rather well?” he asked, -proud of his pupil. - -“If loudness is an indication I should say he did, most decidedly,” said -Snythergen, whose ears were still ringing. “If he keeps on improving they -can hear him in the next county!” - -“Come,” said Squeaky, looking around for the finch, “I want you to meet -him.” At Squeaky’s request, the finch came out of his hiding place and -was presented. - -“If it isn’t the little goldfinch!” exclaimed Snythergen in surprise, and -he burst out laughing. - -“What are you laughing at?” asked the finch suspiciously. - -“I was just thinking how difficult it seems to be for some birds to find -their way back to their nests,” said Snythergen. - -At this the sensitive bird flushed a brighter gold and hung his bill -dejectedly. - -“I suppose trees look a good deal alike,” continued Snythergen mockingly, -“and that is why it is so hard to find the one your nest is in!” - -Too confused to answer, the finch made up his mind to question Squeaky -when they were alone, and at the first opportunity told the pig of his -adventure with the strange tree. When Squeaky explained that Snythergen -had a costume of bark, branches and leaves, the little bird understood -how the “tree” had been able to hide from him, and why he had been unable -to get any trace of his nest. Though he felt indignant about the way he -had been treated, he decided for the present to say nothing and bide his -time. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BEAR ON ICE - - -The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they -accepted him as one of them. They named him “Sancho Wing” and built -him a little house on the roof of their new home. In many respects it -was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one -of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building -materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered -Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the -thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for -lining the walls and floors. The living rooms were down stairs, but in -the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store -stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in -the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities. But the -most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to -a dizzy height—even for a bird. For it was intended as a look-out from -which Sancho might keep a sharp watch for the bear. - -Sancho Wing was far too curious a little bird to sit quietly at home and -wait for things to take their course. So, in addition to scanning the -horizon daily for signs of the bear, he searched the forest over until he -located the cave in which the beast lived, and actually flew into it. As -it was getting dark and the beast was half asleep, he mistook the bird -for a bat and paid no attention to him. Although very much frightened, -Sancho hovered around until the brute’s heavy snoring indicated that he -was fast asleep. Then hastening back he assured Snythergen and Squeaky -they might now rest in peace, and retired to his own snug feather bed. - -The three friends had been living together happily and unmolested by the -bear for about a month, when one Sunday at daybreak Sancho Wing opened -his eyes and wondered what had awakened him. He listened. There was a -faint sound like the crackling of twigs. He winged a few hundred yards -into the woods in the direction of the cave and saw the bear approaching. -Hastening back he pecked Snythergen until he opened his eyes. - -“The bear is coming! Get into your tree suit at once, it’s your only -chance!” said Sancho. - -Snythergen pushed the house up out of the way and jumped out of bed, -calling to the pig. But Squeaky would not wake up. He was too fond of -sleep ever to allow himself to be disturbed before breakfast was on the -table, and always he slept rolled into a ball, his head tucked under his -body; and so tightly did he curl himself up that he kept this position no -matter what any one did to him. Snythergen might have rolled him on the -ground or tossed him into the air, without waking him. And had he done so -Squeaky would have recounted these adventures afterwards as part of his -dream. - -Therefore Snythergen did not waste time trying to wake Squeaky, but -hastened to arrange himself in his tree suit. This done, he bent over -and with his top branches picked Squeaky up and lifted him out of danger. -Next he lowered the house to the ground to make the bear think it was -occupied, and took his position as a tree. Hardly had he shaken out his -leaves and arranged his branches when the beast arrived. - -Casting an inquiring glance at the tree, the bear entered the house -in search of food. He proceeded at once to the ice-box. Luckily (as -it turned out) the door was open. Before leaving Snythergen had had -the quick forethought to put a piece of cheese in his pocket and -had neglected to close the ice-box door. When the bear had eaten up -everything that was handy, he pushed his head far into one of the smaller -compartments of the box to reach a last morsel of jam he had been unable -to get before. This time he succeeded and, licking his lips, attempted to -pull his head out. - -He pulled and he pulled but he could not pull his head out. It was caught -in the opening, and the harder he strained, the more firmly the ice-box -became attached to him. He growled and he gnashed his teeth. He stood on -his hind legs and pounded the ice-box against the walls, until Snythergen -and Sancho Wing feared he would knock the house down. Through a window -Sancho saw the bear bracing himself for a mighty blow which, if allowed -to land, would surely break through the wall. - -“Quick, quick, pull the house up!” he called. - -Grasping the rope with the twigs of a lower limb, Snythergen gave it a -jerk. And just as the brute was delivering a terrific blow the house shot -up and the bear’s effort spent itself in the air harmlessly, except that -the big fellow was thrown sprawling to the ground, with a force that -twisted his neck painfully. - -For the moment Snythergen and Sancho Wing forgot their own fears to laugh -at the beast’s comical state. Undoubtedly he was the most surprised bear -in the whole world. Thinking himself still inside of the house (for -whoever heard of a house running away!), he felt about for the walls, but -there were no walls there! The ice-box fastened to his head, blinded him. -Back and forth he stumbled, groping in every direction. And the pounding -of the heavy box on the ground was giving him a splitting headache. - -After he had pulled the house up Snythergen was not at all pleased to -find the bear had eaten up all of their food. And now he beheld the -intruder in a rage, bent on breaking their new ice-box! He was so -indignant, his branches fairly itched to punish the clumsy brute. And -the moment the bear was in a favorable position Snythergen crept softly -behind him, stripped the leaves and twigs from one of his stoutest limbs -and gave the beast a sound thrashing. As the blows fell fast and heavy -the bear yelled like a sick puppy. But Snythergen closed his ears to the -sound, and not until he was out of breath and perspiring did he conclude -the brute had had enough. Then his kind heart was touched, for with the -headache and the spanking, the bear was aching and smarting at both ends. - -[Illustration: “At least I can relieve his headache”] - -“At least I can relieve his headache,” thought Snythergen, bending over -to examine the ice-box. There was still ice in one of the compartments. -Removing a piece Snythergen was able to crowd it in against the bear’s -head, and in spite of the brute’s wiggling, placed it so it rested -against his forehead. Very gently the beast settled down on his aching -haunches, to let the ice cool his throbbing brow. The ice-box was still -attached to him as securely as ever. Apparently he had given up trying -to free himself. But the bear was not to rest in peace for long. His -head recently so hot now became freezing cold. And the pain of it drove -him into a frenzy. Snythergen and Sancho were about to come to his -assistance when he charged blindly forward and a lucky jump was all that -saved Snythergen from a fatal collision. The bear rushed back and forth -beating the ice-box against the rocks and trees, not minding how it -hurt his neck and shoulders. His one desire was to relieve the terrible -freezing in his brain. - -Snythergen quite understood all the bear’s thoughts and now decided that -the big fellow had been punished enough. Grasping the rope from which -the boulder dangled, and swinging it around his head, he brought it down -squarely upon the ice-box. This well-aimed blow split open the box, -freeing the bear’s head, but the door frame still clung about his neck—an -absurd collar. - -Stunned, lame, and aching, the poor bear crawled into the sunlight to -thaw out his brain and to melt his frost-bitten thoughts. But the sun -did not melt his hard heart or calm his rising indignation. He looked -about angrily for his persecutors. He strode threateningly up to one tree -after another, but they all stood very still and wore the innocent look -that comes natural to trees. Snythergen, however, had not been a tree -long enough to look as unconcerned as the others; besides he had a guilty -conscience. - -The bear may have smelled the cheese in Snythergen’s pocket, or maybe -something unusual in his appearance made the beast suspect him, for he -came up and walked around and around the tree until poor Snythergen was -dizzy, following with his eyes, and so frightened he could hardly stand. -Uneasily he swayed from side to side, catching his balance just in time -to avoid a fall. The bear stopped, rubbed his nose on Snythergen’s bark, -dug a claw into it. And Snythergen could not avoid a cry of pain. Sancho -Wing saw the danger his pals were in, and realized that something must be -done quickly if they were to be saved. - -“Throw the cheese to him!” cried the little bird. Snythergen tossed it on -the ground a few yards away and the bear followed it eagerly, gulping it -down in one mouthful. Sancho Wing thought he heard woodchoppers in the -distance and flew away to summon help. Soon he found two men with axes -and a rifle, and hiding in some leaves, he called to them: - -“Hello, hunters! there is a bear over there near that shaking tree. -Follow the sound of my voice and you will easily find the place.” - -The men were simple fellows, only too eager to follow Sancho as he darted -through the leaves calling: “This way, this way!” They could not see who -was calling but supposed it was a little boy who was keeping out of -sight for fear of the bear. Now that help was near, in the midst of his -anxiety Sancho could not avoid chuckling. For he had thought of a way -to get even with Snythergen for the tricks he had played on him about -the nest. As he hurried along he told the woodsmen, after driving away -the bear to cut down a certain tree. “You will know it by the sleeping -pig in its top branches,” he said. Just then the bear saw the huntsmen -approaching and he did not wait for them to come up, but made tracks -before they could get a shot at him. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A RUNAWAY TREE - - -Snythergen gave a sigh of relief when the bear went away and was just -about to step out and un-bark, when he heard voices. - -“This is the tree we are to chop down!” Snythergen heard one of them say, -and already the woodchopper was swinging his axe. Snythergen did not wait -for the blow to land, but leaped into the air and was off as fast as his -roots would carry him. To be sure, he was hampered by his leaves and his -branches and his sheath bark skirt. Brushing none too gently against -bushes and trees he trod on the toes of innumerable growing things. -Apologizing with his bows to right and left, he did not pause even to see -what damage he had done, nor did he know he had stepped heavily on the -roots of an oak, or rubbed the shins of a birch. He knew only that two -woodsmen were after him, threatening to chop him into kindling wood. - -“Did you ever see such a rude tree?” cried a graceful elm suffering from -a broken limb. “And it’s so untreelike to run away like that! Suppose the -rest of us did likewise—what would become of the forest!” - -“If he is restless, I don’t object to his walking about in a gentlemanly -manner,” said the birch whose shins had been rubbed, “as long as he picks -his steps carefully; but to go slamming through regardless of the rest of -us is most inconsiderate!” - -There was much bobbing of tree-tops and angry shaking of limbs in the -direction the runaway tree had taken. But Snythergen might have saved -himself running so far and so fast, had he taken the trouble to look -around. For the hunters were not following but standing still, astonished -at the spectacle of a tree racing through the forest at break-limb speed. -In all the years they had lived in the woods never had they seen a -runaway tree before. - -“Is the forest going crazy?” cried one. “What if all the trees were to -run after us like a herd of buffalo! What chance would we have of escape?” - -The mere thought of it was so terrifying they turned and ran, leaving -coats, rifle, and axes where they lay, and they did not stop until they -were well out of the woods and safe in their own home, behind locked -doors and windows. And they did not stir abroad for two days. - -When Sancho Wing saw the hunters and Snythergen running away from each -other in opposite directions, it was too much for him. He laughed and -laughed, and shook so that he fell from the limb he was perched on, and -only saved himself from a bad fall by using his wings. - -“Surely I have paid Snythergen now for all of his tricks,” he cried -merrily. - -During all this time Squeaky actually had remained asleep in Snythergen’s -top branches, though his rest had been somewhat uneven. - -“Where am I?” he cried, rubbing his eyes and waking up to find himself -violently tossed about, and bumped against the branches of trees as -Snythergen crashed through the forest. - -With a breathless word here and there as he ran, Snythergen gave the -pig an idea of what had happened, and when Squeaky realized all the -dangers he had slept through, he lost his grip and would have fallen had -Snythergen not tightened his hold. On and on ran the tree, stumbling -and reeling, and with every lurch Squeaky’s little heart quivered; for -tree-riding was as terrifying as hanging to the top of a mast in a storm -at sea. What a relief when Snythergen slowed up and stopped at the shore -of a lake, panting like a porpoise! - -“I think you had better get down now,” said Snythergen, “for I am going -to wade across that lake and plant myself in the farmer’s yard on the -other side. I shall remain there until the woodchoppers get tired of -looking for me. I believe my leg is cut. Will you look on the ground and -see if I am bleeding?” - -“I guess your leg isn’t bleeding,” said Squeaky after looking around, -“for I don’t see any sawdust.” - -“Would you mind running home now, Squeaky, just to see that Sancho Wing -is all right? I am a little worried about him. But if you will come back -to this spot twice a day I will signal across the lake to let you know -how I am getting on.” - -Very much shaken Squeaky limped home following the broad trail -Snythergen had made through the woods, and found Sancho Wing still -chuckling. After talking over their adventure for a little while they -settled themselves for a nap. - -As soon as Squeaky left him, Snythergen waded into the lake. He found the -cool water refreshing to his overheated roots and tattered branches, but -when he bent over to drink he came near losing his balance and floating -away. - -Only while he stood erect and kept in shallow water did his roots find -a firm footing on the bottom of the lake. With much splashing of water -and stirring of mud, and by wading around the deep places he managed to -cross. When no one was looking, he crept into the farmer’s yard, where he -hoped to find an end to his troubles. After looking the place over, he -decided to plant himself where he would shade the dining-room window and -could see what the family had for dinner. It occurred to him that if he -became very hungry, he might reach through the window and help himself to -a morsel of food. “Turn about is fair play,” he reasoned. “If I provide -shade for them, they should not begrudge me a bite to eat now and then!” - -Luckily the farmer and his wife were away at camp meeting when -Snythergen arrived, and when they returned, it was dark. A crescent moon -and the stars revealed but a dusky outline of the place. - -“Somehow things don’t look natural around here,” said the farmer when he -reached home. “The place seems changed, swelled out! Why, I believe the -house has got the mumps!” - -“Silas, you don’t think baby has the mumps, do you?” cried his wife, -thinking he must be referring to their child. - -“No, no, it’s the house that’s got the mumps,” said the farmer. - -“Nonsense, Silas, you must be out of your mind!” she said. She saw -nothing out of the way, for her eyes sought only the windows of a room -on the other side of the house where her small son had been left, and -nothing more was said about the matter that night. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE DOCTOR DISCOVERS A TREE WITH ST. VITUS’ DANCE - - -The next morning the discovery of a new tree in the farmer’s yard caused -great surprise. At first the people were awed and afraid, and some were a -little suspicious. Indeed, Snythergen had to stand very stiff and still -and put on his very best tree manners to make them believe he was a real -tree. He was watched so closely that he scarcely dared to breathe, and he -feared the cool breeze from the lake might make him cough, for already he -had a slight cold from wading in the chilly water the day before. Once -or twice he nearly exploded trying to hold in a sneeze. But the people -on the ground saw only his top branches tossing and thought it due to an -upper current of air. - -Then an adventurous boy began climbing his trunk, and Snythergen thought -surely the little fellow would feel his heart beat. But the child only -climbed higher and higher, venturing out on a high limb which Snythergen -held insecurely with the thumb and forefinger of his left hand. It had -been difficult to support the branch alone and keep it from swaying, -but with the heavy boy on it Snythergen found it almost impossible. The -perspiration stood out on every bough. His left arm became so tired it -pained him dreadfully, and it took all his strength to keep from dropping -it to his side. He knew that he could not hold it out much longer, and -yet if he let the branch drop the boy would be dashed to the ground and -perhaps cruelly hurt. In spite of all he could do he was horrified to see -the limb settling slowly downward and he closed his eyes to shut out the -catastrophe that seemed sure to follow. Suddenly there was a cry from -below. - -“Get right down out of that tree,” called the mother of the boy. -Snythergen braced himself to hold on a moment longer, and just as the boy -reached his trunk, the branch fell to his side. Snythergen breathed a -prayer of thanksgiving. The child soon was safe on the ground. - -Snythergen thought the people in the farmer’s yard curious and watchful, -but he was mistaken. He was soon to learn what real curiosity and -watchfulness are like. Some one had sent for a famous tree doctor, and he -came promptly to look Snythergen over. When he appeared Snythergen put -on his most correct forest behavior and really was a model tree, for the -doctor’s benefit. - -“I can’t see anything unusual about that tree,” said the physician, -unpacking his instrument case. Snythergen was holding out his branches -gracefully and letting his leaves flutter naturally in the breeze. The -doctor spread his shining wood-carving tools out on a cloth on the -ground. Much as the little man knew about trees, he had never learned to -climb one, and the farmer had to fetch him a long ladder before he could -make his examination. - -When the little man had mounted well up toward the top of Snythergen he -placed a fever thermometer in a knothole, which happened to lead into -Snythergen’s mouth. Leaving it there he descended to the ground, and -wrapped a rubber bandage about his trunk, winding it so tightly that -Snythergen barely avoided a cry of pain. One look at the indicator gave -the tree doctor a shock. - -“Sap pressure 110!” he cried. “There must be some mistake!” - -Again and again he tried it and each time it registered 110. - -“Surely there is something very strange here!” said the doctor. “Never -have I heard of a tree with a sap pressure over 30. Why, it’s as high as -the blood pressure of a boy!” - -But the tree doctor was to receive another shock when he tapped -Snythergen’s bark and listened with a tree stethoscope. - -“Why, I didn’t think there was a tree in the world with such a violent -throb. It’s as fast and strong as the heart beat of a child!” - -But the greatest shock of all was to come when he climbed up to read the -fever thermometer. He could hardly believe his own eyes when he saw what -it registered. - -“I never heard of a tree having such a temperature!” he cried. “It is as -high as a boy’s.” Indeed the temperature was so much like a boy’s, the -little doctor so far forgot himself as to shout: - -“Stick out your tongue!” - -[Illustration: “Stick out your tongue!”] - -This command took Snythergen by surprise, and without thinking, he stuck -his tongue out through the knothole, and when the little man saw it, he -was so frightened he nearly fell from the ladder. Snythergen drew back -his tongue in a hurry. The doctor puzzled and puzzled over the matter. -Finally he concluded that he must have seen a squirrel’s red head. - -There were so many strange things about the tree that the physician made -up his mind in the interest of science to watch it day and night. He -camped in a tent beside Snythergen, and only when he retired for a cat -nap did he take his owl-like eyes from the tree. Even then Snythergen -could not attempt to escape, or even stretch his limbs and relax, for the -little man was a light sleeper and would rush out at the faintest unusual -rustle of a twig. - -Snythergen realized more than ever that the life of a tree is not all -joy. His roots were sore and calloused from standing in one position. A -leg or an arm would go to sleep because he dared not move it. He was numb -all over, besides being cold, tired and hungry. He gazed longingly into -the dining room. His mouth watered and he swallowed hard at the sight of -the rich home cooking. How eagerly would he have eaten the crusts the -farmer’s little boy tried to hide under the edge of his plate! How he -would have enjoyed taking the heaping plate of his tormentor, the little -doctor, when the latter’s back was turned! But usually the window was -closed, or some one was looking. - -All the next morning Snythergen watched impatiently for Squeaky to -appear on the opposite shore of the lake. He wondered why Sancho Wing -did not come, but he could not know that Sancho was spending all of his -time keeping track of the bear, who was in a revengeful mood and very -restless. The ice had given him mental chilblains and the pain served as -a reminder, making him more determined than ever to find and punish his -persecutors. - -About eleven o’clock Snythergen thought he saw a little movement in the -bushes along the opposite shore of the lake. Then he recognized Squeaky’s -peculiar wobbling walk. So delighted was he that he forgot the little -doctor, and waved his branches excitedly. Squeaky answered. Snythergen -signaled back that he was hungry and wanted some bread and butter with -sugar on it—not an easy message for a tree to wave to a pig all the way -across a lake. It took ingenuity to figure it out, and this is how he did -it. - -First Snythergen held out two limbs and pretended he was carrying a slice -of bread in each hand. Next he rubbed an upper branch over these in such -a way that Squeaky would know he wanted them spread with butter—and not -to save on the butter. Then he bent his top boughs down, shaking them -vigorously to make the pig understand that he wanted all the powdered -sugar the bread would hold. - -The little tree doctor was watching this performance with the utmost -amazement. - -“Why, I believe that tree has the St. Vitus’ Dance!” said the physician. -“I never heard of a tree having it before. The discovery will make me -famous. But I must prove it beyond a doubt or the scientists will never -give me credit for it. In order to be sure I must give it the brass band -test for that is the only reliable one. If our leafy friend here dances -when the band plays I will know then that he has the St. Vitus’ Dance. If -he does not, I may have to ‘tree-pan’ him to find out.” - -Snythergen shuddered at the horrible thought of being trepanned—or -in other words of having his skull operated on so his brain could be -examined. As he talked to himself the little man danced excitedly about. - -“The fit seems to be over,” he said breathlessly, when Snythergen had -waved his last signal to Squeaky. - -“Dinner is ready,” called the farmer’s wife from the house. - -“I will be right in,” answered the doctor, for he had decided to wait -until he had eaten before going for the musicians. - -The chance of running away to meet Squeaky and bread and butter had -become more and more doubtful now the little doctor had seen him waving, -and Snythergen was so hungry! He looked in through the dining-room window -to see what the family was having to eat. It was a very hot day and the -window was wide open. The farmer was placing a steaming plate of meat -and potatoes before the doctor, who sat facing the window where he could -watch the tree while he ate. The rich odor of food arose to Snythergen’s -nostrils and it was more than he could resist. - -“I must have something soon, or I’ll fall over,” he said to himself. “I -wonder how I can manage it?” For a moment he thought, then an idea came -to him. Leaning over, with his top branches he beat violently upon the -roof of the house. - -“What’s happening upstairs!” cried the farmer’s wife in alarm. - -“It sounds as if the roof was falling in!” said the farmer leaping from -his chair, and they rushed out of the room. In his excitement the doctor -followed part way upstairs. The instant he was gone Snythergen reached -a forked limb into the dining room and helped himself to the doctor’s -dinner. - -“He will never miss it,” he thought. “He’s too excited to eat, anyway.” - -When the physician returned and found his dinner had disappeared, he was -dumbfounded. - -“What has become of it?” he cried, jumping up and looking under the -table. He searched behind the chairs, in the closets, and even in the -hall. In each new place he cried out over and over again, “Who took my -dinner? Who took my dinner?” - -While he was thus occupied Snythergen had an opportunity to eat, but -he was in such haste to be done before his tormentor looked out of the -window again, that he entirely forgot his table manners and crammed and -stuffed his mouth with his twigs. The farmer and his wife had found -nothing out of the way upstairs to explain the noise on the roof, and -when they returned the little man was still fussing about, looking in the -china closet, the napkin and silver drawers, and other absurd places. - -“What’s up now?” demanded the farmer, who was getting a bit tired of -the tree doctor’s queer ways. The farmer’s wife too was looking on -suspiciously. She did not fancy having a stranger poking into her drawers -and closets. - -The physician tried to explain but they only laughed at him. - -“The very idea!” cried the farmer’s wife. “Nobody could come into the -room and take your dinner away without your knowing it!” - -“Besides, who would want something to eat that bad around here,” said the -farmer. “Everybody knows we feed every tramp that comes along!” - -The little doctor felt uncomfortable and embarrassed because they laughed -at him, and he barely touched the second plate of food the farmer served -him. Snythergen was right, he was too excited to eat. Scarcely could he -wait until the dinner was over for the farmer to drive him to town to get -the band. - -[Illustration: Thereafter he would strike a tree-like pose not so -difficult to hold] - -The doctor’s departure was Snythergen’s cue to escape. Cautiously he -stole away from the house and waited for an opportunity to cross the -lake. The man next door was plowing, and Snythergen had to be very -careful. While the man’s back was turned he ran as fast as possible, -but when he plowed toward him, Snythergen had to stand motionless -and trust that his altered position would not be seen; and whatever -position Snythergen’s limbs were in when the farmer turned toward him, -had to be held while the plow traveled the whole length of the field. -Once when the man approached, Snythergen was in the lake with one root -raised ready to step, and he dared not lower his root or make any other -movement until the farmer had walked the whole distance and had turned -his back again. Thus he stood balancing himself for fifteen minutes, and -to make matters worse he had been caught with his branches pointing to -the sky. The painful experience of holding this position taught him a -lesson, and thereafter when the plow neared the end of the row, he would -strike a tree-like pose not so difficult to hold. Luckily the farmer -was near-sighted, and failed to remark the strange apparition of a tree -wading across the lake up to its branch pits in water. - -In spite of various discomforts Snythergen made the crossing successfully -and had no difficulty in following the trail home. On reaching the house -he found Sancho Wing and Squeaky feverishly preparing the bread and -butter and sugar to take to him. They were overjoyed to see him, but -Snythergen was too tired to sit up and visit. He had been standing on -his roots so long he was only too glad to lie down and sleep. But before -he would close his eyes, they had to assure him that the woodchoppers had -left the forest. