“FOLLOW ME,” SAID THE GOPHER, AS HE DISAPPEARED INTO A HOLE IN THE GROUND.
“Follow me,” said the gopher, quite self-possessed, as he disappeared into a hole in the ground. Tiny did not like the idea of being under ground, nor was he fond of animals that burrow; but he obeyed, for he was frightened. He trembled violently.
They entered a dark hall, at the end of which was a little, round room containing a comfortable bed of soft grasses and fur.
“This is a cozy place,” said Tiny, sinking down to rest.
“It is my home,” said the little animal. “I suppose you know that I am Jolly Gopher. It is fortunate that you happened to be so near my residence when the panther happened along. Panthers are rare in this temperate zone, and I am glad of it. What if the savage beast had attacked me while I was riding? I am glad that you like my humble home.”
“It is a restful place for lazy animals, but I should not like to dwell here,” said Tiny, frankly. “I always distrusted creatures that burrow in the ground away from the air and sunshine, until I went to Miss Hare’s school.”
“What has Miss Hare’s school to do with it?” asked the gopher, his mouth open.
“I learned that Mother Earth,” said Tiny, “is kind indeed to poor little defenseless animals, whom she protects from savage animals and hunters. Animals all live where they can have the greatest safety. The fish lives in the depths of the water, the squirrel in the tree, the cricket under a rock, and the gopher in the ground. How fortunate it is that we do not all live in the same place!”
“I am fond of living down in the ground,” resumed the gopher after a moment of silence. “No panther nor any other beast bigger than myself can meddle with my affairs. I saunter forth early in the morning and fill my pockets with fresh, green things. You see that my pockets hang down from my cheeks. I hurry back and stow away my food. When it rains, I stay indoors and sleep and eat. A gopher’s life is a very peaceful one.”