nk of it--he only
_broke his tail_! Ha! ha! he never could hold it up over his back
afterwards, so there it was always dragging behind him, like a bundle
of dead grass. What a ridiculous old fellow! After that tumble, he
always went by the name Brokentail, instead of Bigtail; and from that
time you never could abide him, you know."

"Really, Mr. Brush," said his partner, "if you make such a fool of
yourself, I wont speak another word to you all day. What has all this
nonsense to do with the serious conversation you wished to have with me
about the children?"

"Oh yes, it was about the children I wanted to talk to you," replied
Brush, "and not about old Broken----. Well, well, I wont say anything
more about him, then, so come and sit down quietly again, and I'll be
very serious indeed! There! now we are all right once more. Well, my
dear, now then about these children of ours. I believe you know what I
am going to say--_we must part from them_, Mrs. Brush! It is high time
for you and me to see about putting the nest in order for another
family, and these three children of ours must go and see the world, and
find companions for themselves, for the rest of their lives. I only
hope that when the boys are seeking for companions they will not break
their tails like old ----; I mean, I hope they will both meet with as
good a partner as their mother has been to me."

The two old squirrels had a great deal more talk upon this subject, but
as conversation about family affairs is often rather tiresome, I shall
not repeat all they said about the matter. Though they both regretted
parting from their children, they were convinced that a separation was
necessary, and they agreed that the sooner it took place the better.

Perhaps you may think they were rather unamiable and hard-hearted, in
treating their children in this manner; but you must remember that,
though these were not yet a year old, they were very nearly, if not
quite, as large as their parents, and were well able to take care of
themselves.

When the young squirrels were informed of this determination, they were
very sorry at first; but the thoughts of being their own masters, and
of having comfortable nests of their own, reconciled them to the
separation. I never heard what good advice their parents gave them at
parting, but I have not the least doubt that Brush cautioned them to
beware of the sad fate of old Brokentail.

So the three children, leaving their native