Among the Forest People Read online

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  THE HOME IN THE FOREST. _Frontispiece_]

  AMONG THE FOREST PEOPLE

  BY CLARA DILLINGHAM PIERSON

  AUTHOR OF "AMONG THE MEADOW PEOPLE"

  Illustrated by F. C. GORDON

 

  NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 31 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET 1900

  COPYRIGHT, 1898 BY E. P. DUTTON & CO.

  The Knickerbocker Press, New York

  TO THE CHILDREN.

  _Dear Little Friends_:

  Since I told my stories of the meadow people a year ago, so manychildren have been asking me questions about them that I thought itmight be well to send you a letter with these tales of the forest folk.

  I have been asked if I am acquainted with the little creatures aboutwhom I tell you, and I want you to know that I am very well acquaintedindeed. Perhaps the Ground Hog is my oldest friend among the forestpeople, just as the Tree Frog is among those of the meadow. Some of thethings about which I shall tell you, I have seen for myself, and theother stories have come to me in another way. I was there when theswaggering Crow drove the Hens off the barnyard fence, and I was quiteas much worried about the Mourning Doves' nest as were Mrs. Goldfinchand Mrs. Oriole.

  I have had a letter from one little boy who wants to know if the meadowpeople really talk to each other. Of course they do. And so do all thepeople in these stories. They do not talk in the same way as you and I,but they have their own language, which they understand just as well aswe do English. You know not even all children speak alike. If you and Iwere to meet early some sunshiny day, we would say to each other, "Goodmorning," but if a little German boy should join us, he would say,"Guten Morgen," and a tiny French maiden would call out, "Bon jour,"when she meant the same thing.

  These stories had to be written in the English language, so that youcould understand. If I were to tell them in the Woodpecker, the Rabbit,or the Rattlesnake language, all of which are understood in the forest,they might be very fine stories, but I am afraid you would not knowexactly what they meant!

  I hope you will enjoy hearing about my forest friends. They aredelightful people to know, and you must get acquainted with them as soonas you can. I should like to have you in little chairs just opposite myown and talk of these things quite as we used to do in my kindergarten.But that cannot be, so I have written you this letter, and think thatperhaps some of you will write to me, telling which story you like best,and why you like it.

  Your friend, CLARA DILLINGHAM PIERSON.

  Stanton, Michigan, April 15, 1898.

  CONTENTS.

  PAGE MR. RED SQUIRREL COMES TO LIVE IN THE FOREST 13 WHY MR. GREAT HORNED OWL HATCHED THE EGGS 21 THE SWAGGERING CROW 31 THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER CHILDREN 39 THE NIGHT MOTH WITH A CROOKED FEELER 52 THE BEES AND THE KINGBIRD 62 THE STORY OF THE COWBIRD'S EGG 73 MRS. MOURNING DOVE'S HOUSEKEEPING 83 THE YOUNG BLUE JAY WHO WAS NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE AFRAID 91 THE RED SQUIRRELS BEGIN HOUSEKEEPING 100 THE BIGGEST LITTLE RABBIT LEARNS TO SEE 113 THE LITTLE BAT WHO WOULDN'T GO TO BED 123 A SWARM LEAVES THE BEE TREE 133 THE HAUGHTY GROUND HOG 144 THE UNDECIDED RATTLESNAKE 153 THE QUARRELSOME MOLE 163 THE WILD TURKEYS COME 175 THE TRAVELLERS GO SOUTH 186 THE RUFFED GROUSE'S STORY 198 A MILD DAY IN WINTER 208