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE BEAR SEES THE “GRASSHOPPER PIG,” HEARS THE “HUNTSMEN” AND IS PRESENT -AT THE “ESCAPE” - - -When Snythergen woke up, Sancho Wing was sorry to have to tell him that -the bear had resumed his midnight prowlings and might call upon them at -any time. - -“We must prepare to defend ourselves,” said Sancho wisely, as he perched -on Snythergen’s ear. - -“How can a pig defend himself from a bear?” asked Squeaky, -absent-mindedly biting one of Snythergen’s toes. - -“Simple,” said Sancho. “Give him what he wants. You flatter yourself if -you think he wants you. He is after food, that is all.” - -“Well, let us give it to him,” said Snythergen, “as long as he doesn’t -share Squeaky’s weakness for toes.” - -“Just what I was thinking,” said Sancho. “Let us set a bear lunch -every night, and to make sure he will find it we must spread it in a -circle around the house. Then, no matter from what direction the bear -approaches, he will find something to eat across his path.” - -“I’ve heard that round foods make people fat,” said Snythergen. “Maybe -food served on a round table will make the bear fat.” - -“That wouldn’t help us any,” said Sancho Wing, “for fat bears are as -dangerous as lean ones.” - -“Won’t it be pretty expensive boarding a bear?” asked Squeaky. - -“Of course,” said Sancho Wing, “but if we find we can’t afford to feed -him we can build an airplane and journey to a land where there are no -bears. We may have to travel to the end of the sky to find such a place, -but who cares?” - -At Sancho Wing’s suggestion Snythergen set to work at once to build a -supper table. When completed it encircled the house and resembled a well -planed sidewalk. That night Squeaky set the table, being careful to -spread the food so thin that it went all the way around. - -There were so many hungry beings in the forest besides the bear that -Sancho Wing had to keep a keen look-out for thieves, and his duties kept -him very busy. One minute he would be scanning the woods from the top of -his tower, the next he would dive down to the round table to scream at -the small animals that were forever nibbling. Often he was obliged to -call Squeaky and even Snythergen, to chase away the larger birds, the -rabbits, and the squirrels. Each night they set the table as late as they -dared to prevent so much of the food being stolen. - -On the evening of the fourth day the bear paid them a call, but he did -not attempt to enter the house. The lunch on the round table stopped him. -Walking all the way around he ate everything, then went around again to -see if he had overlooked any crumbs. Squeaky happened to be very fussy -about table manners, and he had scattered salad forks, finger bowls and -napkins here and there hoping the bear would take the hint; but the big -beast paid no attention to them, and ate only with his knife and his -paws in the most vulgar manner. - -The bear was a hearty eater and what made matters even more serious, his -appetite was growing. Soon it was evident that the food supply would -not last much longer. The three friends realized that the “outer works” -as they called the lunch table, was all that stood between them and -disaster. And now in spite of their efforts they were unable to keep -abreast of the beast’s increasing desire for food. There was nothing to -do but to adopt Snythergen’s plan of building an airplane and fleeing to -a land where there were no bears. They began work immediately and hurried -all they could, but even so they ran out of food when there was still -another day’s work to be done on the plane. - -“If we can only keep him away to-night we are saved,” said Squeaky. - -[Illustration: Then went around again to see if he had overlooked any -crumbs] - -Snythergen dressed in his tree suit to be ready in case of trouble. -Carefully Squeaky set the round table with what few morsels he could -scrape up, arranging them to appear like a bountiful meal. The bear came -a little earlier than usual that night, and made short work of the slim -repast. Indeed Snythergen had just time to tiptoe out and take his place -as a tree when the beast devoured the last bite of food and looked -hungrily about for more. In a stage whisper Snythergen called to Squeaky -who was still in the house, to warn him of his danger. Fortunately the -pig was awake and whispered back that he was coming. A moment later -Snythergen heard the most awful squealing and Squeaky came running out, -the bear after him. Sancho Wing was flying above the pig to encourage him. - -“Don’t squeal so! Save your breath for running!” he cried. The bear was -gaining. Bending over Snythergen touched his roots with his top limbs, -to be ready. But Squeaky was slow on his feet, even when running for his -life, and already the bear was upon him. Sure of his prey the great beast -slowed up to brace himself for a lunge. Quick as lightning Snythergen -shot out his branches and grabbed the pig, lifting him to safety. - -The bear did not suspect that a tree could come to the rescue of a pig, -and so sure was he that his victim could not escape, he closed his eyes -as he struck at him. But he opened them quickly enough when his paw -struck nothing solider than air. The pig had vanished! But where, and -how? His disappearance had been as sudden as it was complete, and the -bear had not an idea where to look for him. Too surprised for growls, -the big brute rushed distractedly about looking here and there. Naturally -it did not occur to him to look up into the tree tops, for whoever heard -of a pig climbing a tree! - -“Did I really see a pig at all?” thought the bear, “or am I losing my -mind! It wouldn’t be surprising with that neuralgia from the ice!” - -He paused as the thought struck him: “I wonder if by any possibility it -could have been the Grasshopper Pig?” - -The day before the bear had been reading the story of the Grasshopper -Pig to a neighbor’s cubs out of a book of nursery rhymes called “Mother -Moose.” This pig seemed to disappear in much the same way as the one in -the story. For the Grasshopper Pig is said to make long leaps so suddenly -that he cannot be seen making them. One moment he is standing beside you -and the next, bingo! he is a hundred feet away! - -“Well, if it’s the Grasshopper Pig, I might as well save myself the -bother of looking,” thought the bear; “no one has ever been able to catch -him!” - -As he came to the place where Snythergen was standing he sniffed -curiously, and although Snythergen did his best to stand still, it is -not surprising that he failed. For it takes something stronger than flesh -and blood to stand still while a bear walks around you and stops to paw -your bark, to rub his hungry head against your trunk, or to try his -vicious teeth on your roots. - -No wonder the trunk of the tree trembled and its branches twitched -nervously. The big animal was puzzled by the shaking as he nosed about -Snythergen’s extremities and clawed at them. It was more than wood and -sap could stand and the badly frightened boy was weakening rapidly. Again -Snythergen felt the sinking feeling that had come over him the day the -small boy had crawled out on an upper branch. Tottering from side to -side, he caught himself with an effort. - -For a while Squeaky managed somehow to hold on with his teeth and legs, -but his teeth were chattering and he was shivering all over with terror. -And a sudden twist of the tree shook him so violently that he lost his -footing. Desperately he reached for a limb. He missed it, and fell -crashing through the branches! - -With remarkable quickness of thought Snythergen brought his lower limbs -together to form a basket in which to catch the falling pig. Plunging -through the branches Squeaky landed upon Snythergen’s leafy chest, safe -for the time being, but stunned and out of breath. - -“It is the Grasshopper Pig,” cried the bear, seeing him, “and I’ve got -him up a tree!” - -Eager to get at Squeaky, he pawed Snythergen’s tender bark and pushed -against him roughly. - -All this time Sancho Wing’s little brain had been puzzling to find -some way to save his pals. Flying a little distance and hiding among -the leaves he hallooed at the top of his piping voice, hoping the -woodchoppers might be in the forest, and hear him. Anxiously the bear -glanced around. The hallooing reminded him of the sound the hunters made, -and thinking best not to take any chances he strolled away cautiously. - -The three friends breathed a sigh of relief and Squeaky began to dance -for joy. - -“We haven’t escaped yet,” Sancho Wing reminded him. “The bear will return -when he discovers the hunters are not after him. We must finish the -airplane immediately.” - -At once they resumed work and kept at it until the plane was completed. -And now it needed only to be tested. It was new and stiff and repeatedly -the engine refused to start, though Snythergen cranked it again and -again. It was nearing the bear’s lunch time and Sancho Wing flew away to -the cave to see what the big brute was up to. Soon he came back out of -breath, panting so hard he could scarcely speak, for he had raced all the -way. - -“Quick, quick!” he gasped. - -Snythergen and Squeaky understood and Snythergen cranked so furiously he -was wet through with perspiration. - -“Let me try it,” urged Squeaky impatiently when Snythergen had to rest a -moment to get breath, and the pig grasped the crank and pulled with all -his strength. But he had turned it only half way round when it flew back, -and sent him sprawling. Sancho, who had flown back to keep track of the -bear, now darted up to report him only a few hundred yards away. - -“Crank as if your life depended on it!” he cried. - -Frantically the little bird flew back and forth to tell them each time -how much nearer the bear had come. Snythergen was cranking mightily while -Squeaky piled in what scanty luggage could be collected in a jiffy. - -“He’s almost here!” groaned Sancho Wing. - -Snythergen heard the crackling of sticks under the brute’s feet. “It’s -now or never,” thought he, putting all his strength into one last pull. -The engine gave a sickly “pop.” Snythergen’s heart sank. But there was -another little “pop.” Others followed slowly, then more rapidly. Now the -explosions were in quick succession. The engine was running! The three -scrambled aboard. The airplane coasted down hill and rose gently from the -ground. They were saved. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE JOURNEY TO THE WREATH—A SPIN IN A HUMMING-TOP—AN UNKNOWN FRIEND - - -The plane had to be an exceedingly large one to accommodate Snythergen’s -great length. With much squirming he managed to get out of his tree -suit, and now he lay face down, his feet hanging out over the tail. In -this position his hands came just right for the controls. Sancho Wing’s -compartment was next to Snythergen’s ear and Squeaky occupied a basket on -the opposite side. Sancho would have liked going back a little way for a -last look at the bear, just to make sure they had left him on the ground -but the wind created by their great speed was too strong for a finch to -fly in, and the little bird would have been blown away had he ventured -out. For some strange reason the nose of the plane kept pointing up in -spite of Snythergen’s efforts to keep the machine horizontal. - -“Either there is something wrong with the steering gear,” said -Snythergen, “or there is some unusual weight behind that keeps heading -the bow up by pulling the tail down. I can’t point her below that big -star—the one that looks like a flaming doughnut.” - -“You will have to keep her on the star then,” said Sancho, “for if -anything is riding under the tail it isn’t safe for any of us to go back -to see what it is.” - -All night long Snythergen steered toward the blazing doughnut, which grew -bigger and bigger, they were approaching it so rapidly. - -“It must be some new planet floating very near the earth. Maybe we can -land on it to-morrow,” said Snythergen to Squeaky, but the pig did not -answer, nor even look up. He was rolled up in a tight ball, his head -under his body, fast asleep. - -[Illustration: “Some unusual weight behind that keeps heading the bow up -by pulling the tail down”] - -By daylight the star seemed very near, but it no longer sparkled. Now it -resembled a huge Christmas wreath, tied with a gorgeous bow of red silk -ribbon which hung down in vast folds. Snythergen steered for the center -of the hole, then turning and mounting to the top he made a landing along -the shady side of a grove of pines. The jolt when they struck the ground -wakened Squeaky, and glancing around he thought he saw a prowling shadow -alight from the rear of the plane and disappear into the woods. The -others looked but saw nothing. - -“It looked like a bear,” said Squeaky with a shudder. - -“Nonsense, you’ve got bear on the brain,” said Snythergen. - -Near where they had landed an enormous boy was playing marbles with -bowling balls. He was nearly as tall as Snythergen and heavier. - -“Hooray! There’s some one I can talk to without bending down to the -ground,” cried Snythergen joyfully. “I can play with him without being -afraid of stepping on him.” And he strolled up to watch him play marbles -while Sancho Wing and Squeaky remained at a safe distance, a little awed -by the bigness of two such giant boys. - -“Want to play?” asked the boy, whose name was Blasterjinx. - -“Yes,” said Snythergen, and the two shot the big ten pin balls about as -if they were peas. - -“Let’s spin tops,” said Blasterjinx after Snythergen had won most of his -marbles and paid back what he had borrowed. - -“This is a hummer,” said the boy, taking a colored top from under his -blouse and winding it with a string as thick as a clothes-line. He hurled -it through the air and it landed upright on its point, spinning so -rapidly it seemed standing still, and as it spun it sang. - -Interested in the big top, Sancho Wing and Squeaky edged closer and -closer. - -“Why, it sounds like canary birds!” cried Snythergen delighted. - -“It ought to!” said Blasterjinx. - -“Why?” - -Taking the top in his hand Blasterjinx unscrewed the upper part. “See,” -said he. Snythergen looked inside, and beheld a flock of canaries singing -and flying about. - -[Illustration: “This is the only kind of humming-top to have”] - -“This is the only kind of a humming-top to have,” said Blasterjinx. “For -you can change the music any time you want to. I’ve tried violinists, -pianists, story-tellers, singers, harpists—almost everything you can -think of, but I like canaries best. Wouldn’t your friends here like to -take a spin?” he asked, pointing to Squeaky and Sancho Wing. - -It happened to be just what they wanted most, so Blasterjinx opened -a trap door in the floor of the room inside the top, and shooed the -canaries downstairs into the top basement, telling them to remain silent. -Then Squeaky and Sancho Wing descended a silver ladder into the huge -top, and the cover was screwed on. They found themselves in a pleasant -circular room, dimly lighted by stained glass windows and ventilated by -air holes. The objects in the room, piano, chairs, pictures, all were -fastened securely to hold their positions when the top wobbled or fell to -its side. A brass railing attached to the wall ran all the way around, to -give the passengers something to hold to. - -“Hold on tight now,” said Blasterjinx, and winding the top carefully he -hurled it through the air. It lighted on its point, spinning at terrific -speed. Through one of the ventilating holes Squeaky watched the topsy -turvey landscape dance giddily about, until it made him dizzy and soon -he became ill from it. Sancho Wing was too busy keeping his balance and -holding on, to pay any attention to how Squeaky was getting along. - -“Stop the top, stop the top!” bellowed Squeaky. - -“What’s the matter?” cried Snythergen. - -“He’ll be all right in a minute,” said Blasterjinx, taking the top in his -hand and winding the string the other way around. When he threw it again -it spun in the opposite direction, unwinding Squeaky and as Blasterjinx -had said, he was all right in a minute. But he was glad when the top -stopped and he could get out. - -Snythergen was having such a good time that he forgot why they had come -until Sancho Wing flew up to his ear and whispered: “Ask him if there are -any bears on the Wreath.” - -“I never heard of any,” said Blasterjinx, when the question had been -repeated to him. “I am sure you will like the Wreath,” he went on, “for a -good friend of yours lives not far from here.” - -“How can you know he is a friend of ours?” asked Sancho Wing in surprise. -“You do not know who our friends are!” - -“I know this man is your friend just the same, but I am not going to tell -you who he is because I want it to be a surprise.” - -“Have I ever seen him?” said Squeaky. - -“I don’t think so,” said Blasterjinx, “but I am sure he has been in -Snythergen’s house.” - -“Where does he live?” asked Snythergen. - -[Illustration: “Stop the top, stop the top!” bellowed Squeaky] - -“In a very big house about a mile from here. You can visit him later on, -but first I want you to spend a week with me and see some of the sights -on the Wreath. Your friend overworked himself last Christmas and needs -another week of rest.” - -It made Snythergen homesick to go to Blasterjinx’ house and meet his -parents, for they were small like his own father and mother and their -house was not very large either, except Blasterjinx’ room which was a -separate building covering most of the yard. Blasterjinx’ mother was a -kind soul and made her visitors feel very much at home with the aid of -doughnuts, cookies and pies. Somehow this made Snythergen feel better, -although his mother and father were always in his thoughts. - -The three friends told Blasterjinx about their adventures, and he became -so interested he wanted to play tree at once. He tried on Snythergen’s -suit of green but it was not big enough in the waist for him, and when he -squeezed into it the bark began to rip. - -“You will tear it,” cried Blasterjinx’ mother, “and then Snythergen won’t -be able to wear it—for I am sure I don’t know how to mend torn bark. I -might sew it with a pine needle, but I wouldn’t know what to use for -thread.” - -“Let’s make Blasterjinx a suit for himself,” cried Sancho Wing; and -delighted with the idea they set to work. Blasterjinx was just the right -build for a sturdy oak, and they fastened acorns all over his suit, and -made his bark gnarly and his branches twisty. They tried to teach him the -habits of an oak, but he did not learn readily. For being a tree did not -come natural to him as it did to Snythergen. He was too restless to stand -still very long. - -“He’ll never make the birds think he is real,” whispered Sancho Wing to -Squeaky. - -“Perhaps it is just as well,” replied Squeaky, looking at Sancho Wing out -of the corners of his little eyes, “for then he won’t be bothered with -any goldfinch nests tickling his branches!” - -They were having such fun the week was up in no time and yet they had -done no sight-seeing. With many warm farewells and promises to return -soon, the three companions left to call on their unknown friend. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -ABOARD A FLOATING BEARD - - -Squeaky, Snythergen and Sancho Wing were very much surprised when they -saw their unknown friend’s house—for it was the largest home they had -even seen. They mounted the steps and Snythergen sounded the knocker on -the great front door. Immediately it was opened by a flunky arrayed in -shining silk clothes decorated with Teddy bears, parrots and goldfish -embroidered in colors. - -“Who lives here?” asked Sancho Wing in his piping voice. - -“Santa Claus lives here,” answered the flunky. - -“Santa Claus!!” chorused the three in amazement. - -“So that’s the friend Blasterjinx meant!” said Snythergen. “I should say -he _was_ our friend!” But they could hardly believe that they really were -at Santa Claus’ door, and in their surprise and wonder they forgot the -doorkeeper who stood attentively awaiting their pleasure. - -“We would like to see Santa Claus,” said Squeaky at last. - -“I’m sorry, but no one can see him except by appointment,” said the -flunky, “but if you will call at ten o’clock to-morrow morning you may -have a chance to speak with him.” And with that he closed the great door -and they were left alone on the doorstep. - -“There must be some way to see him. I am going to investigate,” said -Sancho Wing, and he flew off. Squeaky and Snythergen threw themselves on -the ground in the shade of a great elm. “What a relief to have some other -tree cast your shade for a change!” remarked Snythergen, just as Sancho -Wing flew up very much flustered. - -“I know where Santa’s room is!” he cried. “He is taking a nap now.” - -“What good will that do us?” said Squeaky, ever practical like stout -people generally. - -“A great deal of good,” said Sancho Wing. “You and Snythergen wait near -the door. I am going to make that flunky open it for you.” And he was off -before they could make any reply. - -Sancho Wing flew through the open window into Santa Claus’ room. -Cautiously he approached the bed and hid in Santa Claus’ great white -beard. Santa moved uneasily. - -“There are three wise men here to see you,” whispered Sancho softly. - -“Why didn’t somebody tell me?” murmured Santa Claus, half asleep. - -“The doorkeeper said you wouldn’t see anybody except by appointment,” -replied Sancho. - -“Is that true?” mumbled Santa Claus drowsily. - -“Yes, he would not open the door; that is why I came in through the -window.” - -Santa Claus woke up with a jump. “Who am I talking to!” he shouted—“or -was it only a dream? Whoever you are come out and let me see you! What -are you hiding for?” - -“I am just a voice, Santa Claus, and the rest of me is not very -presentable. My necktie is untied and there is a hole in my stocking.” - -“Where are you hiding!” cried Santa Claus, and he looked under the bed, -behind the chairs, and in the closets. Sancho Wing feared every moment -he would be discovered, and tried to escape by flying out of the window. -But his head had become caught in the long whiskers and he could go only -the length of the beard in any direction. As he flew vigorously about -the room trying to free his head Santa’s beard floated in the air like a -living thing. - -Too surprised to move or speak, Santa Claus could only gaze dumbly at his -beard making serpentine movements in the air, or winding about his body -as if to hide behind his back. - -“What in the name of Popcorn is the matter with my beard!” cried Santa -Claus, finding his voice at last. - -Sancho Wing concluded that it was wiser to stop flying and let the beard -settle back to its accustomed place, lest Santa Claus discover him. -He was too hopelessly caught to escape by flying; but he was so well -concealed by the whiskers that Santa Claus still failed to see him. - -“Well, I give up!” said Santa Claus at last. “Wherever you are, you are -well hidden. Did I understand you to say that you and your two friends -had come to visit me? Where are the others?—since I can’t find you. Are -they hiding too?” - -“They are waiting at the door.” - -[Illustration: “Squeaky, who is a voice with a pig’s body”] - -“I invite you all to dinner,” said Santa Claus. “‘Three Wise Men’ I think -you call yourselves?” - -“Four, including our host,” said Sancho politely. - -“Thanks!” said Santa Claus. - -Sancho’s conscience was troubling him for he had hesitated to explain -that they were not just ordinary men, lest Santa Claus might not want to -see them. - -“When I said we were men,” began Sancho, “I used the word ‘men’ in a -broad sense, to include birds, animals and trees.” - -Santa Claus yawned and stretched his arms. He liked a chat after his nap. - -“I am glad to see you are democratic,” said he. “I think it is too bad -that birds, animals and trees are so often left out. If they could talk -they might say some unkind things of us.” - -“No, indeed, we won’t, Santa Claus,” assured Sancho eagerly. - -“We? Who are ‘we’?” asked Santa Claus. - -“One of us is a boy-tree. He is a boy by birth, but a tree by profession.” - -“Go on,” demanded Santa Claus. - -“Then there is Squeaky, who is a voice with a pig’s body; and as for me, -well, you know me.” - -“I know your voice, but the rest of you?” asked Santa Claus. - -“Is a goldfinch,” answered Sancho. - -“Three wise men indeed,” muttered Santa Claus. “How interesting it will -be to have dinner with a pig, a tree, and a goldfinch! But what can we -have to eat that three such different guests will enjoy?” - -“Oh, that’s easy,” said Sancho Wing. “You can give the others birdseed -porridge.” - -“And you?” asked Santa Claus, with a twinkle in his eye. - -“Oh, I’ll eat some too,” said Sancho, with seeming indifference, though -it made his bill water to think of his favorite dish. - -“What will we do for table conversation?” asked Santa Claus. “I don’t -know what subjects trees, pigs and birds like to talk about.” - -“You won’t need to help us talk,” said Sancho. “We are worse than magpies -when we are together.” - -“You may go back to your friends now,” said Santa Claus, “and I’ll see -that you are admitted to the house.” - -Sancho made an effort to walk out of the beard in a dignified manner, -but he was too firmly caught to get away so easily. He began to pull and -struggle. - -“Ouch!” cried Santa Claus, “who’s pulling my beard?” - -“I can’t get out,” cried Sancho Wing. - -“So there’s where you are! In my beard! Well, of all the places to hide!” -cried Santa Claus in the greatest amazement. With a pair of shears and a -mirror he succeeded in freeing the little bird after the exercise of a -good deal of patience. - -As soon as he was released Sancho told Santa Claus he was sorry for the -trouble he had caused, thanked him for the invitation to dinner, and flew -back to his companions. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE PIE ROOM—BEAR AGAIN!