The flying squirrel is covered with soft, fine fur, but the
covering of the flying-sail is finer than that of any other part. It
has large eyes, for seeing in the night. It sleeps most of the day,
and comes out after sunset in search of food.

6. A squirrel makes a pretty pet, and sometimes it becomes so tame
that it runs about like a dog. A squirrel was once found in its nest
before its eyes were opened, and brought to the house.

7. It became very tame, and, after it grew up, it would watch its
master when he went out, and get into his pocket, where it would stay
and peep out to the people it met.

8. When they came to a country place, the squirrel would leap out, run
along the road, climb to the tops of the trees, nibble the leaves and
bark, and then scamper after his master, and nestle down into his
pocket again.

_THE OWL._

An owl sat in a hollow tree,
And cried the whole day through:
"I can not see; the sun blinds me.
Ah, what am I to do?"

When night was dark, the owl looked out,
And thought he'd leave his house:
For "light," said he, "has come to me--
I'll go and catch a mouse."

The mouse he caught, and then he cried:
"What next am I to do?
The woods shall ring, I'll sit and sing,
Too-whit, too-whit, too-whoo!"

LESSON XL.

_BO-PEEP AND THE SQUIRREL._

[Illustration]

Little Bo-peep said to her sheep,
"In the wood there is tender grass growing;
And as you're so good, you shall dine in the wood,
By the brook that is quietly flowing."

Then a squirrel hard by looked down with a sigh,
And said, "Oh, please go away, ma'am!
The acorns are mine, and the nuts too, so fine;
And in the woods always I play, ma'am."

Then little Bo-peep at the squirrel did peep:
"No harm we are going to do, sir;
My sheep are not thieves, and, under the leaves
Of the wood, there is room for us too, sir.

"But I wish to be just: so here's a soft crust
Of white bread of my mother's own baking;
And I'll give you a slice, which you'll find very nice,
If you'll join us in our merry-making."

* * * * *

If you saw a goat
Buttoned in a coat;
If you saw a rat
Dressed up in a hat;
If you saw a lamb
Take a slice of ham;
If you saw a bear
Combing out its hair;
If you saw an ox
Opening a box;
If you saw