“Let us go over on the Common,” she said. “Perhaps the squirrels will come to be fed.”
Directly across from the beautiful shops was a big park with great elms and green grass and seats where men and women were sitting. When the children entered, they saw three fat gray squirrels with bushy tails climbing over a man who sat on one of the seats.
“They know he has nuts for them,” said Miss Chandler.
The man saw the children looking at him. He drew his hand from his pocket and it contained some peanuts.
“Would you like to feed the squirrels?” he asked.
“Will they bite?” asked Lucy.
“Not if you don’t scare them. Don’t touch them nor try to grab them, but just hold the nut in your fingers.”
“Thank you,” said Lucy and took one nut.
“May we?” Dora asked Miss Chandler, and when she smiled, Dora took a nut and thanked the man.
The squirrels came at once. Dora shivered a little when her squirrel put its paws about her fingers to steady the nut. Its wee hands felt so queer!