—SANCHO WING SCOLDS - - -“I thought somebody had kidnapped you,” said Snythergen when Sancho Wing -returned. “Why were you gone so long?” - -“I was visiting Santa Claus. He invited us all to dinner, and the -door-man will now let us in. Follow me,” said Sancho. - -“Is it the three wise men?” bellowed the flunky through the keyhole when -they knocked. - -“It is,” said Sancho Wing. - -The large door swung open and the flunky prepared to make his best bow. -But he could hardly welcome three such different beings with one salute, -so he greeted each one separately. To Snythergen he leaned back, pointed -his face toward the ceiling, and bobbed down and up by bending and -straightening his knees. Sancho Wing, like most little people, wished to -appear important, and when it came his turn to bow he raised himself on -tip claws and stretched up to make his body as tall as he could; then -leaning forward stiffly he flapped his left wing. Puzzled to know just -how to respond to this, the door-man got down on his knees, and turning -his head sideways wiggled his left ear. Squeaky had a habit of tossing -his head when he bowed, and the flunky merely gave him a toss of the head -in return. - -[Illustration: The door-man turning his head sideways wiggled his left -ear] - -In the hall the housekeeper welcomed them very kindly, offering to show -them about while Santa Claus dressed for dinner. When she learned that -they were the “three wise men” she treated them with great respect. -Inside, the house seemed even larger than it had from without, and -Snythergen was thankful for ceilings so high that he could stand up -comfortably. So enormous were the rooms each one might have been used -as a public hall. There was little furniture—mostly vast spaces with a -background of oriental carpets and cathedral windows. - -“What is this?” asked Snythergen, as they came into an odd little room in -the basement with circular wall and a spotless aluminum floor. To cross -it they walked on a bridge, raised several feet above the floor. - -“This is the pie room,” said the housekeeper. “The crust is rolled out on -the pie pan floor and the work of putting in the filling is managed from -the bridge. When it is ready, we light the gas under the floor and the -pie is cooked.” - -“But who could ever eat such a big one?” asked Sancho Wing. - -“Oh, the bear eats most of it,” said the housekeeper. - -“The bear!” cried they in great alarm. “Is there a bear?” - -“Yes,” said the housekeeper. - -Snythergen turned pale and looked for the door. Squeaky had already -started to run and Sancho Wing flew up to the ceiling. - -“Stay right here—there’s nothing to fear,” said the housekeeper, calling -them back. - -“The bear arrived about a week ago,” she continued when they were able to -listen. “We did not want to let him in but Santa Claus telephoned the -keeper at the zoological gardens and asked if bears were safe.” - -“‘They are,’ said he, ‘if you feed them olives and custard pie.’ - -“We tried it and it worked, and now there is not a quieter member of our -family than the bear after he is fed. When he is hungry is the only time -he is quarrelsome. But at such times we keep food between ourselves and -him.” - -“We had a bear too,” said Snythergen, “but he always stole away as soon -as he had eaten, and never came near except when he was hungry.” - -“That’s just like our bear,” said the housekeeper, “forever trying to -hide when he is not at his best. But Santa Claus has him sit around and -visit after dinner, though he makes a very sorry figure.” - -“Why, what does he do?” asked Squeaky. - -“As soon as he is fed his spirit is gone,” replied the housekeeper. “He -becomes as timid as a mouse, and trembles if you look at him; jumps if -you speak to him; blushes if you pay him any attention.” - -“How does a bear blush?” asked Snythergen. - -[Illustration: _“Bears should not talk when their mouths are full of -food,” said Santa Claus kindly_] - -“He does it with his lips. They change color back and forth very rapidly -from pink to red. But Santa Claus is coming and it is time for dinner.” -As she spoke they entered a dining room so large, the huge table and -ancestral chairs seemed like dolls’ furniture in its vast interior. - -And now Santa Claus entered smiling blandly. He was attired in gorgeous -evening clothes—a flaming swallowtail coat lined with crimson, deep -purple vest with large white buttons; a ruby glowing like a burning eye -adorned his shirt. Cream silk stockings and pale blue knickerbockers he -wore, and his boots were red with black trimmings. - -Scarcely had Santa Claus entered the room when the bear came lumbering -after him. Eying the “three wise men” with a swift look of recognition he -licked his chops. - -“Why, it’s our bear!” said Snythergen in a sickly whisper. “How did he -follow us?” - -The three edged around until the table stood between them and the beast, -and they were eying the nearest exit when Santa Claus requested them to -be seated at table. The bear was served first, though “served” is hardly -the word for the way they rushed food to him. Cramming his mouth full he -uttered a few growls. - -“Bears should not talk when their mouths are full of food,” said Santa -Claus kindly. - -But the bear answered only with an impudent growl which so frightened -Squeaky that he tumbled from his chair, upsetting a bowl of soup as he -fell. In spite of Sancho Wing’s assurance, the table conversation was -exceedingly restrained. Though for politeness’ sake Snythergen did try a -few comments, which came out in faltering tones. Squeaky was so nervous -he could not speak without breaking into little hysterical peals of -laughter which sounded like the squeals of a badly frightened pig. He had -had one of these fits in the middle of the blessing and Santa Claus eyed -him curiously. - -Sancho Wing attempted to calm the troubled scene by keeping his head and -saving them from awkward pauses. He was not so much afraid as the others -because he knew that, no matter what the bear did, he could escape by -flying a few strokes into the air. But the nervous way he kept waving his -wings about to be sure they were ready for use, showed how far his little -heart was from peace and a feeling of security. - -At first the bear was very noisy about his eating but grew quieter as his -hunger was appeased. And as the meal progressed his eyes became dull, his -manner modest—almost demure. The others saw this and were encouraged. -Squeaky found his speaking voice and talked wisely on the advantages -and disadvantages of pig life. The table talk Sancho Wing had promised -Santa Claus now began to flow, and the host was delighted. He asked -many questions and nearly every one led along some trail of adventure, -relating incidents peculiar to their lives. By this time the bear was -painfully ill at ease, for he had not learned man-talk and the loud firm -voices around him gave him strange fears. Were they plotting against him? -He sat stiffly upright with forepaws crossed upon his chest, and ears -cocked suspiciously. When they arose from the table Sancho Wing hopped -over to the bear for a little private conversation. - -“I want to say a few words to you,” he said, “and luckily for you you -will not understand them.” - -The bear shuddered and his lips turned a paler pink. - -Thoroughly angry Sancho Wing began: “You great big overgrown nuisance of -a brute! You cowardly thieving bully!” - -If he did not comprehend the words certainly the bear understood Sancho’s -gestures. And as he talked the little bird’s body shook with passion. He -bobbed his head, flapped his wings, raised one leg threateningly with -claws advanced. - -The bear looked sheepish. His startled eyes were pleading now. He hung -his head as he backed away. Sancho Wing followed closely scolding ever -more abusively. The tiny finch seemed to tower with rage as he bullied -the frightened beast, who stood six feet six in his bare hind paws while -the finch was but a few inches high. When they reached the hall the big -fellow dropped to all fours and ran. Returning to the big table Sancho -Wing saw a hurt look in Santa Claus’ face and readily guessed the cause. - -“Forgive me for making a scene,” pleaded the little bird. - -“The bear is very sensitive,” said Santa Claus seriously. “And on the -whole I think he is rather well behaved for a bear.” - -“I am sure I would like the bear much better if I did not know him so -well,” said Sancho Wing. - -“What? Do you know him?” asked Santa Claus. - -There was an awkward pause. Sancho did not want to tell on the bear, for -like himself he was Santa Claus’ guest. - -“I know him distantly,” said Sancho—“just a growling acquaintance. He may -have changed since I saw him last. Maybe I shall like him better now.” - -“I am sure you will,” said Santa Claus kindly, as they drew their chairs -up to the fire and prepared to spend a cozy evening. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -SNYTHERGEN’S TROUBLES - - -The “Three Wise Men” and Santa Claus were sitting up very late around a -coal fire in the enormous grate. Santa Claus would have preferred a log, -had not delicacy of feeling made him avoid burning wood in Snythergen’s -presence. Sancho was perched on the back of the chair Squeaky had curled -up in; and Snythergen sat tailor fashion on the floor. Santa Claus -nestled in the depths of his great easy chair. There was no light save -the flicker of the fire. - -“I don’t know when I have had such an enjoyable evening,” said Santa -Claus, “and I am sure it is past all our bedtimes.” - -“Oh, no,” said Squeaky, “we got into the habit of late hours on account -of the bear.” - -“What bear?” said Santa Claus, in surprise. - -“Oh,” said Sancho on his guard, “there was one prowling about in the -forest where we lived.” - -“You needn’t have been afraid if you had provided him with food,” said -Santa Claus. - -“So we found,” said Snythergen feelingly. - -“I have been thinking,” said Santa Claus, “that we make a cozy little -group together. I would be glad to have you stay here and live with me.” - -“Splendid,” cried Snythergen. “This is the only comfortable house I ever -saw. The architect had the good sense to make the ceilings high enough.” - -“There is a bedroom upstairs, too, just right for you,” said Santa Claus, -“and you may all occupy it together if you will promise to go to bed and -not talk.” - -“Oh, Santa Claus,” cried Snythergen delighted, “you are too good!” - -“And we’ll be polite to the bear,” said Squeaky. - -“Maybe you won’t like it here as well as you think,” said Santa Claus. “I -shall expect you to do some work.” - -“We don’t mind that,” said Sancho Wing. “Snythergen built a house and -table!” - -“Speak for yourself,” said Snythergen. “Tell Santa Claus what you can do.” - -“Yes, Sancho, what work can you do?” asked Santa Claus. - -“Oh, I’m a good watch bird,” said Sancho Wing. “I can get up close to -people and hear all they say, and see all they do without being seen -myself. If necessary there is always some little place for me to hide. -I can dodge into a man’s coat pocket—or”—(with a sly look at Santa -Claus)—“creep into his beard!” - -“I can testify to that,” said Santa Claus emphatically. - -“And Squeaky here, what can he do?” asked Santa Claus. - -“I will say this for him,” said Snythergen, “he’s good about visiting. -Usually he sleeps while I work so as to be bright and lively when I want -to rest. He entertains me and makes me forget my troubles.” - -“Your troubles!” said Santa Claus in surprise—“I didn’t think you had -any.” - -“Oh, yes, plenty of them! The little ones, such as”—(with a look at -Squeaky)—“pigs nibbling my toes, woodpeckers stabbing my trunk, bears -biting my roots, bothersome nest-builders”—(here Snythergen winked at -Sancho Wing)—“tickling my branches; woodchoppers plotting against my -life—these are bad enough. But my big trouble—” His face grew long and -a great tear trembled on his cheek and splashed down on Squeaky’s head, -making him jump. - -“What is the big trouble?” asked Santa Claus kindly, while Sancho Wing -and Squeaky looked up in surprise. - -“I never told anybody,” said Snythergen. - -“Maybe you would rather not say anything about it now,” said Santa Claus -sympathetically. - -“Oh, I must tell you. I have a father and a mother and I love them very -much and they love me. I ran away because they do not make school houses -large enough for boys like me. I told my mother I would come back some -day. Now I think of it I am afraid I cannot come to live with you—it’s -too far away from home.” - -“Why, Snythergen, you never told us you had any parents,” said Squeaky. - -“I supposed you knew I had. Every boy has to have them. I used to steal -away at night in my tree suit and go home when you and Sancho Wing were -fast asleep. I would brush my branches on the second story windows until -father and mother looked out. I did not dare tell them it was I for fear -they would want to send me back to school, and I feared father might -spank me.” - -“It would take rather a tall man to bend you over his knee,” said Santa -Claus. - -“Oh, it wasn’t his size, but his voice I was afraid of,” said Snythergen. - -“Then your father is a little man?” asked Santa Claus. - -“Yes, he and mother are midgets. I guess they adopted me because they -admire big things.” - -“What does your father do?” asked Santa Claus. - -“He is a philosopher,” said Snythergen. “He thinks and plans while mother -knits.” - -“I wonder how midgets would like it here?” asked Santa Claus, -thoughtfully. - -“I am sure they would like it very much,” said Snythergen, “except for -one thing. They are sensitive about their size and cannot bear to live -in a house with high ceilings. You see it makes them realize how small -they are. But if you are willing to have them here, I can build a little -two-story house with six rooms, and set it up in a corner of our big -bedroom. I could place it where it would not be in the way, and when the -housemaid comes to sweep and dust I could hang it up on a hook in the -wall.” - -“I will have to look up our laws before I can ask them,” said Santa -Claus. “I don’t think grownups are allowed to come to the Wreath. I might -as well repeat, since you may come here to live,” he continued, “that -this is no palace of idleness. There is much to do and everybody helps. -The reindeer’s faces, necks and ears have to be washed every day, and the -sleighbells rubbed with silver polish. We have to keep track of all the -children in the world and enter the new babies in a big book as fast as -they are born. We have a toy factory where Christmas presents are made, -such as popcorn balls, Noah’s arks, fire engines and dolls.” - -“What will the bear do?” asked Squeaky anxiously. - -“I intend to have him pose as a model for Teddy Bears,” said Santa Claus. -“Of course the housekeeper will have to sit by his side ready to feed him -olives and custard pie the moment he shows any restlessness.” - -Santa Claus took his watch from his pocket. “It’s my bedtime,” said he, -“so if you are ready I will escort you to your room.” - -[Illustration: A traffic butler stood at hall intersections] - -A house automobile was waiting in the hall. The distances between rooms -were so great that Santa Claus used motor cars to take his guests about -the house. As Snythergen was too large to ride he had to walk behind, and -his long strides easily kept pace with the machine—too easily. He was so -taken up with the pictures on the walls and peeping into the rooms they -passed, he neglected to look where he was going. Several times he tripped -on the car, almost upsetting it. The chauffeur grew to fear this danger -from behind more than the perils ahead, and drove looking backwards. Once -when he gave a sudden lurch to avoid Snythergen’s foot, Squeaky fell out, -and there was a great squealing in the hall until he was picked up and -put back. Snythergen apologized to both of them and promised to be more -careful. - -The halls were as wide as boulevards and in place of stairways there were -graded inclines, enabling chauffeurs to drive from floor to floor. The -traffic even at that late hour was heavy, for eatables were being taken -from vegetable cellars to kitchens; towels and bedroom linen were being -whisked here and there; servants were returning to their rooms after a -social evening. Muffled honks were heard at the turns, and a traffic -butler stood at hall intersections. - -At last they drew up beside an enormous chamber illuminated by points -of light set like diamonds in the deep blue of a vaulted ceiling, to -give the effect of stars. Snythergen was overjoyed when he saw his bed. -Actually it was several feet longer than he was. For once he would not -have to sleep twisted up in a circle, but could lie full length like any -one else. - -When Squeaky got into his little bed he was surprised to find a silk -tassel sewed to each of the blankets and sheets, and wondered what it was -for. Pig-like he had to experiment. He pulled one and to his amazement -it resisted. It was as if some one concealed in the foot of the bed were -trying to pull it away from him. No wonder the tassel slipped from his -grasp! A blanket ran away, disappearing into the footboard with a bang. -Squeaky was so shocked he fell to the floor and when he got into bed -again the blanket was nowhere to be seen. He pulled another tassel. This -time a sheet made off. He tried others, and by the time he was through -pulling tassels every bit of bedding had disappeared and he could not -find any of it. Shivering with cold he called Snythergen. But the room -was too big and the beds too far apart for Squeaky to make himself heard. - -“What’s this?” he cried, upsetting something on a stand beside his bed. -It was a little telephone. Consulting the directory he found a number -opposite “Big Bed.” When he removed the receiver a bright voice chirped -“Merry Christmas.” It was central and Squeaky gave the number. - -Snythergen heard soft chimes at his bedside, and when he saw it was the -telephone he did not remove the receiver at once, for he was enjoying -the sweet tinkling sounds. When at last he did answer, Squeaky was very -impatient. - -“Why didn’t you answer?” he demanded. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Snythergen. - -“Somebody’s stealing the bed clothes, and I am almost frozen. I can’t -find a stitch of covering.” - -“Is that all? I will be right over,” and in a moment Snythergen stood -beside the pig’s bed. When he saw what had happened to Squeaky he leaned -back and laughed until another great tear splashed down upon the pig. - -“I didn’t call you over to give me a bath,” said Squeaky. “You’re only -making matters worse,—and what are you laughing at anyway! I can’t see -anything amusing.” - -“Why, you poor pig!” cried Snythergen, as soon as he could control his -voice. “Can’t you see that the bed clothes wind up in the foot of the -bed on rolls like window shades? All you need do is to lean over and -pull the silk cords, but you must grasp them firmly. You can pull up or -take off as much bedding as you like without getting out of bed. Now good -night, I’m sleepy!” said Snythergen and he went back to his bed for the -first comfortable night’s sleep of his life. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -TOY FOODS - - -The next morning “the three wise men” had a long chat with Santa Claus, -and it was decided they were to come there to live. But Santa Claus -explained to Snythergen kindly that as he had feared, it was against the -laws of the Wreath to bring any more grownups there; and that he would be -unable to include his parents in the invitation. - -Snythergen looked so sorrowful when he heard this that Santa Claus said -brightly: - -“Cheer up! Stay for a while, and I will see if it cannot be arranged -somehow.” - -Snythergen’s interest in the wonderful things he saw soon revived his -spirits—though the thought of his mother and father was seldom far away. - -When Santa Claus explained to the housekeeper that the family would be -enlarged by three new members, she looked rather doubtful. - -“Are you sure, Santa Claus,” she asked, “that it is wise to add them all -at once, before you know more about them?” - -“Yes, I am sure,” he said, “and I know they will be handy in the toy -factory.” - -And so it proved. For a time the newcomers made themselves so useful, -even the housekeeper wondered how they had ever managed without them. -Sancho Wing devised all sorts of new toys. Squeaky made a model of a -Teddy Pig so cunning and lifelike, it bid fair to vie in popularity with -the famous Teddy Bear. When you squeezed it it squeaked so naturally, -that you had to look twice to be sure you were not holding a live pig -in your hands. Snythergen designed a mechanical tree that walked on its -roots and waved its branches in the most comical manner. - -For a month Snythergen was happy. He seemed almost to have forgotten his -“big trouble.” But as the novelty of his new life wore away, he found his -thoughts returning more and more often to his mother and father. One day -Santa Claus said to him: - -“Snythergen, you are not happy and the reason is not hard to guess. No -boy can be happy long away from his parents. The housekeeper and I have -been talking it over and we can find no way of getting grownups admitted -to the Wreath. So I have decided to give you your choice. Either you -may stay here and live with us, or I will reduce you to the size of an -ordinary boy and let you go home.” - -“Can you make me small like other boys!” cried Snythergen excitedly. - -“Yes,” said Santa Claus, “I can do it by feeding you toy foods! I can -have my cooks and my bakers make such tiny cakes and pies, that if you -eat them one at a time, you will grow smaller and smaller. It will not -be easy and you may have to go hungry at times, but in the end you will -be just the right size. You can play with the other boys and no one will -laugh at you. Then you may return to your father and mother!” - -“And not see you, and Squeaky, and Sancho Wing any more!” faltered -Snythergen. - -“You may come and visit us at night after your mother has tucked you in -your bed—just as you used to steal away from the forest to go home.” - -Snythergen still hesitated. - -“You will be very happy,” said Santa Claus. “You will grow up to be a -man, and all your life you will be happier for having visited Santa -Claus’ land on the Wreath.” - -Snythergen made the choice that Santa Claus knew he would, the one -that any boy would have made. There was a great deal of bustle in all -of the kitchens and bakeries on the Wreath, as they made toy foods for -Snythergen. There were wonderful loaves of bread shaped like the little -tree doctor, which Snythergen wanted to devour by the handful, but was -permitted to eat only one at each meal. There were cookies molded in the -form of the woodchoppers’ axes, cakes and pies resembling the nest that -had once tickled his long green boughs. - -[Illustration: And squeezed him almost as tightly as the farmer’s wife -had done] - -Little by little Snythergen un-grew until he became the size of a boy. -At last the day of his departure arrived and his friends were gathered -before Santa Claus’ door to bid him farewell. The doorkeeper and the -housekeeper said good-by with feeling. When he came to Blasterjinx -the big fellow bent over, placed one hand on the ground, palm up for -Snythergen to stand on, then lifted him up to say good-by. Snythergen -felt a keen pang of regret when the sight of his friend made him realize -that his own great size was gone. But this feeling was soon forgotten in -an affectionate farewell to the faithful chums, with whom he had shared -so many joys and dangers. He took Squeaky into his arms and squeezed him -almost as tightly as the farmer’s wife had done. Sancho Wing perched on -his shoulder and tried to say good-by in as loud a voice as when first -he had spoken to Snythergen, but somehow the words caught in his throat. -As Snythergen said his last farewell to all, even the bear’s eyes filled -with tears (he had just had his olives and custard pie). - -“We shall expect you to visit us very soon,” said Santa Claus as they -parted. - -How they all waved and cheered as Snythergen rose in his boy’s airplane -and began the journey home! Turning his head he watched them until they -dwindled to mere specks and disappeared. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -HOME - - -As Snythergen’s friends passed from view a new happiness came into his -heart, overcoming the sorrows of parting—for at last he was going home. -All day he had been soaring above the clouds, and now he was speeding -through the air in the swift descent. It was night and the Wreath was but -a star. Soon he was sailing above the forest, over the tops of his old -comrades the trees. “They would never recognize me now,” he thought; then -suddenly he wondered: “Will _they_ recognize me!” - -He was almost home. Choosing a clear space in a pasture, he made a -landing, and hurried towards the house. It was a warm, still night in -mid-summer. Through the open door he saw his mother and father sitting by -the lamp. - -“I wonder where our dear boy is to-night?” Snythergen heard his mother -ask. - -“Mother! Mother!” he cried. - -“It’s his voice!” cried his mother, jumping up and running to the door. -“Snythergen! Snythergen! Where are you?” Both parents were looking up -among the tree-tops. “Where are you,” they cried. - -“Here I am,” answered Snythergen, now but a few feet away. “Don’t you see -me,” he said, almost under their noses. - -“No,” said they, looking toward the top of the house. - -“Is it only his voice that has come back,” faltered his mother, her eyes -filling with tears. - -“No,” cried Snythergen, throwing his arms about her waist. - -“What’s that!” she screamed in fright. “Snythergen!” she whispered, -recognizing her boy. “How you have changed!” The mother took her boy in -her arms and kissed him again and again. - -The father could hardly believe it was Snythergen, but there was no -mistaking the voice. - -“He has come back a regular boy!” cried he, waiting for a chance to hug -his son. “How did you make yourself small?” he asked, too impatient to -wait any longer. - -“Toy foods!” shouted Snythergen, half smothered in his mother’s embrace. - -“I knew it! I knew it!” cried the father. “Just after you left I thought -of toy foods—but then it was too late.” - -They entered the house and Snythergen began telling his adventures. It -was a happy night—the first of countless others that were to come. For a -happier boy than Snythergen simply did not exist. - -[Illustration] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Snythergen, by Hal Garrott - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SNYTHERGEN *** - -***** This file should be named 61079-0.txt or 61079-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/0/7/61079/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Snythergen - -Author: Hal Garrott - -Illustrator: Dugald Walker - -Release Date: January 2, 2020 [EBook #61079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SNYTHERGEN *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="500" height="700" alt="Cover image" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;" id="color-illus1"> -<img src="images/color-illus1.jpg" width="500" height="700" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>“I did not call you over to give me a bath,” -cried Squeaky</i></p> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<h1>SNYTHERGEN</h1> - -<p class="center">BY<br /> -HAL GARROTT</p> - -<p class="center">ILLUSTRATIONS BY<br /> -DUGALD WALKER</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/illus-titlepage.jpg" width="400" height="350" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="center">NEW YORK<br /> -ROBERT M. McBRIDE & COMPANY<br /> -1923</p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">Copyright, 1923, by<br /> -<span class="smcap">Robert M. McBride & Co.</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">First Published, 1923</p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller"><i>Printed in the United States of America.</i></p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">TO</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Hal and Jean</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td class="tdr smaller">CHAPTER</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Slender Foods and Round Foods</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II</td> - <td><span class="smcap">A Ticklish Tree</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">11</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Played on a Musical Skirt</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">21</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV</td> - <td><span class="smcap">A Bird and a Tree Play at Hide and Seek</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">29</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V</td> - <td><span class="smcap">How a Pig Learned to Talk</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">37</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The House at the End of a Rope</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">45</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Bear on Ice</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">53</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII</td> - <td><span class="smcap">A Runaway Tree</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">65</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Doctor Discovers a Tree with St. Vitus’ Dance</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">71</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Bear Sees the “Grasshopper Pig,” - Hears the “Huntsmen,” and is Present at the “Escape”</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">87</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XI</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Journey to the Wreath—A Spin in - a Humming-Top—An Unknown Friend</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">99</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XII</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Aboard a Floating Beard</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">113</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Pie Room—Bear Again!