“I was only taking a nap,” sleepily responded Chatty. “My parents and brothers are out in the beech trees. I wanted to have a good rest, so I stayed at home. I cannot sleep well at night, because our house is crowded.”
“I am going out to gather our winter store,” said Tiny. “Don’t you want to come with me?”
“I should very much like to go, thank you,” returned Chatty, although he had refused to go with his family. “But you see, I cannot work hard when I work, though I can work hard when I play.”
They soon left the chipmunk home and started forth on their journey. They had not gone very far before Chatty began to complain.
“The sun is very warm, and it makes me drowsy,” said he. “How I do dislike to work! I am glad that I am not a beaver, for beavers work all the time.”
“I should think you would wish to help your family,” said Tiny. “What will become of you in the winter if you do not have plenty of food?”
“I will sleep all the time,” replied the chipmunk, yawning drowsily.
He was about to lie down to rest, when he espied a great yellow butterfly with wings that shone like gold. She was fast asleep upon a thistle.
Chatty dashed after her, but she flew from thistle to bush and flower, not at all frightened. After he had tired himself running, he sat down, panting.
“Your winter store will soon be gathered if you spend as much energy in working as you have in running,” said Tiny, his eyes twinkling.