Part 1 (1/2)

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.

by Beatrix Potter.

A STORY FOR NORAH

[Ill.u.s.tration]

This is a Tale about a tail--a tail that belonged to a little red squirrel, and his name was Nutkin.

He had a brother called Twinkleberry, and a great many cousins: they lived in a wood at the edge of a lake.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

In the middle of the lake there is an island covered with trees and nut bushes; and amongst those trees stands a hollow oak-tree, which is the house of an owl who is called Old Brown.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

One autumn when the nuts were ripe, and the leaves on the hazel bushes were golden and green--Nutkin and Twinkleberry and all the other little squirrels came out of the wood, and down to the edge of the lake.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

They made little rafts out of twigs, and they paddled away over the water to Owl Island to gather nuts.

Each squirrel had a little sack and a large oar, and spread out his tail for a sail.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

They also took with them an offering of three fat mice as a present for Old Brown, and put them down upon his door-step.

Then Twinkleberry and the other little squirrels each made a low bow, and said politely--

”Old Mr. Brown, will you favour us with permission to gather nuts upon your island?”

[Ill.u.s.tration]

But Nutkin was excessively impertinent in his manners. He bobbed up and down like a little red _cherry_, singing--

”Riddle me, riddle me, rot-tot-tote!

A little wee man, in a red red coat!

A staff in his hand, and a stone in his throat; If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat.”

Now this riddle is as old as the hills; Mr. Brown paid no attention whatever to Nutkin.

He shut his eyes obstinately and went to sleep.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The squirrels filled their little sacks with nuts, and sailed away home in the evening.

[Ill.u.s.tration]