—Sancho Wing Scolds</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">123</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIV</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Snythergen’s Troubles</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">135</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XV</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Toy Foods</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">147</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVI</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Home</span></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">155</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<h2>THE ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - -<table summary="List of illustrations"> - <tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2">IN COLOR</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“I did not call you over to give me a bath,” cried Squeaky</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#color-illus1"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdpg smaller">FACING PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>It was inspiring to hear this chorus accompanied by full orchestra</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#color-illus2">24</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The house was left dangling above ground to receive an airing out</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#color-illus3">46</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“Bears should not talk when their mouths are full of food,” said Santa Claus kindly</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#color-illus4">128</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2">IN BLACK AND WHITE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>His father would stand on one hand and his mother on the other</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus1">5</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Like mothers the world over she knew how to sacrifice herself</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus2">13</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>His feet projected out of the window in the butler’s pantry</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus3">19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Snythergen cried, “Don’t do that!”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus4">33</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>To die in her arms would have been a happier lot than leaving her</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus5">41</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“At least I can relieve his headache”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus6">59</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“Stick out your tongue!”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus7">75</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>He would strike a tree-like pose</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus8">83</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Then went around again to see if he had overlooked any crumbs</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus9">91</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“Some unusual weight behind”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus10">101</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“The only kind of humming-top to have”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus11">105</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“Stop the top, stop the top!” bellowed Squeaky</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus12">109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“Squeaky, who is a voice with a pig’s body”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus13">117</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The door-man, turning his head sideways, wiggled his left ear</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus14">125</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>A traffic butler stood at hall intersections</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus15">141</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>And squeezed him almost as tightly as the farmer’s wife had done</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#bw-illus16">151</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch1header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br /> -<span class="smaller">SLENDER FOODS AND ROUND FOODS</span></h2> - -<p>Snythergen’s mother was poor—so -poor that she did not feel able to support -her baby boy. So she put him in -a basket—it had to be a large one—and left -it on the doorstep of a little old couple who -had long wished for a child.</p> - -<p>The pair were very much surprised, not -only at finding Snythergen, but at his unusual -appearance. He was thin as bones and very -long—so long that he appeared to be wearing -stilts. His body was very ungainly and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -couple’s first feeling was one of disappointment—until -they looked into his eyes. These -were bright and roguish and something else -not easy to name—something that made them -know he was their child, and they loved him.</p> - -<p>The new papa and mamma were very proud. -First of all they wanted their boy to fill out -into a healthy well-fed child, so they stoked his -neglected stomach with the richest of farm -foods. The effect was prompt. It was amazing -how Snythergen changed from day to day. -His cheeks rounded, his shoulders broadened, -and the layers of flesh spread over his lean -trunk until he was as bulging as a rubber ball. -He was getting enormous and his parents were -beginning to sense a new danger.</p> - -<p>“He will burst if he keeps on getting fatter,” -said his mother anxiously.</p> - -<p>“I must study the question,” said his father, -who was a philosopher.</p> - -<p>One day the father came in much excited. -“I know what it is that makes baby so fat! -He eats the wrong kind of food. His diet is -too round. It is all pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, -eggs, oranges. Now to get thin he should -eat thin foods, like celery, asparagus, pie-plant, -and macaroni.”</p> - -<p>So they fed him long slender foods, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -began changing at once. He shot up almost -as fast as Jack’s beanstalk, until they were -alarmed for fear he would never stop shooting -up. He had grown until he could look into -the second story windows standing on the -ground, and could place his hand on the top -of the chimney without getting on tiptoes. -Again it was time something was done, and -they sat down to think the matter over.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/illus-snythergen.jpg" width="400" height="375" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“I have it,” said the papa at last. “Son must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -not eat all round nor all slender foods! The -two must be mixed!”</p> - -<p>So they mixed them just in time to save Snythergen -from shooting up like a skyrocket. -But by the time his growth was arrested he was -altogether too big for a boy.</p> - -<p>There was no room in the house large -enough for him to sleep in and he could not -go upstairs; the passage was too small and the -ceiling too low. But they found a place by -letting his legs and body curl around through -the hallways and connecting rooms of the -ground floor. His head rested on a pillow in -the living room and his feet projected out of -the window in the butler’s pantry. Every -night before he went to bed his mother tucked -him in carefully, unfurling a roll of sheets and -quilts that had been sewed together and were -long enough to stretch from his feet to his -neck.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus1"> -<img src="images/bw-illus1.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">His father would stand on one hand and his mother on the other</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> - -<p>Before he left for school in the morning his -parents always kissed him good-by affectionately. -The parting took place outdoors in -front of the house. Snythergen would bend -over and place his broad hands on the ground, -palms up. His father would stand on one -hand and his mother on the other, holding -tightly to their son’s coat sleeves. Then Snythergen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -would raise his arms, lifting his parents -until they were on a level with his face.</p> - -<p>“Now be a good boy, Snythergen,” said the -little father, “or I shall spank you severely!”</p> - -<p>“Of course he will be a good boy,” said the -mother, as she leaned over and kissed him.</p> - -<p>Then the papa would climb up his ear and -place his hands on his son’s head and give him -his blessing. Snythergen would then lower -both parents gently to the ground and start for -school.</p> - -<p>Snythergen was nearly always late in starting -for school. He seldom slept well, for his -bed was uncomfortable and he could not turn -over or even change his position, without injuring -the house. Every night before going -to sleep he would resolve to be up early on the -morrow, but regularly failed. And one morning -he arose so very late that it was necessary -to find a short cut if he were to arrive at school -in time.</p> - -<p>What could he do? He tried to think of a -scheme while collecting his books. Bending -over to pick up his slate pencil, he placed his -head between his heels, just for the fun of it. -And this gave him an idea! With his head still -in this position, he bent his body into a circle -making a hoop of himself. Then he began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -roll down hill across the fields, slowly at first, -then faster and faster, then so fast he could -not stop. He bounded over fences and ditches, -until, all out of breath and very much flushed, -he found himself at the school house door! -This short cut saved him at least a mile, and -it was such fun rolling down hill, he went that -way every morning thereafter, rolling up to -the door just as the school-bell was ringing—to -crawl into the passage on his hands and -knees.</p> - -<p>There was not room enough for Snythergen -to stand up in school, so the janitor cut a trap -door beside his desk so that his feet extended -into the basement. Even then he stood taller in -the school room than the other pupils. But he -would have managed very well had the janitor -not been absent-minded and near-sighted. He -seemed never able to remember that those long -shanks were legs—not pillars. Again and -again he would tie the clothes-line to them, -and on wash days when Snythergen went out -at recess, usually he trailed a piece of clothes-line -behind each leg, with the washing hanging -on. And the janitor got such a scolding from -his wife for this that he grew to dislike Snythergen -almost as much as Snythergen disliked -him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p>One morning the janitor painted the basement. -And when Snythergen went out at recess -his legs were a brilliant yellow and pinned -to each was a sign: “Fresh Paint.” That day -he had an easy time playing tag, for no one -wanted to get smeared with paint badly enough -to touch him.</p> - -<p>One day the janitor was so forgetful as to -start to drive a nail into one of Snythergen’s -legs. This was too much! The poor boy -jumped out of the cellar, and in rising thrust -his head through the roof. So angry was he, -he hardly knew what he was doing. He -stepped over the walls carrying the roof with -him, then tossed it on the ground and hurried -away. “I won’t, won’t go back to school,” he -kept saying to himself. Rather than go back -and face the ridicule of his schoolmates he decided -to run away.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch1footer.jpg" width="400" height="110" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/illus-janitor.jpg" width="400" height="450" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch2header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br /> -<span class="smaller">A TICKLISH TREE</span></h2> - -<p>For some time Snythergen had been -thinking of running away and had -planned to go to the forest and live -with the trees, whose size was about like his -own. While waiting for the time to arrive, -he had made himself a disguise—and a very -good one it was, too,—it was a suit of brown -and green that made him look just like a tree. -For a long time he had kept it hidden in some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -bushes. Yes, he had quite made up his mind -to run away.</p> - -<p>He went home that night and looked into the -upstairs windows for a last sight of his dear -mother and father. His father was already -asleep when he arrived, but his mother was sitting -anxiously by the window waiting for her -little boy to come home. He rubbed his nose -on the glass until she noticed that he was there, -then placed a finger to his lips cautioning her -to be quiet. She raised the window softly and -whispered:</p> - -<p>“Snythergen, what is the matter?”</p> - -<p>“Mother, dear, I am going away. I cannot -stand going to school any longer. I am too -big and they are beginning to laugh at me. I -was never meant for a student anyway. I am -going to live in the forest with the trees. They -will not make fun of me. I have made myself -a suit of bark and branches which makes me -look just like one of them. Some day I will -come back to you and take you to my new -home. But now I must leave you and go and -seek my fortune!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus2"> -<img src="images/bw-illus2.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Like mothers the world over she knew how to sacrifice herself when -it was for the good of her child</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> - -<p>The poor mother’s heart was almost breaking. -The tears streamed from her eyes, but deep -in her heart she knew it was best for him -to go. Like mothers the world over she knew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -how to sacrifice herself when it was for the -good of her child. She kissed him again and -again. Just then the father turned uneasily -in his sleep.</p> - -<p>“Hurry, hurry, my darling boy! If your -father hears you he will give you a terrible -spanking.” As he rushed away, great tears -were dashed from his eyes by the branches of -tree-tops.</p> - -<p>Snythergen went straight to the forest and -very early the next morning dressed in his -suit of green and took his place as a tree. For -a long time he stood very still, holding his -branches out and waving his leaves in the -breeze. “I wish something would happen,” he -said to himself. “It certainly bores one to be -a tree.” He had been standing there since -daybreak and the sun was now high in the -sky. The birds as yet had not lighted on him. -Some instinct made them hesitate. At last a -daring woodpecker approached his trunk, and -began a series of sharp pecks. Snythergen -stifled an “ouch” and made a wry face. The -first woodpecker was followed by others. -They attacked his bark until it itched and -smarted all over. In spite of his discomfort -he tried to stand very still for he thought it beneath -a tree’s dignity to show its feelings.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - -<p>Unfortunately Snythergen was ticklish and -whenever the birds touched a sensitive spot he -could not help wiggling. This frightened the -woodpeckers for a while and they flew to a -neighboring limb to gaze at the strange tree. -But as soon as they stopped tickling Snythergen -always stopped shaking. This puzzled -the birds. They could not understand why -they felt the tree shake when they pecked, but -could not see it move when they stopped to -look at it. Finally they decided that they only -imagined it moved, and after that they did not -fly away unless the wiggling was very violent—which -it was whenever a bird happened to -blunder upon Snythergen’s “funny bone.” -Snythergen was beginning to realize that the -life of a tree is not all joy. Hardly could he -wait for night to come when the birds would fly -away. In the meantime he tried and tried to -think of a plan to outwit them. “I have it!” -he whispered to himself at last.</p> - -<p>When it was quite dark he pulled off his tree -suit, and went to a near-by town to purchase -several xylophones. These are musical instruments -with keys usually made of wood, and -played on with a little mallet. Snythergen took -the keys apart and strung them about his trunk -so that they hung about him like a skirt of mail,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -to protect his bark from woodpeckers. The -next morning when the birds began to circle -around him, he smiled to himself. When one -of them lighted and began pecking away, a -cheery sound came forth. And when the others -followed his example the whole tree became a -bedlam of musical jingles. “Peck away, peck -away!” said Snythergen to himself, “you cannot -hurt me now!”</p> - -<p>It was not long before the strange sounds issuing -from the tree attracted all the wild life -of the forest. The air became almost black -with flying things, and the ground was swarming -with animals little and big. Even a bear -came along and Snythergen trembled from roots -to peak leaf. How he wanted to run home to -his mother! It would be easier to go back and -face his schoolmates than to stay alone with a -bear. But at heart Snythergen was really a -brave little boy and his courage soon returned. -He had set out to be a tree and he made up -his mind he would be a worthy one. He did -not want the forest to be ashamed of him. “I -must not be the first tree that ever ran away. It -would set all the others such a bad example!” -he thought. So he held his teeth together very -firmly, and stood up ever so straight and stiff. -“I must appear calm and unconcerned,” he said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -to himself, but his heart beat so rapidly and -thumped so loudly he thought the bear must -surely hear it. But the big brute was too much -absorbed in the strange concert to think of anything -else, and did not suspect that a spare-ribbed -boy trembled behind a disguise of bark, -boughs and leaves.</p> - -<p>After a while the novelty wore off and the -bear went about his business, much to Snythergen’s -relief. The others, too, felt easier when -the big brute was gone, and crowded more -closely about the strange tree.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch2footer.jpg" width="400" height="200" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus3"> -<img src="images/bw-illus3.jpg" width="425" height="475" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">His feet projected out of the window in the butler’s pantry</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch3header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br /> -<span class="smaller">PLAYED ON A MUSICAL SKIRT</span></h2> - -<p>A thoughtful appearing goldfinch -hovered about the strange tree. He -would sit long in one of Snythergen’s -branches as if lost in a golden study. Occasionally -he would peck at the various wooden -keys and listen critically, but the sounds he produced -were sickly compared to the woodpeckers’ -ringing tremolo.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what he’s up to,” thought Snythergen. -“Some deviltry, I’ll wager! He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -seems a wise little bird. Evidently he’s planning -to do something to me. I suppose I’ll -find out what it is when he gets ready to let -me know, and not before!”</p> - -<p>The goldfinch flew among the woodpeckers -and assembled about two hundred of them in -Snythergen’s branches. Then he made them -a speech.</p> - -<p>“He is explaining his project,” thought Snythergen. -The finch would flit up to a key, -peck it and return to his branch, chirping animatedly. -When he had finished the woodpeckers -tossed their heads and chorused something. -Snythergen could not decide whether -it was an oral vote or a cheer.</p> - -<p>“The meeting must be over,” thought Snythergen, -relieved. But his relief was short-lived. -The entire flock flitted down, landing -on his trunk, and covering it until there was -a bird stationed beside each xylophone key.</p> - -<p>“Whew,” gasped Snythergen. “It wouldn’t -be so bad on a cold wintry day, but this is no -time of year to be smothered in an overcoat of -xylophones and birds!”</p> - -<p>His sap coursed feverishly through his trunk -and the veins of his leaves. He fanned his -moist bark cautiously with his upper boughs. -The birds were too absorbed in their scheme,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -whatever it was, to pay any attention to the -tree’s unusual motions.</p> - -<p>Snythergen was almost suffocated with heat. -“Why don’t they tar and feather me and be -done with it!” he groaned. “It amounts to that -anyhow, for my sap is as hot as tar—and as for -feathers!”</p> - -<p>Here he paused, struck by the sweet sounds -issuing from his trunk. The goldfinch was apparently -leading an orchestra of woodpeckers -and they were playing bird calls!</p> - -<p>“So this is your scheme,” thought Snythergen. -“Not a bad idea at all!” A cool breeze -had just sprung up from the north, enabling -Snythergen to cool off and enjoy the performance. -The finch was perched on a central -limb and was pointing his bill at the different -players when he desired them to respond. He -was standing on one leg. With the other he -beat time, using a tiny twig as baton. The -music attracted many birds and animals and -the goldfinch made them a speech. As nearly -as Snythergen could guess from his gestures the -little bird said something like this:</p> - -<p>“We’re going to give a symphony concert to-night -shortly after bug time! Everybody is invited -to come and bring his family and friends.”</p> - -<p>Preparations for the concert were in progress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -all day. An hour before the audience was admitted -the western sky was ablaze and the animals -thought the forest was on fire. But it -was only a cloud of fireflies coming to light the -concert. When they arrived the business manager -(an intelligent crow) directed them to -stand just touching each other along all the -branches, twigs and leaves of the tree, until -Snythergen sparkled from roots to peak with -thousands of points of light. The branch on -which the goldfinch perched was lighted more -brilliantly than the others. Festoons of acrobatic -fireflies holding together hung down from -it like ropes of light.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;" id="color-illus2"> -<img src="images/color-illus2.jpg" width="500" height="700" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>It was inspiring to hear this chorus accompanied -by full orchestra</i></p> -</div> - -<p>At the appointed time animals and birds were -admitted to the reserved space about the tree. -Crow ushers kept order and showed each one -where to sit. Birds were admitted to all but -the stage branches of the tree, and they covered -every part of Snythergen unoccupied by -fireflies. At first the fireflies were afraid of -the great birds that stood close enough to touch -them, and they would have flown off in terror -if the crows had not watched over and protected -them. By this time the ground was -black with animals. Not only every seat, but -every inch of standing room was taken. By -eight o’clock every member of the orchestra<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -was perched at attention. Beside every xylophone -key a woodpecker awaited the signal to -begin.</p> - -<p>When all were seated the goldfinch walked -proudly forth from his dressing room of leaves -and took his position in the center of the stage-limb. -He was indeed a handsome fellow. His -gay head-dress was gracefully arranged. His -feathers were as smooth as satin, and his manicured -claws shone in the light of the fireflies. -His entrance was greeted with tremendous -applause and he had to bow again and -again. When it was quiet, he raised his baton -and bill together and gave the signal. The concert -began. All listened breathlessly to the -wonderful strains. Aside from the music there -was not the faintest sound of animal, bird or -insect in the forest. Even the trees kept tight -hold of their leaves, to keep them from rustling -in the breeze.</p> - -<p>Before the concert was over the call of nearly -every being present had been given by the -orchestra. The meadow lark’s song was encored -again and again. It was so short it was -over in a jiffy and the audience could not get -enough of it.</p> - -<p>Once during the evening the leader was -worried for a moment. In a front seat he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -spied an old frog and he knew his bass woods -did not go low enough to imitate the frog -song. So when an usher came up and whispered -in his ear that the frog was stone deaf -and would not know it if his call were omitted, -he was very much relieved. Happily the old -fellow was the only frog present.</p> - -<p>The favorite number proved to be the brown -thrasher’s song. It was long enough to make -a piece, and seemed just suited to xylophones. -Since Snythergen wore at least twelve of these -instruments in his skirt of mail, there were -enough different keys to provide soprano, alto, -tenor and bass. The audience was much -stirred by the wonderful performance, and the -leader as a compliment to the brown thrashers -directed the ushers to conduct all of them present -to a stage limb just beneath him. They -were lined up in a row and firefly foot-lights -shone upon a long line of feathery breasts in -front and straight slender tails behind.</p> - -<p>It was inspiring to hear this mighty chorus -accompanied by full orchestra, in one of the -most beautiful of bird songs. No wonder birds -and animals clapped until their claws and paws -ached, and when the concert was over, refused -to go home until the leader announced another -performance next week.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, at last,” said Snythergen, when all -had left, “I can have a moment’s rest. There -won’t be another concert if I can help it—and -I think I can!”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch3footer.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> -<img src="images/illus-pig.jpg" width="200" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch4header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br /> -<span class="smaller">A BIRD AND A TREE PLAY AT HIDE AND SEEK</span></h2> - -<p>Snythergen took off his suit and lay -upon the ground. In a minute he was -fast asleep. Early the next morning he -arose and put on his tree suit but not the xylophone -skirt. It was a hot day and it would be -cooler without that. And he believed that -after their hard day the woodpeckers would -sleep till noon. He was right. Not one came -to disturb him in the morning. But without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -them there were plenty of curious eyes staring. -For the birds and animals could not understand -the change that had come over the strange -tree.</p> - -<p>The goldfinch did not sleep as late as the -woodpeckers, for he did not believe in lying -abed in the morning even if he had been up -late the night before. When he saw that the -tree no longer wore its skirt of xylophone keys -he studied Snythergen curiously, hopping from -twig to twig and pondering. He discovered -that this tree was much warmer than the others—for -the heavy tree suit made Snythergen very -hot. The little bird wondered if the strange -tree would not be a good place in which to build -a winter home. This would save him going -south every year. In place of a one-room nest, -why not build a mansion? He flew away excitedly -to draw up the plans.