Not that she would not help any one in need, for she was a good, kind mother, but she knew from experience that those little squirrels who would not work and gather nuts when they were plentiful, would help themselves to other folks’ supply if they had a chance to do so.
One day while Mrs. Squirrel was ironing some pretty petties for Fluffy-tail she heard a knock at the door. It was a messenger from Mrs. Squire Squirrel inviting Fluffy-tail to a surprise-party to be given to her little daughter Furrikins. When Fluffy-tail came bouncing in to dinner that day and saw something pink peeping out from under her plate, you can just imagine how delighted she was when she pulled it out and found it was an invitation to a party, for parties were few and far between on the Island.
They had to be just after the summer visitors left the place, as it would not be very safe while they were there. With summer visitors there was sure to be a boy with a gun who was always just so hungry for squirrel pot-pie. In the winter it was too cold, and in the spring there was seldom enough food left for regular meals, much less a party. So now the time was just right and Fluffy-tail thought she was never so happy in all her life.
CHAPTER TWO
After lunch, on the day of the party, Mrs. Squirrel washed, brushed and combed Fluffy-tail until it hurt so she thought she would have to squeal once or twice; then dressed her in one of the prettiest little party dresses one ever saw. Fluffy-tail even had new slippers with fluffy pink bows. “You must live up to your name, my dear,” her mother said, as she tied her pretty pink bonnet strings, “and too, my dear,” as she kissed her for at least the twentieth time, “be very careful of your manners; don’t lose your present (the cutest lace trimmed hanky with blue birds in the corners); go straight there and come straight back home before dark. You know Old Tabby Cat just loves little squirrels for dinner and she wouldn’t care even if you did have on your party dress. Cats are such prowling creatures sometimes,” she added.
CHAPTER THREE
