re
sometimes found living close together, like those that had chosen their
habitations at the foot of our squirrel's great oak-tree. Perhaps
before I have finished this tale I may have something more to tell you
about little Gotobed, the dormouse.

Do you suppose that Brush and his family spent the whole of the summer
in frolicking and feasting? No, indeed! for even squirrels have work to
do, and duties to perform. So, after a few days spent in the merry way
I have described, one afternoon, when their children were gone on an
excursion to the larch-grove, Mr. and Mrs. Brush perched themselves up
on the topmost branch of their own oak-tree, and had some very serious
conversation together. At least, they meant that the conversation
should be serious; but Brush was such a merry waggish fellow, that he
seldom could talk very long upon any subject without a laugh or a joke.

"Well, my dear," he began very gravely, "this is the third family you
and I have seen playing around us. For three years we have lived
happily together in this old oak, and a finer tree or a more
comfortable nest than ours I do not believe can be found in the whole
world."

Here in the gaiety of his heart he darted off to a neighbouring bough,
and after performing a few strange antics for his companion's
amusement, he was again perched up by her side, and went on with his
speech.

"Three years," continued he, "yes, I declare, it is three years since I
persuaded you to have nothing more to say to that tiresome old fellow
Bigtail, and to take me for a companion instead."

"Come, come, you rogue," said his wife, "if this is the serious
conversation you wanted to have with me, you may as well hold your
tongue."

"Ha! ha!" he proceeded without attending to the interruption, "ha! ha!
I remember that conceited old fellow Bigtail, and how you preferred him
to me, because his tail was the least bit in the world longer than
mine. I made him ashamed of his fine tail though at last. Oh, what fun!
I shall never forget it! He was stuck up by your side, talking the most
ridiculous stuff, I dare say, when I leaped down suddenly upon him from
the branch above. I never did anything better in my life! Over he went
like a dead thing. The old fellow was too much frightened, and too
stiff in his joints, to catch hold of the boughs below, so down he
tumbled to the ground. I declare I thought he was killed! But no, he
only broke--ha! ha! ha! I am ready to die when I thi