</p> - -<p>“At last I can enjoy a little peace,” murmured -Snythergen and dozed off for a standing nap. -When he awoke, it was with a start. “Stop biting -my toes,” he cried. Glancing down he saw—a -pig! “He must be hungry,” thought he. -“Well, I’ve eaten enough pig in my day. It -would only be fair to let one of his kind have -a bite of me. But I am thankful his teeth are -not sharp. The bites feel like little pinches.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -I hope he is enjoying himself, but now he is beginning -to damage my costume!” He gave a -kick and the pig jumped back, so frightened -that his hair and his tail stood pompadour. He -was pale and trembling and his little eyes grew -big and round.</p> - -<p>“What in the world is the matter with that -tree?” he exclaimed. “I thought it moved!”</p> - -<p>It was now Snythergen’s turn to be surprised. -“Can he talk, the little rascal? Now how did -a pig ever learn to talk? I must investigate.”</p> - -<p>Evidently the pig liked the taste of bark; and -as Snythergen stood very still the pig’s courage -returned. He approached the tree once more, -and was just about to take a really good bite -when Snythergen cried, “Don’t do that!”</p> - -<p>“Who said that?” cried the pig, startled.</p> - -<p>“Why, I did, of course.”</p> - -<p>“Who are you and where are you?”</p> - -<p>“Can’t you see, you simpleton!” said Snythergen. -“I am the tree and I want you to stop biting -my roots.”</p> - -<p>The pig did not wait to hear more. So -frightened was he that he ran away as fast as -he could.</p> - -<p>“Come back,” shouted Snythergen, “come -back after dark and we can visit without being -seen.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> - -<p>Soon the little finch returned with plans all -drawn, and set to work to build in one of the -strange tree’s branches. This made Snythergen -anxious for he did not fancy having his limbs -tangled up in nests. And when the finch flew -farther than usual in search of thistle down, -Snythergen strolled softly to an open space several -hundred feet away behind a hillock.</p> - -<p>When the finch returned he could not find -the tree. Nearly frantic he flew wildly about in -circles; then darted across in diameters. Was -he dreaming? He all but lost his reason and -contracted a painfully stiff neck. “That tree -must be somewhere!” he exclaimed, and turning -suddenly he would charge the spot where -it had been, as if to take it by surprise. Then -he described larger and larger circles until at -length he came upon Snythergen’s hiding place.</p> - -<p>Joyfully he returned to his work careful this -time not to let the tree out of his sight. It was -now Snythergen’s turn to be perplexed. How -was he to dodge that energetic nest builder! -For every time he attempted to take to his roots -there were those sharp little eyes regarding him.</p> - -<p>“No chance! That is the most suspicious -goldfinch I ever saw!” he sighed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus4"> -<img src="images/bw-illus4.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Snythergen cried, “Don’t do that!”</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> - -<p>The nest was progressing alarmingly. The -fuzzy material tickled Snythergen’s limb, and -every time he tried to rub it, the goldfinch was -watching.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Is there no way to get rid of the little pest?” -he groaned. “Can’t I ever get him to turn his -back long enough for me to rub my itching -limb? My, but he must love me, the way he -keeps staring all the while! If this keeps up -much longer I’ll get the St. Vitus’ dance.”</p> - -<p>He remembered that the finch had gone a -long way off for milkweed silk and thistle down -with which to line his nest, and it was while he -was searching for these that Snythergen had had -his chance to hide.</p> - -<p>“I’ll just pull out some of that fuzzy stuff -and put it in my pocket the next time birdie -turns his back,” he chuckled. “When he sees -it is gone he will go for some more, and when -he comes back—well, there won’t be any tree -or any nest to welcome him!”</p> - -<p>This thought amused Snythergen so much -that he almost gave himself away by laughing -out loud. Luckily the finch thought it was a -child in the woods and turned his back to see. -And the moment he did so Snythergen jerked -out most of the fuzzy stuff and put it into his -pocket. When the finch saw the damage he was -very much puzzled.</p> - -<p>“Bless my feathers! Now how in the world<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -did that happen?” he said. “This place must -be bewitched!”</p> - -<p>He looked around, painfully twisting his -neck, then sat still on a branch for a long time, -watching and thinking, but he failed to find a -single clue leading to the cause of the damage. -At length he gave it up and went to work to -repair it. First he looked all around carefully, -then dashed away to the place where the thistles -grew, planning to grab a billful of down and fly -back in the briefest possible time. But the moment -he was out of sight Snythergen took to his -roots and ran toward the place where he had told -the pig to meet him, tearing off his tree suit as he -ran, and he had barely gotten out of it when -the finch flew screeching by.</p> - -<p>“This time I fooled you,” thought Snythergen, -as he stretched out on the ground for a nap.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch4footer.jpg" width="400" height="175" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch5header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V<br /> -<span class="smaller">HOW A PIG LEARNED TO TALK</span></h2> - -<p>Snythergen dreamed that he was sitting -on a pier, dangling his feet in the -water. Little fishes were nibbling his -toes, when suddenly a large one darted up and -took a bite that hurt. Raising both feet -quickly, he woke up.</p> - -<p>“You don’t need to be so rough,” said the -pig, who had been bowled over by the raising -of Snythergen’s feet and lay on his back, waving -his legs in the air.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It’s you, is it! Up to your favorite trick of -biting my toes! Well, it serves you right. Of -course I am glad you like me, but I wish you -would show your affection in some other way!”</p> - -<p>“Oh,” cried the pig. “So you were the -strange tree that kicked me and spoke to me! -I recognize you by the taste of your toes. But -how was I to know that the last time I nibbled -you, you were a tree,—unless I nibbled you -again to find out?”</p> - -<p>“In that case, I’ll forgive you,” said Snythergen, -“and I hope you’ll overlook the fright I -gave you.”</p> - -<p>They lay on the ground side by side and gazed -up at the stars.</p> - -<p>“Tell me, how did you learn to talk?” asked -Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“The farmer’s wife taught me,” said the pig.</p> - -<p>“Why did she do that?”</p> - -<p>“Because I was hungry.”</p> - -<p>“That’s no reason. They give people food -when they are hungry—they don’t teach them -to talk.”</p> - -<p>“This woman did. She would not give me -anything to eat until I learned to ask for it. -And as I was nearly starving I learned rapidly,” -said the pig. “As soon as I could ask for things -I gained in weight, and when the farmer saw I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -was getting fat he asked his wife to keep right -on feeding me so that—”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“<em>So that they could eat me for dinner!</em>” -faltered the pig, dashing a tear from his eye.</p> - -<p>“Then what did you do?” asked Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“I ate as little as possible until the farmer’s -wife saw I was getting thin again. Then she -told me to eat all I wanted and not to worry. -She said she would manage somehow so—they -would not have to—eat—me for dinner! I -trusted her and after that enjoyed three good -meals a day. You see she had taken a fancy to -me because I kept myself looking neat, and tried -to be gentlemanly. She called me ‘Squeaky’ -and treated me like a child of her own. Little -by little I began to understand what she said, -and learned to talk.</p> - -<p>“One day the farmer’s wife was sitting by the -window sewing. The farmer had gone to -town. I trotted up as usual for a chat, but instead -of chatting—</p> - -<p>“‘You must go away,’ she said, with a catch -in her voice, ‘for my husband says we must have -you—for—dinner—to-morrow!’</p> - -<p>“She could hardly say the words. We looked -at each other sadly. Then she took me in her -arms and squeezed me so tightly I thought she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -would break my bones; and I would not have -cared much if she had. To die in her arms -would have been a happier lot than leaving her.</p> - -<p>“‘But surely I may come back some day,’ I -managed to say, ‘or send for you when my fortune -is made.’</p> - -<p>“‘I’m afraid not,’ she faltered.</p> - -<p>“I cannot tell you any more about our parting. -It was too sad. Somehow I survived it—I -suppose because I was young and the world -lay before me.</p> - -<p>“A farmer’s buckboard approached in the -rough lane, thumping over the frozen ruts, announcing -its coming long in advance. I hid in -the cabbage-patch. The farmer’s wife stopped -the vehicle and gossiped with the driver, to give -me a chance to climb into the back and hide.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus5"> -<img src="images/bw-illus5.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">To die in her arms would have been a happier lot than leaving her</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It was not easy to scramble up into the -vehicle, for I was fat, and could not get a foothold. -I tried using the spokes of the wheel as -a ladder, but kept slipping and falling back. I -knew one side of the wheel would go up and -the other down when the wagon started, but -could not figure out which side did which. -However, I decided to take a chance. Taking -a firm grip on one of the lower spokes I braced -my feet on the one below it. It happened to -be the right side of the wheel. So when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -vehicle started the spoke I was holding to began -to rise, carrying me up nearly to the top of the -wagon. Bracing my legs, I gave a leap that -landed me in the buckboard upon some empty -potato sacks. Hurriedly selecting one I -crawled into it.</p> - -<p>“The farmer thought he had heard something -fall into the wagon, and stopping his horses, he -glanced back. I was hidden by this time but -he saw a bulging under the pile of sacks and -was about to poke into them when I said, ‘Please, -Mr. Smythers, let me stay here until we get -by those boys in the road. I am hiding from -them.’</p> - -<p>“When he heard my voice Mr. Smythers, of -course, took me for a boy and he answered: -‘No, you cannot stay there. You will smother. -Come out and I will protect you from the boys.’</p> - -<p>“Receiving no reply he poked about among -the sacks until he found the one I was in.</p> - -<p>“‘Why, it’s a pig in the bag instead of a boy!’ -he cried in great surprise. ‘Well, I’ll soon fix -him so he can’t get away!’ and he tied up the -opening with a string. ‘But where is that boy -that spoke to me just now?’</p> - -<p>“Mr. Smythers looked under the wagon, -searched both sides of the road, and even the -trees, but of course found no one. Greatly perplexed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -he got into his buckboard and drove on, -glancing back every few minutes to see if there -wasn’t a boy around somewhere. After he had -driven about a mile he ceased looking around, -and as we were going through a dense forest, I -decided to try to escape. The bag I was in had -a hole in it (that is why I had chosen it), and it -was not difficult to make the opening larger by -tearing the rotten threads. Little by little I -squeezed myself out, and dropping off the back -of the buckboard, fell in a heap in the road.</p> - -<p>“‘Now I am free,’ I thought, and I wandered -deeper and deeper into the woods until I found -you.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch5footer.jpg" width="400" height="200" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch6header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE HOUSE AT THE END OF A ROPE</span></h2> - -<p>“Hm,” said Snythergen when Squeaky -had finished his tale, and for some -time he remained silent. At last he -spoke.</p> - -<p>“I think we had better build a house!”</p> - -<p>“Good,” said Squeaky, “but is this a safe -place? Didn’t I see a bear in the crowd you -attracted?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but I don’t think he’ll come back. If -he does my tree suit will save us. I can bend -over until my limbs touch the ground. Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -you can climb into my top branches and I’ll -lift you out of danger. The bear will take me -for a tree and leave us alone.”</p> - -<p>So they set to work very promptly. The -plans they drew called for a round house. And -to make sure it would be big enough for Snythergen, -he lay on the ground curling up in the -smallest space he could, and Squeaky traced a -line around him in the dirt to mark the position -of the outside wall. They planned to make -the roof high enough for Snythergen when he -was lying down, but of course he would be unable -to stand up or even to sit up without bumping -his head on the ceiling. The outer circle -just inside the wall was to be Snythergen’s bedroom, -and Squeaky was to occupy the space in -the middle. It took several weeks to build the -house and before the paint was quite dry Snythergen -spread pine boughs over the ground -floor to make a soft place for them to lie.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;" id="color-illus3"> -<img src="images/color-illus3.jpg" width="500" height="700" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The house was left dangling above ground to -receive an airing out</i></p> -</div> - -<p>In the center of the roof was a hook to which -was fastened a rope running up over a pulley -attached to the top of a pine tree. From the -other end of the rope hung a huge boulder, just -as heavy as the house. The stone and the building -balanced each other so nicely that a little -pull would send the house up or down. In -the daytime the house was pulled up and left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -dangling above the ground to air out. At -night when they went to bed Snythergen would -lie down, bending himself into the exact shape -of his bedroom by following a line marked out -on the ground; and when he lay in just the -right position so that the house when lowered -would clear him, Squeaky would crawl over -him into his little nest. Then Snythergen, -reaching up, would pull the house down over -their ears, making them snug and cozy for the -night.</p> - -<p>While they had been at work on their new -house a most persistent little bird had followed -them around, perching on a near-by tree or -bush. He appeared to listen to their words -and moved his bill as if practicing the sounds; -and sometimes he would make the strangest -noises! Squeaky, always glad of a chance to -visit, fell into the habit of talking to the bird. -It did not occur to him that a goldfinch would -not be able to understand; besides the little fellow -stood so still when Squeaky spoke to him -he seemed to be taking it in.</p> - -<p>“Do you understand me?” Squeaky would -ask impatiently.</p> - -<p>A strange sound not unlike “no” was the -response.</p> - -<p>“Then you do understand!” said Squeaky.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> - -<p>“No,” it came unmistakably now.</p> - -<p>“Evidently the finch wants to learn to talk,” -thought Squeaky, so he began to instruct him. -He knew well how to set about it, for he had -learned himself only with the greatest difficulty. -He used the silent speech method—that is, he -had the finch go through the motions of saying -the words with his bill and throat, without actually -making a sound. It was a good way to -learn, but amusing to watch. The first day the -goldfinch learned to make the motions for several -words. When he did “cat” how he shuddered -and flapped his wings as if to fly away -in a hurry. How his bill did water and what -a hungry gleam came into his eyes when he did -“worm”!</p> - -<p>Because his teacher would not permit sounds -at first, the finch learned to put great feeling -into his gestures and the expression of his face. -And in time when he had learned to talk this -assisted him greatly with animals and birds -ignorant of the language. For those who did -not understand what he said, knew what he -meant by his gestures. After he had been instructing -the finch for a fortnight and had come -to like him, Squeaky decided to ask Snythergen -to invite the little bird to share their quarters. -“He is such a sensible little bird,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -thought Squeaky, “if he behaves well to-morrow, -I’ll ask Snythergen’s permission then.”</p> - -<p>That was the day the house was completed -and that night the owners were very tired. -They slept soundly until three o’clock in the -morning when something woke them.</p> - -<p>“What was that?” asked Squeaky in a shaky -voice.</p> - -<p>“It sounded like a growl,” said Snythergen, -and his trembling was so violent it shook the -house. Thereafter no more sleep was possible -for either, but the sound did not return. When -morning came they investigated and found bear -tracks leading to the door.</p> - -<p>“What shall we do?” asked Snythergen.</p> - -<p>As usual the finch was perched on a branch -listening, standing so close to Snythergen’s ear -that his wing rubbed against it.</p> - -<p>“Who’s tickling my ear?” said Snythergen, -looking around. But the finch had hidden behind -a leaf.</p> - -<p>“What do bears want?” asked Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“To make trouble, I guess,” said Snythergen.</p> - -<p>During the building of the house Snythergen -had been so busy he had not even noticed -Squeaky’s little friend. Now the finch wished -to join in the conversation, for his teacher had -just given him permission to speak out loud.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -He wanted to celebrate his first spoken words -by saying them at the top of his voice, so pushing -his little bill into Snythergen’s ear, he -screamed:</p> - -<p>“Bears don’t want to make trouble, they -want food!”</p> - -<p>Snythergen jumped as if a bee had stung -him.</p> - -<p>“What was that!” cried he, looking around -and seeing nothing. For again the finch had -hopped behind a leaf.</p> - -<p>“It’s my good friend, the goldfinch,” said -Squeaky. “I want you to meet him. I have -been teaching him to talk, and you heard the -first words he has spoken out loud. Don’t you -think he did them rather well?” he asked, proud -of his pupil.</p> - -<p>“If loudness is an indication I should say he -did, most decidedly,” said Snythergen, whose -ears were still ringing. “If he keeps on improving -they can hear him in the next county!”</p> - -<p>“Come,” said Squeaky, looking around for -the finch, “I want you to meet him.” At -Squeaky’s request, the finch came out of his -hiding place and was presented.</p> - -<p>“If it isn’t the little goldfinch!” exclaimed -Snythergen in surprise, and he burst out laughing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What are you laughing at?” asked the finch -suspiciously.</p> - -<p>“I was just thinking how difficult it seems -to be for some birds to find their way back to -their nests,” said Snythergen.</p> - -<p>At this the sensitive bird flushed a brighter -gold and hung his bill dejectedly.</p> - -<p>“I suppose trees look a good deal alike,” continued -Snythergen mockingly, “and that is why -it is so hard to find the one your nest is in!”</p> - -<p>Too confused to answer, the finch made up -his mind to question Squeaky when they were -alone, and at the first opportunity told the pig -of his adventure with the strange tree. When -Squeaky explained that Snythergen had a costume -of bark, branches and leaves, the little -bird understood how the “tree” had been able -to hide from him, and why he had been unable -to get any trace of his nest. Though he felt -indignant about the way he had been treated, -he decided for the present to say nothing and -bide his time.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch6footer.jpg" width="400" height="110" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> -<img src="images/illus-pig.jpg" width="200" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch7header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII<br /> -<span class="smaller">BEAR ON ICE</span></h2> - -<p>The goldfinch stayed close to his new -friends and in the end they accepted -him as one of them. They named him -“Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on -the roof of their new home. In many respects -it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird -had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s -branches, but it was made of regular building -materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though -Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s -weakness for soft things, and caught and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that -blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls -and floors. The living rooms were down stairs, -but in the garret above there was ample space in -which the finch might store stray bits of string, -odd twigs, and curious little things he found in -the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector -of curiosities. But the most interesting -thing about the house was its watch tower, which -rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird. For it -was intended as a look-out from which Sancho -might keep a sharp watch for the bear.</p> - -<p>Sancho Wing was far too curious a little -bird to sit quietly at home and wait for things -to take their course. So, in addition to scanning -the horizon daily for signs of the bear, -he searched the forest over until he located -the cave in which the beast lived, and actually -flew into it. As it was getting dark and the -beast was half asleep, he mistook the bird for a -bat and paid no attention to him. Although -very much frightened, Sancho hovered around -until the brute’s heavy snoring indicated that -he was fast asleep. Then hastening back he -assured Snythergen and Squeaky they might -now rest in peace, and retired to his own snug -feather bed.</p> - -<p>The three friends had been living together<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -happily and unmolested by the bear for about -a month, when one Sunday at daybreak Sancho -Wing opened his eyes and wondered what had -awakened him. He listened. There was a -faint sound like the crackling of twigs. He -winged a few hundred yards into the woods in -the direction of the cave and saw the bear approaching. -Hastening back he pecked Snythergen -until he opened his eyes.</p> - -<p>“The bear is coming! Get into your tree -suit at once, it’s your only chance!” said Sancho.</p> - -<p>Snythergen pushed the house up out of the -way and jumped out of bed, calling to the pig. -But Squeaky would not wake up. He was -too fond of sleep ever to allow himself to be -disturbed before breakfast was on the table, -and always he slept rolled into a ball, his head -tucked under his body; and so tightly did he -curl himself up that he kept this position no -matter what any one did to him. Snythergen -might have rolled him on the ground or tossed -him into the air, without waking him. And -had he done so Squeaky would have recounted -these adventures afterwards as part of his -dream.</p> - -<p>Therefore Snythergen did not waste time trying -to wake Squeaky, but hastened to arrange -himself in his tree suit. This done, he bent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -over and with his top branches picked Squeaky -up and lifted him out of danger. Next he lowered -the house to the ground to make the bear -think it was occupied, and took his position as -a tree. Hardly had he shaken out his leaves -and arranged his branches when the beast arrived.</p> - -<p>Casting an inquiring glance at the tree, the -bear entered the house in search of food. He -proceeded at once to the ice-box. Luckily (as it -turned out) the door was open. Before leaving -Snythergen had had the quick forethought to -put a piece of cheese in his pocket and had neglected -to close the ice-box door. When the bear -had eaten up everything that was handy, he -pushed his head far into one of the smaller -compartments of the box to reach a last morsel -of jam he had been unable to get before. This -time he succeeded and, licking his lips, attempted -to pull his head out.</p> - -<p>He pulled and he pulled but he could not -pull his head out. It was caught in the opening, -and the harder he strained, the more firmly -the ice-box became attached to him. He -growled and he gnashed his teeth. He stood -on his hind legs and pounded the ice-box against -the walls, until Snythergen and Sancho Wing -feared he would knock the house down.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -Through a window Sancho saw the bear bracing -himself for a mighty blow which, if allowed -to land, would surely break through the -wall.</p> - -<p>“Quick, quick, pull the house up!” he called.</p> - -<p>Grasping the rope with the twigs of a lower -limb, Snythergen gave it a jerk. And just as -the brute was delivering a terrific blow the -house shot up and the bear’s effort spent itself -in the air harmlessly, except that the big fellow -was thrown sprawling to the ground, with a -force that twisted his neck painfully.</p> - -<p>For the moment Snythergen and Sancho -Wing forgot their own fears to laugh at the -beast’s comical state. Undoubtedly he was the -most surprised bear in the whole world. Thinking -himself still inside of the house (for whoever -heard of a house running away!), he felt -about for the walls, but there were no walls -there! The ice-box fastened to his head, -blinded him. Back and forth he stumbled, -groping in every direction. And the pounding -of the heavy box on the ground was giving -him a splitting headache.</p> - -<p>After he had pulled the house up Snythergen -was not at all pleased to find the bear had eaten -up all of their food. And now he beheld the -intruder in a rage, bent on breaking their new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -ice-box! He was so indignant, his branches -fairly itched to punish the clumsy brute. And -the moment the bear was in a favorable position -Snythergen crept softly behind him, stripped the -leaves and twigs from one of his stoutest limbs -and gave the beast a sound thrashing. As the -blows fell fast and heavy the bear yelled like a -sick puppy. But Snythergen closed his ears -to the sound, and not until he was out of breath -and perspiring did he conclude the brute had -had enough. Then his kind heart was touched, -for with the headache and the spanking, the bear -was aching and smarting at both ends.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus6"> -<img src="images/bw-illus6.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">“At least I can relieve his headache”</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> - -<p>“At least I can relieve his headache,” thought -Snythergen, bending over to examine the ice-box. -There was still ice in one of the compartments. -Removing a piece Snythergen was able -to crowd it in against the bear’s head, and in -spite of the brute’s wiggling, placed it so it -rested against his forehead. Very gently the -beast settled down on his aching haunches, to -let the ice cool his throbbing brow. The ice-box -was still attached to him as securely as ever. -Apparently he had given up trying to free himself. -But the bear was not to rest in peace for -long. His head recently so hot now became -freezing cold. And the pain of it drove him -into a frenzy. Snythergen and Sancho were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -about to come to his assistance when he charged -blindly forward and a lucky jump was all that -saved Snythergen from a fatal collision. The -bear rushed back and forth beating the ice-box -against the rocks and trees, not minding how it -hurt his neck and shoulders. His one desire -was to relieve the terrible freezing in his brain.