"'Yes,' they said, 'this is our summer house, you know; and very comfortable we find it for the heat of the season.'
"'I wish you would let me look at it.'
"'Oh! you can do that, certainly. It is built in sight of all the world. This is not the case with our winter house, however.'
"The cage was made of very slight materials, and placed upon the extremity of a frail branch, that swayed with every gust of wind. 'I should think you would be shaken out,' I remarked.
"'Not a bit of it,' returned the mother Squirrel. 'We could not be reached by any animal, the branch is so slender; and I am seldom frightened by the cries of boys,—unless, indeed, a stone should rudely strike the cage, when I take each of my young ones in my mouth, and deposit them in a place of safety.'
"'Where, then, is your winter home?' I next asked.
"'Ah! that is a question,' replied the father Squirrel, rubbing his nose with one little paw, in a knowing way.
"'I do not wish to make any impertinent inquiries, but I should like very much to know something more of your interesting family,' I said modestly.
"Upon this the two parents whispered and nodded together for a time, then turned to me again. 'If you promise not to tell any cat afterward, you can see it,' they said.
"Of course I consented. The winter cage was located in the fork of a tree, where the boughs concealed it from view, and served to shelter from the wind as well. The nest was quite large, being composed of moss, leaves, and grass.