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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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