</p> - -<p>Snythergen quite understood all the bear’s -thoughts and now decided that the big fellow -had been punished enough. Grasping the rope -from which the boulder dangled, and swinging -it around his head, he brought it down squarely -upon the ice-box. This well-aimed blow split -open the box, freeing the bear’s head, but the -door frame still clung about his neck—an absurd -collar.</p> - -<p>Stunned, lame, and aching, the poor bear -crawled into the sunlight to thaw out his brain -and to melt his frost-bitten thoughts. But the -sun did not melt his hard heart or calm his -rising indignation. He looked about angrily -for his persecutors. He strode threateningly -up to one tree after another, but they all stood -very still and wore the innocent look that comes -natural to trees. Snythergen, however, had not -been a tree long enough to look as unconcerned -as the others; besides he had a guilty conscience.</p> - -<p>The bear may have smelled the cheese in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -Snythergen’s pocket, or maybe something unusual -in his appearance made the beast suspect -him, for he came up and walked around and -around the tree until poor Snythergen was dizzy, -following with his eyes, and so frightened he -could hardly stand. Uneasily he swayed from -side to side, catching his balance just in time -to avoid a fall. The bear stopped, rubbed his -nose on Snythergen’s bark, dug a claw into it. -And Snythergen could not avoid a cry of pain. -Sancho Wing saw the danger his pals were in, -and realized that something must be done -quickly if they were to be saved.</p> - -<p>“Throw the cheese to him!” cried the little -bird. Snythergen tossed it on the ground a few -yards away and the bear followed it eagerly, -gulping it down in one mouthful. Sancho -Wing thought he heard woodchoppers in the -distance and flew away to summon help. Soon -he found two men with axes and a rifle, and hiding -in some leaves, he called to them:</p> - -<p>“Hello, hunters! there is a bear over there -near that shaking tree. Follow the sound of -my voice and you will easily find the place.”</p> - -<p>The men were simple fellows, only too eager -to follow Sancho as he darted through the leaves -calling: “This way, this way!” They could -not see who was calling but supposed it was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -little boy who was keeping out of sight for fear -of the bear. Now that help was near, in the -midst of his anxiety Sancho could not avoid -chuckling. For he had thought of a way to get -even with Snythergen for the tricks he had -played on him about the nest. As he hurried -along he told the woodsmen, after driving away -the bear to cut down a certain tree. “You will -know it by the sleeping pig in its top branches,” -he said. Just then the bear saw the huntsmen -approaching and he did not wait for them to -come up, but made tracks before they could get -a shot at him.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch7footer.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> -<img src="images/illus-pig.jpg" width="200" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch8header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">A RUNAWAY TREE</span></h2> - -<p>Snythergen gave a sigh of relief when -the bear went away and was just about -to step out and un-bark, when he heard -voices.</p> - -<p>“This is the tree we are to chop down!” -Snythergen heard one of them say, and already -the woodchopper was swinging his axe. Snythergen -did not wait for the blow to land, but -leaped into the air and was off as fast as his roots -would carry him. To be sure, he was hampered -by his leaves and his branches and his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -sheath bark skirt. Brushing none too gently -against bushes and trees he trod on the toes of -innumerable growing things. Apologizing -with his bows to right and left, he did not pause -even to see what damage he had done, nor did -he know he had stepped heavily on the roots of -an oak, or rubbed the shins of a birch. He -knew only that two woodsmen were after him, -threatening to chop him into kindling wood.</p> - -<p>“Did you ever see such a rude tree?” cried -a graceful elm suffering from a broken limb. -“And it’s so untreelike to run away like that! -Suppose the rest of us did likewise—what would -become of the forest!”</p> - -<p>“If he is restless, I don’t object to his walking -about in a gentlemanly manner,” said the birch -whose shins had been rubbed, “as long as he -picks his steps carefully; but to go slamming -through regardless of the rest of us is most inconsiderate!”</p> - -<p>There was much bobbing of tree-tops and -angry shaking of limbs in the direction the runaway -tree had taken. But Snythergen might -have saved himself running so far and so fast, -had he taken the trouble to look around. For -the hunters were not following but standing -still, astonished at the spectacle of a tree racing -through the forest at break-limb speed. In all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -the years they had lived in the woods never -had they seen a runaway tree before.</p> - -<p>“Is the forest going crazy?” cried one. -“What if all the trees were to run after us like a -herd of buffalo! What chance would we have -of escape?”</p> - -<p>The mere thought of it was so terrifying they -turned and ran, leaving coats, rifle, and axes -where they lay, and they did not stop until they -were well out of the woods and safe in their own -home, behind locked doors and windows. And -they did not stir abroad for two days.</p> - -<p>When Sancho Wing saw the hunters and -Snythergen running away from each other in -opposite directions, it was too much for him. -He laughed and laughed, and shook so that he -fell from the limb he was perched on, and only -saved himself from a bad fall by using his wings.</p> - -<p>“Surely I have paid Snythergen now for all -of his tricks,” he cried merrily.</p> - -<p>During all this time Squeaky actually had remained -asleep in Snythergen’s top branches, -though his rest had been somewhat uneven.</p> - -<p>“Where am I?” he cried, rubbing his eyes -and waking up to find himself violently tossed -about, and bumped against the branches of trees -as Snythergen crashed through the forest.</p> - -<p>With a breathless word here and there as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -ran, Snythergen gave the pig an idea of what -had happened, and when Squeaky realized all -the dangers he had slept through, he lost his grip -and would have fallen had Snythergen not -tightened his hold. On and on ran the tree, -stumbling and reeling, and with every lurch -Squeaky’s little heart quivered; for tree-riding -was as terrifying as hanging to the top of a mast -in a storm at sea. What a relief when Snythergen -slowed up and stopped at the shore of a -lake, panting like a porpoise!</p> - -<p>“I think you had better get down now,” said -Snythergen, “for I am going to wade across that -lake and plant myself in the farmer’s yard on -the other side. I shall remain there until the -woodchoppers get tired of looking for me. I -believe my leg is cut. Will you look on the -ground and see if I am bleeding?”</p> - -<p>“I guess your leg isn’t bleeding,” said -Squeaky after looking around, “for I don’t see -any sawdust.”</p> - -<p>“Would you mind running home now, -Squeaky, just to see that Sancho Wing is all -right? I am a little worried about him. But -if you will come back to this spot twice a day -I will signal across the lake to let you know how -I am getting on.”</p> - -<p>Very much shaken Squeaky limped home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -following the broad trail Snythergen had made -through the woods, and found Sancho Wing -still chuckling. After talking over their adventure -for a little while they settled themselves for -a nap.</p> - -<p>As soon as Squeaky left him, Snythergen -waded into the lake. He found the cool water -refreshing to his overheated roots and tattered -branches, but when he bent over to drink he -came near losing his balance and floating away.</p> - -<p>Only while he stood erect and kept in shallow -water did his roots find a firm footing on the -bottom of the lake. With much splashing of -water and stirring of mud, and by wading -around the deep places he managed to cross. -When no one was looking, he crept into the -farmer’s yard, where he hoped to find an end to -his troubles. After looking the place over, he -decided to plant himself where he would shade -the dining-room window and could see what -the family had for dinner. It occurred to him -that if he became very hungry, he might reach -through the window and help himself to a morsel -of food. “Turn about is fair play,” he -reasoned. “If I provide shade for them, they -should not begrudge me a bite to eat now and -then!”</p> - -<p>Luckily the farmer and his wife were away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -at camp meeting when Snythergen arrived, and -when they returned, it was dark. A crescent -moon and the stars revealed but a dusky outline -of the place.</p> - -<p>“Somehow things don’t look natural around -here,” said the farmer when he reached home. -“The place seems changed, swelled out! Why, -I believe the house has got the mumps!”</p> - -<p>“Silas, you don’t think baby has the mumps, -do you?” cried his wife, thinking he must be -referring to their child.</p> - -<p>“No, no, it’s the house that’s got the mumps,” -said the farmer.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense, Silas, you must be out of your -mind!” she said. She saw nothing out of the -way, for her eyes sought only the windows of -a room on the other side of the house where her -small son had been left, and nothing more was -said about the matter that night.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch8footer.jpg" width="400" height="175" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch9header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE DOCTOR DISCOVERS A TREE WITH -ST. VITUS’ DANCE</span></h2> - -<p>The next morning the discovery of a new -tree in the farmer’s yard caused great -surprise. At first the people were awed -and afraid, and some were a little suspicious. -Indeed, Snythergen had to stand very stiff and -still and put on his very best tree manners to -make them believe he was a real tree. He was -watched so closely that he scarcely dared to -breathe, and he feared the cool breeze from the -lake might make him cough, for already he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -a slight cold from wading in the chilly water -the day before. Once or twice he nearly exploded -trying to hold in a sneeze. But the people -on the ground saw only his top branches -tossing and thought it due to an upper current -of air.</p> - -<p>Then an adventurous boy began climbing his -trunk, and Snythergen thought surely the little -fellow would feel his heart beat. But the child -only climbed higher and higher, venturing out -on a high limb which Snythergen held insecurely -with the thumb and forefinger of his left -hand. It had been difficult to support the -branch alone and keep it from swaying, but with -the heavy boy on it Snythergen found it almost -impossible. The perspiration stood out on -every bough. His left arm became so tired it -pained him dreadfully, and it took all his -strength to keep from dropping it to his side. -He knew that he could not hold it out much -longer, and yet if he let the branch drop the boy -would be dashed to the ground and perhaps -cruelly hurt. In spite of all he could do he was -horrified to see the limb settling slowly downward -and he closed his eyes to shut out the catastrophe -that seemed sure to follow. Suddenly -there was a cry from below.</p> - -<p>“Get right down out of that tree,” called the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -mother of the boy. Snythergen braced himself -to hold on a moment longer, and just as the -boy reached his trunk, the branch fell to his -side. Snythergen breathed a prayer of thanksgiving. -The child soon was safe on the ground.</p> - -<p>Snythergen thought the people in the farmer’s -yard curious and watchful, but he was mistaken. -He was soon to learn what real curiosity and -watchfulness are like. Some one had sent for -a famous tree doctor, and he came promptly to -look Snythergen over. When he appeared -Snythergen put on his most correct forest behavior -and really was a model tree, for the doctor’s -benefit.</p> - -<p>“I can’t see anything unusual about that tree,” -said the physician, unpacking his instrument -case. Snythergen was holding out his branches -gracefully and letting his leaves flutter naturally -in the breeze. The doctor spread his shining -wood-carving tools out on a cloth on the ground. -Much as the little man knew about trees, he -had never learned to climb one, and the farmer -had to fetch him a long ladder before he could -make his examination.</p> - -<p>When the little man had mounted well up -toward the top of Snythergen he placed a fever -thermometer in a knothole, which happened to -lead into Snythergen’s mouth. Leaving it there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -he descended to the ground, and wrapped a rubber -bandage about his trunk, winding it so -tightly that Snythergen barely avoided a cry of -pain. One look at the indicator gave the tree -doctor a shock.</p> - -<p>“Sap pressure 110!” he cried. “There must -be some mistake!”</p> - -<p>Again and again he tried it and each time -it registered 110.</p> - -<p>“Surely there is something very strange here!” -said the doctor. “Never have I heard of a tree -with a sap pressure over 30. Why, it’s as high -as the blood pressure of a boy!”</p> - -<p>But the tree doctor was to receive another -shock when he tapped Snythergen’s bark and -listened with a tree stethoscope.</p> - -<p>“Why, I didn’t think there was a tree in the -world with such a violent throb. It’s as fast -and strong as the heart beat of a child!”</p> - -<p>But the greatest shock of all was to come -when he climbed up to read the fever thermometer. -He could hardly believe his own eyes -when he saw what it registered.</p> - -<p>“I never heard of a tree having such a temperature!” -he cried. “It is as high as a boy’s.” Indeed -the temperature was so much like a boy’s, -the little doctor so far forgot himself as to shout:</p> - -<p>“Stick out your tongue!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus7"> -<img src="images/bw-illus7.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">“Stick out your tongue!”</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - -<p>This command took Snythergen by surprise,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -and without thinking, he stuck his tongue out -through the knothole, and when the little man -saw it, he was so frightened he nearly fell from -the ladder. Snythergen drew back his tongue -in a hurry. The doctor puzzled and puzzled -over the matter. Finally he concluded that he -must have seen a squirrel’s red head.</p> - -<p>There were so many strange things about the -tree that the physician made up his mind in the -interest of science to watch it day and night. -He camped in a tent beside Snythergen, and -only when he retired for a cat nap did he take -his owl-like eyes from the tree. Even then Snythergen -could not attempt to escape, or even -stretch his limbs and relax, for the little man -was a light sleeper and would rush out at the -faintest unusual rustle of a twig.</p> - -<p>Snythergen realized more than ever that the -life of a tree is not all joy. His roots were sore -and calloused from standing in one position. -A leg or an arm would go to sleep because he -dared not move it. He was numb all over, besides -being cold, tired and hungry. He gazed -longingly into the dining room. His mouth -watered and he swallowed hard at the sight of -the rich home cooking. How eagerly would he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -have eaten the crusts the farmer’s little boy tried -to hide under the edge of his plate! How he -would have enjoyed taking the heaping plate of -his tormentor, the little doctor, when the latter’s -back was turned! But usually the window was -closed, or some one was looking.</p> - -<p>All the next morning Snythergen watched impatiently -for Squeaky to appear on the opposite -shore of the lake. He wondered why Sancho -Wing did not come, but he could not know that -Sancho was spending all of his time keeping -track of the bear, who was in a revengeful mood -and very restless. The ice had given him mental -chilblains and the pain served as a reminder, -making him more determined than ever to find -and punish his persecutors.</p> - -<p>About eleven o’clock Snythergen thought he -saw a little movement in the bushes along the -opposite shore of the lake. Then he recognized -Squeaky’s peculiar wobbling walk. So delighted -was he that he forgot the little doctor, -and waved his branches excitedly. Squeaky -answered. Snythergen signaled back that he -was hungry and wanted some bread and butter -with sugar on it—not an easy message for a tree -to wave to a pig all the way across a lake. It -took ingenuity to figure it out, and this is how -he did it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> - -<p>First Snythergen held out two limbs and pretended -he was carrying a slice of bread in each -hand. Next he rubbed an upper branch over -these in such a way that Squeaky would know -he wanted them spread with butter—and not to -save on the butter. Then he bent his top -boughs down, shaking them vigorously to make -the pig understand that he wanted all the -powdered sugar the bread would hold.</p> - -<p>The little tree doctor was watching this performance -with the utmost amazement.</p> - -<p>“Why, I believe that tree has the St. Vitus’ -Dance!” said the physician. “I never heard of -a tree having it before. The discovery will -make me famous. But I must prove it beyond -a doubt or the scientists will never give me credit -for it. In order to be sure I must give it the -brass band test for that is the only reliable one. -If our leafy friend here dances when the band -plays I will know then that he has the St. Vitus’ -Dance. If he does not, I may have to ‘tree-pan’ -him to find out.”</p> - -<p>Snythergen shuddered at the horrible thought -of being trepanned—or in other words of -having his skull operated on so his brain could -be examined. As he talked to himself the little -man danced excitedly about.</p> - -<p>“The fit seems to be over,” he said breathlessly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -when Snythergen had waved his last -signal to Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“Dinner is ready,” called the farmer’s wife -from the house.</p> - -<p>“I will be right in,” answered the doctor, -for he had decided to wait until he had eaten -before going for the musicians.</p> - -<p>The chance of running away to meet Squeaky -and bread and butter had become more and -more doubtful now the little doctor had seen -him waving, and Snythergen was so hungry! -He looked in through the dining-room window -to see what the family was having to eat. It -was a very hot day and the window was wide -open. The farmer was placing a steaming -plate of meat and potatoes before the doctor, -who sat facing the window where he could -watch the tree while he ate. The rich odor of -food arose to Snythergen’s nostrils and it was -more than he could resist.</p> - -<p>“I must have something soon, or I’ll fall -over,” he said to himself. “I wonder how I -can manage it?” For a moment he thought, -then an idea came to him. Leaning over, with -his top branches he beat violently upon the -roof of the house.</p> - -<p>“What’s happening upstairs!” cried the farmer’s -wife in alarm.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It sounds as if the roof was falling in!” -said the farmer leaping from his chair, and -they rushed out of the room. In his excitement -the doctor followed part way upstairs. -The instant he was gone Snythergen reached -a forked limb into the dining room and helped -himself to the doctor’s dinner.</p> - -<p>“He will never miss it,” he thought. “He’s -too excited to eat, anyway.”</p> - -<p>When the physician returned and found his -dinner had disappeared, he was dumbfounded.</p> - -<p>“What has become of it?” he cried, jumping -up and looking under the table. He searched -behind the chairs, in the closets, and even in -the hall. In each new place he cried out over -and over again, “Who took my dinner? Who -took my dinner?”</p> - -<p>While he was thus occupied Snythergen had -an opportunity to eat, but he was in such haste -to be done before his tormentor looked out of -the window again, that he entirely forgot his -table manners and crammed and stuffed his -mouth with his twigs. The farmer and his wife -had found nothing out of the way upstairs to -explain the noise on the roof, and when they -returned the little man was still fussing about, -looking in the china closet, the napkin and silver -drawers, and other absurd places.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What’s up now?” demanded the farmer, -who was getting a bit tired of the tree doctor’s -queer ways. The farmer’s wife too was looking -on suspiciously. She did not fancy having -a stranger poking into her drawers and closets.</p> - -<p>The physician tried to explain but they only -laughed at him.</p> - -<p>“The very idea!” cried the farmer’s wife. -“Nobody could come into the room and take -your dinner away without your knowing it!”</p> - -<p>“Besides, who would want something to eat -that bad around here,” said the farmer. “Everybody -knows we feed every tramp that comes -along!”</p> - -<p>The little doctor felt uncomfortable and embarrassed -because they laughed at him, and he -barely touched the second plate of food the -farmer served him. Snythergen was right, he -was too excited to eat. Scarcely could he wait -until the dinner was over for the farmer to drive -him to town to get the band.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus8"> -<img src="images/bw-illus8.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Thereafter he would strike a tree-like pose not so difficult to hold</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> - -<p>The doctor’s departure was Snythergen’s cue -to escape. Cautiously he stole away from the -house and waited for an opportunity to cross -the lake. The man next door was plowing, and -Snythergen had to be very careful. While the -man’s back was turned he ran as fast as possible, -but when he plowed toward him, Snythergen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -had to stand motionless and trust that his -altered position would not be seen; and whatever -position Snythergen’s limbs were in when -the farmer turned toward him, had to be held -while the plow traveled the whole length of the -field. Once when the man approached, Snythergen -was in the lake with one root raised -ready to step, and he dared not lower his root -or make any other movement until the farmer -had walked the whole distance and had turned -his back again. Thus he stood balancing himself -for fifteen minutes, and to make matters -worse he had been caught with his branches -pointing to the sky. The painful experience -of holding this position taught him a lesson, -and thereafter when the plow neared the end of -the row, he would strike a tree-like pose not so -difficult to hold. Luckily the farmer was near-sighted, -and failed to remark the strange apparition -of a tree wading across the lake up to its -branch pits in water.</p> - -<p>In spite of various discomforts Snythergen -made the crossing successfully and had no difficulty -in following the trail home. On reaching -the house he found Sancho Wing and -Squeaky feverishly preparing the bread and butter -and sugar to take to him. They were overjoyed -to see him, but Snythergen was too tired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -to sit up and visit. He had been standing on -his roots so long he was only too glad to lie -down and sleep. But before he would close -his eyes, they had to assure him that the woodchoppers -had left the forest.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch9footer.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch10header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE BEAR SEES THE “GRASSHOPPER PIG,” -HEARS THE “HUNTSMEN” AND IS -PRESENT AT THE “ESCAPE”</span></h2> - -<p>When Snythergen woke up, Sancho -Wing was sorry to have to tell him -that the bear had resumed his midnight -prowlings and might call upon them at -any time.</p> - -<p>“We must prepare to defend ourselves,” said -Sancho wisely, as he perched on Snythergen’s -ear.</p> - -<p>“How can a pig defend himself from a bear?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -asked Squeaky, absent-mindedly biting one of -Snythergen’s toes.</p> - -<p>“Simple,” said Sancho. “Give him what he -wants. You flatter yourself if you think he -wants you. He is after food, that is all.”</p> - -<p>“Well, let us give it to him,” said Snythergen, -“as long as he doesn’t share Squeaky’s weakness -for toes.”</p> - -<p>“Just what I was thinking,” said Sancho. -“Let us set a bear lunch every night, and to -make sure he will find it we must spread it in -a circle around the house. Then, no matter -from what direction the bear approaches, he -will find something to eat across his path.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve heard that round foods make people -fat,” said Snythergen. “Maybe food served on -a round table will make the bear fat.”</p> - -<p>“That wouldn’t help us any,” said Sancho -Wing, “for fat bears are as dangerous as lean -ones.”</p> - -<p>“Won’t it be pretty expensive boarding a -bear?” asked Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” said Sancho Wing, “but if we -find we can’t afford to feed him we can build -an airplane and journey to a land where there -are no bears. We may have to travel to the -end of the sky to find such a place, but who -cares?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> - -<p>At Sancho Wing’s suggestion Snythergen set -to work at once to build a supper table. When -completed it encircled the house and resembled -a well planed sidewalk. That night Squeaky -set the table, being careful to spread the food -so thin that it went all the way around.</p> - -<p>There were so many hungry beings in the forest -besides the bear that Sancho Wing had to -keep a keen look-out for thieves, and his duties -kept him very busy. One minute he would be -scanning the woods from the top of his tower, -the next he would dive down to the round table -to scream at the small animals that were forever -nibbling. Often he was obliged to call Squeaky -and even Snythergen, to chase away the larger -birds, the rabbits, and the squirrels. Each -night they set the table as late as they dared -to prevent so much of the food being stolen.</p> - -<p>On the evening of the fourth day the bear -paid them a call, but he did not attempt to enter -the house. The lunch on the round table -stopped him. Walking all the way around he -ate everything, then went around again to see -if he had overlooked any crumbs. Squeaky happened -to be very fussy about table manners, and -he had scattered salad forks, finger bowls and -napkins here and there hoping the bear would -take the hint; but the big beast paid no attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -to them, and ate only with his knife and his -paws in the most vulgar manner.</p> - -<p>The bear was a hearty eater and what made -matters even more serious, his appetite was -growing. Soon it was evident that the food supply -would not last much longer. The three -friends realized that the “outer works” as they -called the lunch table, was all that stood between -them and disaster. And now in spite of -their efforts they were unable to keep abreast -of the beast’s increasing desire for food. There -was nothing to do but to adopt Snythergen’s -plan of building an airplane and fleeing to a -land where there were no bears. They began -work immediately and hurried all they could, -but even so they ran out of food when there was -still another day’s work to be done on the plane.</p> - -<p>“If we can only keep him away to-night we -are saved,” said Squeaky.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus9"> -<img src="images/bw-illus9.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Then went around again to see if he had overlooked any crumbs</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> - -<p>Snythergen dressed in his tree suit to be ready -in case of trouble. Carefully Squeaky set the -round table with what few morsels he could -scrape up, arranging them to appear like a -bountiful meal. The bear came a little earlier -than usual that night, and made short work of -the slim repast. Indeed Snythergen had just -time to tiptoe out and take his place as a tree -when the beast devoured the last bite of food<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -and looked hungrily about for more. In a -stage whisper Snythergen called to Squeaky who -was still in the house, to warn him of his danger. -Fortunately the pig was awake and whispered -back that he was coming. A moment later Snythergen -heard the most awful squealing and -Squeaky came running out, the bear after him. -Sancho Wing was flying above the pig to encourage -him.</p> - -<p>“Don’t squeal so! Save your breath for running!” -he cried. The bear was gaining. -Bending over Snythergen touched his roots with -his top limbs, to be ready. But Squeaky was -slow on his feet, even when running for his -life, and already the bear was upon him. Sure -of his prey the great beast slowed up to brace -himself for a lunge. Quick as lightning Snythergen -shot out his branches and grabbed the -pig, lifting him to safety.</p> - -<p>The bear did not suspect that a tree could -come to the rescue of a pig, and so sure was he -that his victim could not escape, he closed his -eyes as he struck at him. But he opened them -quickly enough when his paw struck nothing -solider than air. The pig had vanished! But -where, and how? His disappearance had been -as sudden as it was complete, and the bear had -not an idea where to look for him. Too surprised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -for growls, the big brute rushed distractedly -about looking here and there. Naturally -it did not occur to him to look up into the -tree tops, for whoever heard of a pig climbing -a tree!</p> - -<p>“Did I really see a pig at all?” thought the -bear, “or am I losing my mind! It wouldn’t be -surprising with that neuralgia from the ice!”</p> - -<p>He paused as the thought struck him: “I -wonder if by any possibility it could have been -the Grasshopper Pig?”</p> - -<p>The day before the bear had been reading the -story of the Grasshopper Pig to a neighbor’s -cubs out of a book of nursery rhymes called -“Mother Moose.” This pig seemed to disappear -in much the same way as the one in the -story. For the Grasshopper Pig is said to make -long leaps so suddenly that he cannot be seen -making them. One moment he is standing beside -you and the next, bingo! he is a hundred -feet away!</p> - -<p>“Well, if it’s the Grasshopper Pig, I might as -well save myself the bother of looking,” thought -the bear; “no one has ever been able to catch -him!”</p> - -<p>As he came to the place where Snythergen -was standing he sniffed curiously, and although<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -Snythergen did his best to stand still, it is not -surprising that he failed. For it takes something -stronger than flesh and blood to stand still -while a bear walks around you and stops to paw -your bark, to rub his hungry head against your -trunk, or to try his vicious teeth on your roots.</p> - -<p>No wonder the trunk of the tree trembled and -its branches twitched nervously. The big animal -was puzzled by the shaking as he nosed -about Snythergen’s extremities and clawed at -them. It was more than wood and sap could -stand and the badly frightened boy was weakening -rapidly. Again Snythergen felt the sinking -feeling that had come over him the day the -small boy had crawled out on an upper branch. -Tottering from side to side, he caught himself -with an effort.</p> - -<p>For a while Squeaky managed somehow to -hold on with his teeth and legs, but his teeth were -chattering and he was shivering all over with -terror. And a sudden twist of the tree shook -him so violently that he lost his footing. Desperately -he reached for a limb. He missed it, -and fell crashing through the branches!</p> - -<p>With remarkable quickness of thought Snythergen -brought his lower limbs together to form -a basket in which to catch the falling pig.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -Plunging through the branches Squeaky landed -upon Snythergen’s leafy chest, safe for the time -being, but stunned and out of breath.</p> - -<p>“It is the Grasshopper Pig,” cried the bear, -seeing him, “and I’ve got him up a tree!”</p> - -<p>Eager to get at Squeaky, he pawed Snythergen’s -tender bark and pushed against him -roughly.</p> - -<p>All this time Sancho Wing’s little brain had -been puzzling to find some way to save his pals. -Flying a little distance and hiding among the -leaves he hallooed at the top of his piping voice, -hoping the woodchoppers might be in the forest, -and hear him. Anxiously the bear glanced -around. The hallooing reminded him of the -sound the hunters made, and thinking best not -to take any chances he strolled away cautiously.</p> - -<p>The three friends breathed a sigh of relief and -Squeaky began to dance for joy.</p> - -<p>“We haven’t escaped yet,” Sancho Wing reminded -him. “The bear will return when he -discovers the hunters are not after him. We -must finish the airplane immediately.”</p> - -<p>At once they resumed work and kept at it -until the plane was completed. And now it -needed only to be tested. It was new and stiff -and repeatedly the engine refused to start, -though Snythergen cranked it again and again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -It was nearing the bear’s lunch time and Sancho -Wing flew away to the cave to see what the big -brute was up to. Soon he came back out of -breath, panting so hard he could scarcely speak, -for he had raced all the way.</p> - -<p>“Quick, quick!” he gasped.</p> - -<p>Snythergen and Squeaky understood and -Snythergen cranked so furiously he was wet -through with perspiration.</p> - -<p>“Let me try it,” urged Squeaky impatiently -when Snythergen had to rest a moment to get -breath, and the pig grasped the crank and pulled -with all his strength. But he had turned it only -half way round when it flew back, and sent him -sprawling. Sancho, who had flown back to -keep track of the bear, now darted up to report -him only a few hundred yards away.</p> - -<p>“Crank as if your life depended on it!” he -cried.</p> - -<p>Frantically the little bird flew back and forth -to tell them each time how much nearer the bear -had come. Snythergen was cranking mightily -while Squeaky piled in what scanty luggage -could be collected in a jiffy.</p> - -<p>“He’s almost here!” groaned Sancho Wing.</p> - -<p>Snythergen heard the crackling of sticks under -the brute’s feet. “It’s now or never,” -thought he, putting all his strength into one last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -pull. The engine gave a sickly “pop.” Snythergen’s -heart sank. But there was another little -“pop.” Others followed slowly, then more -rapidly. Now the explosions were in quick -succession. The engine was running! The -three scrambled aboard. The airplane coasted -down hill and rose gently from the ground. -They were saved.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch10footer.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch11header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE JOURNEY TO THE WREATH—A SPIN IN A -HUMMING-TOP—AN UNKNOWN -FRIEND</span></h2> - -<p>The plane had to be an exceedingly large -one to accommodate Snythergen’s great -length. With much squirming he managed -to get out of his tree suit, and now he lay -face down, his feet hanging out over the tail. -In this position his hands came just right for the -controls. Sancho Wing’s compartment was -next to Snythergen’s ear and Squeaky occupied -a basket on the opposite side. Sancho would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -have liked going back a little way for a last look -at the bear, just to make sure they had left him -on the ground but the wind created by their -great speed was too strong for a finch to fly in, -and the little bird would have been blown away -had he ventured out. For some strange reason -the nose of the plane kept pointing up in -spite of Snythergen’s efforts to keep the machine -horizontal.</p> - -<p>“Either there is something wrong with the -steering gear,” said Snythergen, “or there is -some unusual weight behind that keeps heading -the bow up by pulling the tail down. I can’t -point her below that big star—the one that looks -like a flaming doughnut.”</p> - -<p>“You will have to keep her on the star then,” -said Sancho, “for if anything is riding under the -tail it isn’t safe for any of us to go back to see -what it is.”</p> - -<p>All night long Snythergen steered toward the -blazing doughnut, which grew bigger and bigger, -they were approaching it so rapidly.</p> - -<p>“It must be some new planet floating very -near the earth. Maybe we can land on it to-morrow,” -said Snythergen to Squeaky, but the -pig did not answer, nor even look up. He was -rolled up in a tight ball, his head under his body, -fast asleep.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus10"> -<img src="images/bw-illus10.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">“Some unusual weight behind that keeps heading the bow up -by pulling the tail down”</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> - -<p>By daylight the star seemed very near, but it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -no longer sparkled. Now it resembled a huge -Christmas wreath, tied with a gorgeous bow of -red silk ribbon which hung down in vast folds. -Snythergen steered for the center of the hole, -then turning and mounting to the top he made a -landing along the shady side of a grove of pines. -The jolt when they struck the ground wakened -Squeaky, and glancing around he thought he -saw a prowling shadow alight from the rear of -the plane and disappear into the woods. The -others looked but saw nothing.</p> - -<p>“It looked like a bear,” said Squeaky with a -shudder.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense, you’ve got bear on the brain,” -said Snythergen.</p> - -<p>Near where they had landed an enormous boy -was playing marbles with bowling balls. He -was nearly as tall as Snythergen and heavier.</p> - -<p>“Hooray! There’s some one I can talk to -without bending down to the ground,” cried -Snythergen joyfully. “I can play with him -without being afraid of stepping on him.” And -he strolled up to watch him play marbles while -Sancho Wing and Squeaky remained at a safe -distance, a little awed by the bigness of two -such giant boys.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Want to play?” asked the boy, whose name -was Blasterjinx.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Snythergen, and the two shot the -big ten pin balls about as if they were peas.</p> - -<p>“Let’s spin tops,” said Blasterjinx after -Snythergen had won most of his marbles and -paid back what he had borrowed.</p> - -<p>“This is a hummer,” said the boy, taking a -colored top from under his blouse and winding -it with a string as thick as a clothes-line. He -hurled it through the air and it landed upright -on its point, spinning so rapidly it seemed -standing still, and as it spun it sang.</p> - -<p>Interested in the big top, Sancho Wing and -Squeaky edged closer and closer.</p> - -<p>“Why, it sounds like canary birds!” cried -Snythergen delighted.</p> - -<p>“It ought to!” said Blasterjinx.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>Taking the top in his hand Blasterjinx unscrewed -the upper part. “See,” said he. Snythergen -looked inside, and beheld a flock of -canaries singing and flying about.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus11"> -<img src="images/bw-illus11.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">“This is the only kind of humming-top to have”</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> - -<p>“This is the only kind of a humming-top to -have,” said Blasterjinx. “For you can change -the music any time you want to. I’ve tried violinists, -pianists, story-tellers, singers, harpists—almost -everything you can think of, but I like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -canaries best. Wouldn’t your friends here like -to take a spin?” he asked, pointing to Squeaky -and Sancho Wing.</p> - -<p>It happened to be just what they wanted most, -so Blasterjinx opened a trap door in the floor of -the room inside the top, and shooed the canaries -downstairs into the top basement, telling them -to remain silent. Then Squeaky and Sancho -Wing descended a silver ladder into the huge -top, and the cover was screwed on. They found -themselves in a pleasant circular room, dimly -lighted by stained glass windows and ventilated -by air holes. The objects in the room, piano, -chairs, pictures, all were fastened securely to -hold their positions when the top wobbled or -fell to its side. A brass railing attached to the -wall ran all the way around, to give the passengers -something to hold to.</p> - -<p>“Hold on tight now,” said Blasterjinx, and -winding the top carefully he hurled it through -the air. It lighted on its point, spinning at terrific -speed. Through one of the ventilating -holes Squeaky watched the topsy turvey landscape -dance giddily about, until it made him -dizzy and soon he became ill from it. Sancho -Wing was too busy keeping his balance and -holding on, to pay any attention to how Squeaky -was getting along.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Stop the top, stop the top!” bellowed -Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” cried Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“He’ll be all right in a minute,” said Blasterjinx, -taking the top in his hand and winding the -string the other way around. When he threw -it again it spun in the opposite direction, unwinding -Squeaky and as Blasterjinx had said, -he was all right in a minute. But he was glad -when the top stopped and he could get out.</p> - -<p>Snythergen was having such a good time that -he forgot why they had come until Sancho Wing -flew up to his ear and whispered: “Ask him if -there are any bears on the Wreath.”</p> - -<p>“I never heard of any,” said Blasterjinx, when -the question had been repeated to him. “I am -sure you will like the Wreath,” he went on, “for -a good friend of yours lives not far from here.”</p> - -<p>“How can you know he is a friend of ours?” -asked Sancho Wing in surprise. “You do not -know who our friends are!”</p> - -<p>“I know this man is your friend just the same, -but I am not going to tell you who he is because -I want it to be a surprise.”</p> - -<p>“Have I ever seen him?” said Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think so,” said Blasterjinx, “but I am -sure he has been in Snythergen’s house.”</p> - -<p>“Where does he live?” asked Snythergen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus12"> -<img src="images/bw-illus12.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">“Stop the top, stop the top!” bellowed Squeaky</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - -<p>“In a very big house about a mile from here.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -You can visit him later on, but first I want you -to spend a week with me and see some of the -sights on the Wreath. Your friend overworked -himself last Christmas and needs another week -of rest.”</p> - -<p>It made Snythergen homesick to go to Blasterjinx’ -house and meet his parents, for they were -small like his own father and mother and their -house was not very large either, except Blasterjinx’ -room which was a separate building covering -most of the yard. Blasterjinx’ mother was a -kind soul and made her visitors feel very much -at home with the aid of doughnuts, cookies and -pies. Somehow this made Snythergen feel better, -although his mother and father were always -in his thoughts.</p> - -<p>The three friends told Blasterjinx about their -adventures, and he became so interested he -wanted to play tree at once. He tried on Snythergen’s -suit of green but it was not big enough in -the waist for him, and when he squeezed into it -the bark began to rip.</p> - -<p>“You will tear it,” cried Blasterjinx’ mother, -“and then Snythergen won’t be able to wear it—for -I am sure I don’t know how to mend torn -bark. I might sew it with a pine needle, but I -wouldn’t know what to use for thread.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Let’s make Blasterjinx a suit for himself,” -cried Sancho Wing; and delighted with the idea -they set to work. Blasterjinx was just the right -build for a sturdy oak, and they fastened acorns -all over his suit, and made his bark gnarly and -his branches twisty. They tried to teach him -the habits of an oak, but he did not learn readily. -For being a tree did not come natural to him as -it did to Snythergen. He was too restless to -stand still very long.</p> - -<p>“He’ll never make the birds think he is real,” -whispered Sancho Wing to Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps it is just as well,” replied Squeaky, -looking at Sancho Wing out of the corners of his -little eyes, “for then he won’t be bothered with -any goldfinch nests tickling his branches!”</p> - -<p>They were having such fun the week was up -in no time and yet they had done no sight-seeing. -With many warm farewells and promises to return -soon, the three companions left to call on -their unknown friend.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch11footer.jpg" width="400" height="125" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch12header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII<br /> -<span class="smaller">ABOARD A FLOATING BEARD</span></h2> - -<p>Squeaky, Snythergen and Sancho -Wing were very much surprised when -they saw their unknown friend’s house—for -it was the largest home they had even seen. -They mounted the steps and Snythergen sounded -the knocker on the great front door. Immediately -it was opened by a flunky arrayed in shining -silk clothes decorated with Teddy bears, parrots -and goldfish embroidered in colors.</p> - -<p>“Who lives here?” asked Sancho Wing in his -piping voice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Santa Claus lives here,” answered the flunky.</p> - -<p>“Santa Claus!!” chorused the three in amazement.</p> - -<p>“So that’s the friend Blasterjinx meant!” said -Snythergen. “I should say he <em>was</em> our friend!” -But they could hardly believe that they really -were at Santa Claus’ door, and in their surprise -and wonder they forgot the doorkeeper who -stood attentively awaiting their pleasure.</p> - -<p>“We would like to see Santa Claus,” said -Squeaky at last.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, but no one can see him except by -appointment,” said the flunky, “but if you will -call at ten o’clock to-morrow morning you may -have a chance to speak with him.” And with -that he closed the great door and they were left -alone on the doorstep.</p> - -<p>“There must be some way to see him. I am -going to investigate,” said Sancho Wing, and he -flew off. Squeaky and Snythergen threw themselves -on the ground in the shade of a great elm. -“What a relief to have some other tree cast your -shade for a change!” remarked Snythergen, just -as Sancho Wing flew up very much flustered.</p> - -<p>“I know where Santa’s room is!” he cried. -“He is taking a nap now.”</p> - -<p>“What good will that do us?” said Squeaky, -ever practical like stout people generally.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> - -<p>“A great deal of good,” said Sancho Wing. -“You and Snythergen wait near the door. I am -going to make that flunky open it for you.” -And he was off before they could make any reply.</p> - -<p>Sancho Wing flew through the open window -into Santa Claus’ room. Cautiously he approached -the bed and hid in Santa Claus’ great -white beard. Santa moved uneasily.</p> - -<p>“There are three wise men here to see you,” -whispered Sancho softly.</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t somebody tell me?” murmured -Santa Claus, half asleep.</p> - -<p>“The doorkeeper said you wouldn’t see anybody -except by appointment,” replied Sancho.</p> - -<p>“Is that true?” mumbled Santa Claus -drowsily.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he would not open the door; that is why -I came in through the window.”</p> - -<p>Santa Claus woke up with a jump. “Who am -I talking to!” he shouted—“or was it only a -dream? Whoever you are come out and let -me see you! What are you hiding for?”</p> - -<p>“I am just a voice, Santa Claus, and the rest -of me is not very presentable. My necktie is -untied and there is a hole in my stocking.”</p> - -<p>“Where are you hiding!” cried Santa Claus, -and he looked under the bed, behind the chairs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -and in the closets. Sancho Wing feared every -moment he would be discovered, and tried to -escape by flying out of the window. But his -head had become caught in the long whiskers -and he could go only the length of the beard in -any direction. As he flew vigorously about the -room trying to free his head Santa’s beard floated -in the air like a living thing.</p> - -<p>Too surprised to move or speak, Santa Claus -could only gaze dumbly at his beard making -serpentine movements in the air, or winding -about his body as if to hide behind his back.</p> - -<p>“What in the name of Popcorn is the matter -with my beard!” cried Santa Claus, finding his -voice at last.</p> - -<p>Sancho Wing concluded that it was wiser to -stop flying and let the beard settle back to its -accustomed place, lest Santa Claus discover him. -He was too hopelessly caught to escape by flying; -but he was so well concealed by the whiskers -that Santa Claus still failed to see him.</p> - -<p>“Well, I give up!” said Santa Claus at last. -“Wherever you are, you are well hidden. Did -I understand you to say that you and your two -friends had come to visit me? Where are the -others?—since I can’t find you. Are they hiding -too?”</p> - -<p>“They are waiting at the door.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus13"> -<img src="images/bw-illus13.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">“Squeaky, who is a voice with a pig’s body”</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I invite you all to dinner,” said Santa Claus.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -“‘Three Wise Men’ I think you call yourselves?”</p> - -<p>“Four, including our host,” said Sancho politely.</p> - -<p>“Thanks!” said Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>Sancho’s conscience was troubling him for -he had hesitated to explain that they were not -just ordinary men, lest Santa Claus might not -want to see them.</p> - -<p>“When I said we were men,” began Sancho, -“I used the word ‘men’ in a broad sense, to include -birds, animals and trees.”</p> - -<p>Santa Claus yawned and stretched his arms. -He liked a chat after his nap.</p> - -<p>“I am glad to see you are democratic,” said -he. “I think it is too bad that birds, animals and -trees are so often left out. If they could talk -they might say some unkind things of us.”</p> - -<p>“No, indeed, we won’t, Santa Claus,” assured -Sancho eagerly.</p> - -<p>“We? Who are ‘we’?” asked Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“One of us is a boy-tree. He is a boy by birth, -but a tree by profession.”</p> - -<p>“Go on,” demanded Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“Then there is Squeaky, who is a voice with -a pig’s body; and as for me, well, you know me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I know your voice, but the rest of you?” -asked Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“Is a goldfinch,” answered Sancho.</p> - -<p>“Three wise men indeed,” muttered Santa -Claus. “How interesting it will be to have dinner -with a pig, a tree, and a goldfinch! But -what can we have to eat that three such different -guests will enjoy?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s easy,” said Sancho Wing. “You -can give the others birdseed porridge.”</p> - -<p>“And you?” asked Santa Claus, with a twinkle -in his eye.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ll eat some too,” said Sancho, with -seeming indifference, though it made his bill -water to think of his favorite dish.</p> - -<p>“What will we do for table conversation?” -asked Santa Claus. “I don’t know what subjects -trees, pigs and birds like to talk about.”</p> - -<p>“You won’t need to help us talk,” said Sancho. -“We are worse than magpies when we are together.”</p> - -<p>“You may go back to your friends now,” said -Santa Claus, “and I’ll see that you are admitted -to the house.”</p> - -<p>Sancho made an effort to walk out of the beard -in a dignified manner, but he was too firmly -caught to get away so easily. He began to pull -and struggle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Ouch!” cried Santa Claus, “who’s pulling -my beard?”</p> - -<p>“I can’t get out,” cried Sancho Wing.</p> - -<p>“So there’s where you are! In my beard! -Well, of all the places to hide!” cried Santa -Claus in the greatest amazement. With a pair -of shears and a mirror he succeeded in freeing -the little bird after the exercise of a good deal -of patience.</p> - -<p>As soon as he was released Sancho told Santa -Claus he was sorry for the trouble he had caused, -thanked him for the invitation to dinner, and -flew back to his companions.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch12footer.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> -<img src="images/illus-pig.jpg" width="200" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch13header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE PIE ROOM—BEAR AGAIN!—SANCHO -WING SCOLDS</span></h2> - -<p>“I thought somebody had kidnapped -you,” said Snythergen when Sancho -Wing returned. “Why were you gone -so long?”</p> - -<p>“I was visiting Santa Claus. He invited us -all to dinner, and the door-man will now let us in. -Follow me,” said Sancho.</p> - -<p>“Is it the three wise men?” bellowed the flunky -through the keyhole when they knocked.</p> - -<p>“It is,” said Sancho Wing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> - -<p>The large door swung open and the flunky -prepared to make his best bow. But he could -hardly welcome three such different beings with -one salute, so he greeted each one separately. -To Snythergen he leaned back, pointed his face -toward the ceiling, and bobbed down and up by -bending and straightening his knees. Sancho -Wing, like most little people, wished to appear -important, and when it came his turn to bow he -raised himself on tip claws and stretched up to -make his body as tall as he could; then leaning -forward stiffly he flapped his left wing. Puzzled -to know just how to respond to this, the -door-man got down on his knees, and turning -his head sideways wiggled his left ear. Squeaky -had a habit of tossing his head when he bowed, -and the flunky merely gave him a toss of the -head in return.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus14"> -<img src="images/bw-illus14.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The door-man turning his head sideways wiggled his left ear</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the hall the housekeeper welcomed them -very kindly, offering to show them about while -Santa Claus dressed for dinner. When she -learned that they were the “three wise men” she -treated them with great respect. Inside, the -house seemed even larger than it had from without, -and Snythergen was thankful for ceilings -so high that he could stand up comfortably. -So enormous were the rooms each one might -have been used as a public hall. There was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -little furniture—mostly vast spaces with a background -of oriental carpets and cathedral windows.</p> - -<p>“What is this?” asked Snythergen, as they -came into an odd little room in the basement -with circular wall and a spotless aluminum -floor. To cross it they walked on a bridge, -raised several feet above the floor.</p> - -<p>“This is the pie room,” said the housekeeper. -“The crust is rolled out on the pie pan floor -and the work of putting in the filling is managed -from the bridge. When it is ready, we -light the gas under the floor and the pie is -cooked.”</p> - -<p>“But who could ever eat such a big one?” -asked Sancho Wing.</p> - -<p>“Oh, the bear eats most of it,” said the housekeeper.</p> - -<p>“The bear!” cried they in great alarm. “Is -there a bear?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the housekeeper.</p> - -<p>Snythergen turned pale and looked for the -door. Squeaky had already started to run and -Sancho Wing flew up to the ceiling.</p> - -<p>“Stay right here—there’s nothing to fear,” -said the housekeeper, calling them back.</p> - -<p>“The bear arrived about a week ago,” she -continued when they were able to listen. “We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -did not want to let him in but Santa Claus telephoned -the keeper at the zoological gardens and -asked if bears were safe.”</p> - -<p>“‘They are,’ said he, ‘if you feed them olives -and custard pie.’</p> - -<p>“We tried it and it worked, and now there is -not a quieter member of our family than the -bear after he is fed. When he is hungry is the -only time he is quarrelsome. But at such times -we keep food between ourselves and him.”</p> - -<p>“We had a bear too,” said Snythergen, “but -he always stole away as soon as he had eaten, and -never came near except when he was hungry.”</p> - -<p>“That’s just like our bear,” said the housekeeper, -“forever trying to hide when he is not -at his best. But Santa Claus has him sit around -and visit after dinner, though he makes a very -sorry figure.”</p> - -<p>“Why, what does he do?” asked Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“As soon as he is fed his spirit is gone,” replied -the housekeeper. “He becomes as timid -as a mouse, and trembles if you look at him; -jumps if you speak to him; blushes if you pay -him any attention.”</p> - -<p>“How does a bear blush?” asked Snythergen.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;" id="color-illus4"> -<img src="images/color-illus4.jpg" width="500" height="700" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>“Bears should not talk when their mouths are -full of food,” said Santa Claus kindly</i></p> -</div> - -<p>“He does it with his lips. They change color -back and forth very rapidly from pink to red. -But Santa Claus is coming and it is time for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -dinner.” As she spoke they entered a dining -room so large, the huge table and ancestral -chairs seemed like dolls’ furniture in its vast -interior.</p> - -<p>And now Santa Claus entered smiling -blandly. He was attired in gorgeous evening -clothes—a flaming swallowtail coat lined with -crimson, deep purple vest with large white buttons; -a ruby glowing like a burning eye adorned -his shirt. Cream silk stockings and pale blue -knickerbockers he wore, and his boots were red -with black trimmings.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had Santa Claus entered the room -when the bear came lumbering after him. -Eying the “three wise men” with a swift look of -recognition he licked his chops.</p> - -<p>“Why, it’s our bear!” said Snythergen in a -sickly whisper. “How did he follow us?”</p> - -<p>The three edged around until the table stood -between them and the beast, and they were eying -the nearest exit when Santa Claus requested them -to be seated at table. The bear was served first, -though “served” is hardly the word for the way -they rushed food to him. Cramming his mouth -full he uttered a few growls.</p> - -<p>“Bears should not talk when their mouths are -full of food,” said Santa Claus kindly.</p> - -<p>But the bear answered only with an impudent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -growl which so frightened Squeaky that he tumbled -from his chair, upsetting a bowl of soup as -he fell. In spite of Sancho Wing’s assurance, -the table conversation was exceedingly restrained. -Though for politeness’ sake Snythergen -did try a few comments, which came out -in faltering tones. Squeaky was so nervous he -could not speak without breaking into little hysterical -peals of laughter which sounded like the -squeals of a badly frightened pig. He had had -one of these fits in the middle of the blessing and -Santa Claus eyed him curiously.</p> - -<p>Sancho Wing attempted to calm the troubled -scene by keeping his head and saving them from -awkward pauses. He was not so much afraid -as the others because he knew that, no matter -what the bear did, he could escape by flying a -few strokes into the air. But the nervous way -he kept waving his wings about to be sure they -were ready for use, showed how far his little -heart was from peace and a feeling of security.</p> - -<p>At first the bear was very noisy about his -eating but grew quieter as his hunger was appeased. -And as the meal progressed his eyes -became dull, his manner modest—almost demure. -The others saw this and were encouraged. -Squeaky found his speaking voice and -talked wisely on the advantages and disadvantages<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -of pig life. The table talk Sancho Wing -had promised Santa Claus now began to flow, -and the host was delighted. He asked many -questions and nearly every one led along some -trail of adventure, relating incidents peculiar to -their lives. By this time the bear was painfully -ill at ease, for he had not learned man-talk and -the loud firm voices around him gave him -strange fears. Were they plotting against -him? He sat stiffly upright with forepaws -crossed upon his chest, and ears cocked suspiciously. -When they arose from the table Sancho -Wing hopped over to the bear for a little private -conversation.</p> - -<p>“I want to say a few words to you,” he said, -“and luckily for you you will not understand -them.”</p> - -<p>The bear shuddered and his lips turned a paler -pink.</p> - -<p>Thoroughly angry Sancho Wing began: -“You great big overgrown nuisance of a brute! -You cowardly thieving bully!”</p> - -<p>If he did not comprehend the words certainly -the bear understood Sancho’s gestures. And as -he talked the little bird’s body shook with passion. -He bobbed his head, flapped his wings, -raised one leg threateningly with claws advanced.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> - -<p>The bear looked sheepish. His startled eyes -were pleading now. He hung his head as he -backed away. Sancho Wing followed closely -scolding ever more abusively. The tiny finch -seemed to tower with rage as he bullied the -frightened beast, who stood six feet six in his -bare hind paws while the finch was but a few -inches high. When they reached the hall the -big fellow dropped to all fours and ran. Returning -to the big table Sancho Wing saw a hurt -look in Santa Claus’ face and readily guessed -the cause.</p> - -<p>“Forgive me for making a scene,” pleaded the -little bird.</p> - -<p>“The bear is very sensitive,” said Santa Claus -seriously. “And on the whole I think he is -rather well behaved for a bear.”</p> - -<p>“I am sure I would like the bear much better -if I did not know him so well,” said Sancho -Wing.</p> - -<p>“What? Do you know him?” asked Santa -Claus.</p> - -<p>There was an awkward pause. Sancho did -not want to tell on the bear, for like himself he -was Santa Claus’ guest.</p> - -<p>“I know him distantly,” said Sancho—“just a -growling acquaintance. He may have changed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -since I saw him last. Maybe I shall like him -better now.”</p> - -<p>“I am sure you will,” said Santa Claus kindly, -as they drew their chairs up to the fire and prepared -to spend a cozy evening.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch13footer.jpg" width="400" height="450" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> -<img src="images/illus-pig.jpg" width="200" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch14header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br /> -<span class="smaller">SNYTHERGEN’S TROUBLES</span></h2> - -<p>The “Three Wise Men” and Santa Claus -were sitting up very late around a coal -fire in the enormous grate. Santa Claus -would have preferred a log, had not delicacy of -feeling made him avoid burning wood in Snythergen’s -presence. Sancho was perched on the -back of the chair Squeaky had curled up in; and -Snythergen sat tailor fashion on the floor. -Santa Claus nestled in the depths of his great -easy chair. There was no light save the flicker -of the fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I don’t know when I have had such an enjoyable -evening,” said Santa Claus, “and I am sure -it is past all our bedtimes.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” said Squeaky, “we got into the habit -of late hours on account of the bear.”</p> - -<p>“What bear?” said Santa Claus, in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Oh,” said Sancho on his guard, “there was -one prowling about in the forest where we -lived.”</p> - -<p>“You needn’t have been afraid if you had provided -him with food,” said Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“So we found,” said Snythergen feelingly.</p> - -<p>“I have been thinking,” said Santa Claus, -“that we make a cozy little group together. I -would be glad to have you stay here and live -with me.”</p> - -<p>“Splendid,” cried Snythergen. “This is the -only comfortable house I ever saw. The architect -had the good sense to make the ceilings high -enough.”</p> - -<p>“There is a bedroom upstairs, too, just right -for you,” said Santa Claus, “and you may all -occupy it together if you will promise to go to -bed and not talk.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Santa Claus,” cried Snythergen delighted, -“you are too good!”</p> - -<p>“And we’ll be polite to the bear,” said -Squeaky.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Maybe you won’t like it here as well as you -think,” said Santa Claus. “I shall expect you -to do some work.”</p> - -<p>“We don’t mind that,” said Sancho Wing. -“Snythergen built a house and table!”</p> - -<p>“Speak for yourself,” said Snythergen. “Tell -Santa Claus what you can do.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Sancho, what work can you do?” asked -Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m a good watch bird,” said Sancho -Wing. “I can get up close to people and hear -all they say, and see all they do without being -seen myself. If necessary there is always some -little place for me to hide. I can dodge into a -man’s coat pocket—or”—(with a sly look at -Santa Claus)—“creep into his beard!”</p> - -<p>“I can testify to that,” said Santa Claus emphatically.</p> - -<p>“And Squeaky here, what can he do?” asked -Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“I will say this for him,” said Snythergen, -“he’s good about visiting. Usually he sleeps -while I work so as to be bright and lively when I -want to rest. He entertains me and makes me -forget my troubles.”</p> - -<p>“Your troubles!” said Santa Claus in surprise—“I -didn’t think you had any.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, plenty of them! The little ones,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -such as”—(with a look at Squeaky)—“pigs nibbling -my toes, woodpeckers stabbing my trunk, -bears biting my roots, bothersome nest-builders”—(here -Snythergen winked at Sancho -Wing)—“tickling my branches; woodchoppers -plotting against my life—these are bad enough. -But my big trouble—” His face grew long and -a great tear trembled on his cheek and splashed -down on Squeaky’s head, making him jump.</p> - -<p>“What is the big trouble?” asked Santa Claus -kindly, while Sancho Wing and Squeaky looked -up in surprise.</p> - -<p>“I never told anybody,” said Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“Maybe you would rather not say anything -about it now,” said Santa Claus sympathetically.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I must tell you. I have a father and a -mother and I love them very much and they love -me. I ran away because they do not make -school houses large enough for boys like me. -I told my mother I would come back some day. -Now I think of it I am afraid I cannot come to -live with you—it’s too far away from home.”</p> - -<p>“Why, Snythergen, you never told us you had -any parents,” said Squeaky.</p> - -<p>“I supposed you knew I had. Every boy has -to have them. I used to steal away at night in my -tree suit and go home when you and Sancho -Wing were fast asleep. I would brush my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -branches on the second story windows until -father and mother looked out. I did not dare -tell them it was I for fear they would want to -send me back to school, and I feared father -might spank me.”</p> - -<p>“It would take rather a tall man to bend you -over his knee,” said Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it wasn’t his size, but his voice I was -afraid of,” said Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“Then your father is a little man?” asked -Santa Claus.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he and mother are midgets. I guess -they adopted me because they admire big -things.”</p> - -<p>“What does your father do?” asked Santa -Claus.</p> - -<p>“He is a philosopher,” said Snythergen. “He -thinks and plans while mother knits.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder how midgets would like it here?” -asked Santa Claus, thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“I am sure they would like it very much,” -said Snythergen, “except for one thing. They -are sensitive about their size and cannot bear -to live in a house with high ceilings. You see -it makes them realize how small they are. But -if you are willing to have them here, I can build -a little two-story house with six rooms, and set -it up in a corner of our big bedroom. I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -place it where it would not be in the way, and -when the housemaid comes to sweep and dust I -could hang it up on a hook in the wall.”</p> - -<p>“I will have to look up our laws before I can -ask them,” said Santa Claus. “I don’t think -grownups are allowed to come to the Wreath. -I might as well repeat, since you may come here -to live,” he continued, “that this is no palace of -idleness. There is much to do and everybody -helps. The reindeer’s faces, necks and ears -have to be washed every day, and the sleighbells -rubbed with silver polish. We have to keep -track of all the children in the world and enter -the new babies in a big book as fast as they are -born. We have a toy factory where Christmas -presents are made, such as popcorn balls, Noah’s -arks, fire engines and dolls.”</p> - -<p>“What will the bear do?” asked Squeaky anxiously.</p> - -<p>“I intend to have him pose as a model for -Teddy Bears,” said Santa Claus. “Of course -the housekeeper will have to sit by his side ready -to feed him olives and custard pie the moment he -shows any restlessness.”</p> - -<p>Santa Claus took his watch from his pocket. -“It’s my bedtime,” said he, “so if you are ready -I will escort you to your room.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus15"> -<img src="images/bw-illus15.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">A traffic butler stood at hall intersections</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<p>A house automobile was waiting in the hall.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -The distances between rooms were so great that -Santa Claus used motor cars to take his guests -about the house. As Snythergen was too large -to ride he had to walk behind, and his long -strides easily kept pace with the machine—too -easily. He was so taken up with the pictures on -the walls and peeping into the rooms they -passed, he neglected to look where he was going. -Several times he tripped on the car, almost upsetting -it. The chauffeur grew to fear this danger -from behind more than the perils ahead, and -drove looking backwards. Once when he gave -a sudden lurch to avoid Snythergen’s foot, -Squeaky fell out, and there was a great squealing -in the hall until he was picked up and put back. -Snythergen apologized to both of them and -promised to be more careful.</p> - -<p>The halls were as wide as boulevards and in -place of stairways there were graded inclines, -enabling chauffeurs to drive from floor to floor. -The traffic even at that late hour was heavy, for -eatables were being taken from vegetable cellars -to kitchens; towels and bedroom linen were being -whisked here and there; servants were returning -to their rooms after a social evening. -Muffled honks were heard at the turns, and a -traffic butler stood at hall intersections.</p> - -<p>At last they drew up beside an enormous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -chamber illuminated by points of light set like -diamonds in the deep blue of a vaulted ceiling, to -give the effect of stars. Snythergen was overjoyed -when he saw his bed. Actually it was -several feet longer than he was. For once he -would not have to sleep twisted up in a circle, -but could lie full length like any one else.</p> - -<p>When Squeaky got into his little bed he was -surprised to find a silk tassel sewed to each of -the blankets and sheets, and wondered what it -was for. Pig-like he had to experiment. He -pulled one and to his amazement it resisted. It -was as if some one concealed in the foot of the -bed were trying to pull it away from him. No -wonder the tassel slipped from his grasp! A -blanket ran away, disappearing into the footboard -with a bang. Squeaky was so shocked he -fell to the floor and when he got into bed again -the blanket was nowhere to be seen. He pulled -another tassel. This time a sheet made off. He -tried others, and by the time he was through -pulling tassels every bit of bedding had disappeared -and he could not find any of it. Shivering -with cold he called Snythergen. But the -room was too big and the beds too far apart for -Squeaky to make himself heard.</p> - -<p>“What’s this?” he cried, upsetting something -on a stand beside his bed. It was a little telephone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -Consulting the directory he found a -number opposite “Big Bed.” When he removed -the receiver a bright voice chirped -“Merry Christmas.” It was central and -Squeaky gave the number.</p> - -<p>Snythergen heard soft chimes at his bedside, -and when he saw it was the telephone he did not -remove the receiver at once, for he was enjoying -the sweet tinkling sounds. When at last he did -answer, Squeaky was very impatient.</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you answer?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Snythergen.</p> - -<p>“Somebody’s stealing the bed clothes, and I -am almost frozen. I can’t find a stitch of covering.”</p> - -<p>“Is that all? I will be right over,” and in a -moment Snythergen stood beside the pig’s bed. -When he saw what had happened to Squeaky he -leaned back and laughed until another great -tear splashed down upon the pig.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t call you over to give me a bath,” said -Squeaky. “You’re only making matters worse,—and -what are you laughing at anyway! I -can’t see anything amusing.”</p> - -<p>“Why, you poor pig!” cried Snythergen, as -soon as he could control his voice. “Can’t you -see that the bed clothes wind up in the foot of -the bed on rolls like window shades? All you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -need do is to lean over and pull the silk cords, but -you must grasp them firmly. You can pull up -or take off as much bedding as you like without -getting out of bed. Now good night, I’m -sleepy!” said Snythergen and he went back to his -bed for the first comfortable night’s sleep of his -life.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch14footer.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch15header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV<br /> -<span class="smaller">TOY FOODS</span></h2> - -<p>The next morning “the three wise men” -had a long chat with Santa Claus, and -it was decided they were to come there to -live. But Santa Claus explained to Snythergen -kindly that as he had feared, it was against the -laws of the Wreath to bring any more grownups -there; and that he would be unable to include his -parents in the invitation.</p> - -<p>Snythergen looked so sorrowful when he -heard this that Santa Claus said brightly:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Cheer up! Stay for a while, and I will see -if it cannot be arranged somehow.”</p> - -<p>Snythergen’s interest in the wonderful things -he saw soon revived his spirits—though the -thought of his mother and father was seldom far -away.</p> - -<p>When Santa Claus explained to the housekeeper -that the family would be enlarged by -three new members, she looked rather doubtful.</p> - -<p>“Are you sure, Santa Claus,” she asked, “that -it is wise to add them all at once, before you know -more about them?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am sure,” he said, “and I know they -will be handy in the toy factory.”</p> - -<p>And so it proved. For a time the newcomers -made themselves so useful, even the housekeeper -wondered how they had ever managed without -them. Sancho Wing devised all sorts of new -toys. Squeaky made a model of a Teddy Pig so -cunning and lifelike, it bid fair to vie in popularity -with the famous Teddy Bear. When -you squeezed it it squeaked so naturally, that -you had to look twice to be sure you were not -holding a live pig in your hands. Snythergen -designed a mechanical tree that walked on its -roots and waved its branches in the most comical -manner.</p> - -<p>For a month Snythergen was happy. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -seemed almost to have forgotten his “big trouble.” -But as the novelty of his new life wore -away, he found his thoughts returning more and -more often to his mother and father. One day -Santa Claus said to him:</p> - -<p>“Snythergen, you are not happy and the reason -is not hard to guess. No boy can be happy -long away from his parents. The housekeeper -and I have been talking it over and we can find -no way of getting grownups admitted to the -Wreath. So I have decided to give you your -choice. Either you may stay here and live with -us, or I will reduce you to the size of an ordinary -boy and let you go home.”</p> - -<p>“Can you make me small like other boys!” -cried Snythergen excitedly.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Santa Claus, “I can do it by feeding -you toy foods! I can have my cooks and -my bakers make such tiny cakes and pies, that if -you eat them one at a time, you will grow smaller -and smaller. It will not be easy and you may -have to go hungry at times, but in the end you -will be just the right size. You can play with -the other boys and no one will laugh at you. -Then you may return to your father and -mother!”</p> - -<p>“And not see you, and Squeaky, and Sancho -Wing any more!” faltered Snythergen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> - -<p>“You may come and visit us at night after your -mother has tucked you in your bed—just as you -used to steal away from the forest to go home.”</p> - -<p>Snythergen still hesitated.</p> - -<p>“You will be very happy,” said Santa Claus. -“You will grow up to be a man, and all your -life you will be happier for having visited Santa -Claus’ land on the Wreath.”</p> - -<p>Snythergen made the choice that Santa Claus -knew he would, the one that any boy would have -made. There was a great deal of bustle in all of -the kitchens and bakeries on the Wreath, as they -made toy foods for Snythergen. There were -wonderful loaves of bread shaped like the little -tree doctor, which Snythergen wanted to devour -by the handful, but was permitted to eat only one -at each meal. There were cookies molded in -the form of the woodchoppers’ axes, cakes and -pies resembling the nest that had once tickled his -long green boughs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;" id="bw-illus16"> -<img src="images/bw-illus16.jpg" width="425" height="600" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">And squeezed him almost as tightly as the farmer’s wife had done</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - -<p>Little by little Snythergen un-grew until he -became the size of a boy. At last the day of his -departure arrived and his friends were gathered -before Santa Claus’ door to bid him farewell. -The doorkeeper and the housekeeper said good-by -with feeling. When he came to Blasterjinx -the big fellow bent over, placed one hand on the -ground, palm up for Snythergen to stand on,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -then lifted him up to say good-by. Snythergen -felt a keen pang of regret when the sight of his -friend made him realize that his own great size -was gone. But this feeling was soon forgotten -in an affectionate farewell to the faithful chums, -with whom he had shared so many joys and dangers. -He took Squeaky into his arms and -squeezed him almost as tightly as the farmer’s -wife had done. Sancho Wing perched on his -shoulder and tried to say good-by in as loud a -voice as when first he had spoken to Snythergen, -but somehow the words caught in his throat. -As Snythergen said his last farewell to all, even -the bear’s eyes filled with tears (he had just had -his olives and custard pie).</p> - -<p>“We shall expect you to visit us very soon,” -said Santa Claus as they parted.</p> - -<p>How they all waved and cheered as Snythergen -rose in his boy’s airplane and began the journey -home! Turning his head he watched them -until they dwindled to mere specks and disappeared.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch15footer.jpg" width="400" height="90" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> -<img src="images/illus-pig.jpg" width="200" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch16header.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI<br /> -<span class="smaller">HOME</span></h2> - -<p>As Snythergen’s friends passed from view -a new happiness came into his heart, -overcoming the sorrows of parting—for -at last he was going home. All day he had been -soaring above the clouds, and now he was speeding -through the air in the swift descent. It was -night and the Wreath was but a star. Soon he -was sailing above the forest, over the tops of -his old comrades the trees. “They would never -recognize me now,” he thought; then suddenly -he wondered: “Will <em>they</em> recognize me!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> - -<p>He was almost home. Choosing a clear -space in a pasture, he made a landing, and hurried -towards the house. It was a warm, still -night in mid-summer. Through the open door -he saw his mother and father sitting by the -lamp.</p> - -<p>“I wonder where our dear boy is to-night?” -Snythergen heard his mother ask.</p> - -<p>“Mother! Mother!” he cried.</p> - -<p>“It’s his voice!” cried his mother, jumping up -and running to the door. “Snythergen! Snythergen! -Where are you?” Both parents were -looking up among the tree-tops. “Where are -you,” they cried.</p> - -<p>“Here I am,” answered Snythergen, now but -a few feet away. “Don’t you see me,” he said, almost -under their noses.</p> - -<p>“No,” said they, looking toward the top of the -house.</p> - -<p>“Is it only his voice that has come back,” faltered -his mother, her eyes filling with tears.</p> - -<p>“No,” cried Snythergen, throwing his arms -about her waist.</p> - -<p>“What’s that!” she screamed in fright. -“Snythergen!” she whispered, recognizing her -boy. “How you have changed!” The mother -took her boy in her arms and kissed him again -and again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - -<p>The father could hardly believe it was Snythergen, -but there was no mistaking the voice.</p> - -<p>“He has come back a regular boy!” cried he, -waiting for a chance to hug his son. “How did -you make yourself small?” he asked, too impatient -to wait any longer.</p> - -<p>“Toy foods!” shouted Snythergen, half smothered -in his mother’s embrace.</p> - -<p>“I knew it! I knew it!” cried the father. -“Just after you left I thought of toy foods—but -then it was too late.”</p> - -<p>They entered the house and Snythergen began -telling his adventures. It was a happy night—the -first of countless others that were to come. -For a happier boy than Snythergen simply did -not exist.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ch16footer.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/endpaper.jpg" width="700" height="500" alt="Illustrated endpapers" /> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Snythergen, by Hal Garrott - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SNYTHERGEN *** - -***** This file should be named 61079-h.htm or 61079-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/0/7/61079/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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