Buddy Jim Read online

 

  BUDDY JIM, OLD RED SQUIRREL AND THE ROBIN BIRD

  _The summer shower had scurried by And left the world all new; And the fleecy clouds were floating In a sky of clearest blue; The plants were all so grateful You could almost see them grow; Said Buddy Jim, "The Country is The nicest place I know!"_

  Buddy Jim was in the hammock on the porch with a book. But he had notbeen reading. It was much more fun to watch the zigzag streaks oflightning flash across the world, and to see the tall trees bend andsway in the wind, and to hear the big boom of the thunder-bird's wings.It was all so different from a shower in the city, when you had to rushand close all the windows, and stay indoors until it was over.

  Buddy Jim laughed to himself when he thought about how much he haddisliked to leave the city, and come to his Father's farm for thesummer. His Father had bought it just so that they could have a summerhome where the little boy could run and play and be interested. "I_'xpected_ to be lonesome," said he to himself, "but I'm not. I'venever had so much fun before in my life!" And he settled back in thehammock to read his new book.

  But he had hardly begun to read, when he sat up with a start. There wasa great chattering and scolding from the branches of an old elm treeon the front lawn. And there was a cry that sounded to Buddy Jim likea call for help, so he threw his book aside and running out to the oldelm tree peered up into its leafy branches.

  Old Dog Sandy got up from the porch steps, shook the rain drops fromhis shaggy coat, and followed his master.

  But the leaves of the old elm tree were very thick and they could seenothing, though the chattering and scolding and calls for help werestill going on.

  "Sounds as though old Red Squirrel was trying to help himself to Mrs.Robin Redbreast's eggs," said Old Bob the gardener, as he came by.

  "Is _that_ what it is?" said Buddy Jim. "Well, you watch me! I'm goingup there and spoil that old fellow's game."

  "I'll give you a boost, if you're going up," said Old Bob the gardener."You'll get there quicker." And he swung Buddy Jim up to his shoulders.From there Buddy Jim could reach up and catch the lower branches of theold elm, and so clinging with his bare brown feet like a regular littlemonkey, he was soon in sight of Mrs. Robin Redbreast's nest.

  It was just as Old Bob the gardener had suspected. There was old RedSquirrel chattering and scolding at poor Mrs. Robin, doing his best tochase her away from her nest; and she, poor brave little Mother bird,was sticking tight and refusing to leave her precious blue eggs.

  When old Red Squirrel saw Buddy Jim he knew his game was up, and so heturned and ran, like the coward he was, past Buddy Jim, and down thetrunk of the old elm tree.

  Old Dog Sandy doesn't like Cats!]

  Of course he did not know that old Dog Sandy was waiting there for him,and he ran right into him! If old Dog Sandy had been young Dog Sandy itwould have gone hard with old Red Squirrel. But even if old Dog Sandycould not catch him, he _could_ chase him away and that is just what hedid, barking so loudly it gave him a very good scare anyway, so that hemade up his robber mind that he would keep away from _that_ place inthe future!

  Up in the elm tree poor little Mother Robin was trembling all over."I thought you never _would_ come, Buddy Jim," she said. "And then Ithought perhaps you were one of those boys who don't care much whatbecomes of birds."

  "Indeed I am not," said Buddy Jim. "I care very much for birds, indeedI do, but you see I'm just out from the city, and I did not know whatyour call for help meant. I don't know much about Country life yet.Does old Red Squirrel bother you much?"

  "I should say he does," said Mother Robin. "If he can only find outwhen Father Robin is away after worms for my dinner, he is sure to comeand try to frighten me away so that he can have a chance to eat mybeautiful blue eggs for _his_ dinner. He is a _dreadful_ pest. Betweenhim and Peter Prowler the Cat, who is very likely to catch my babiesbefore they are big enough to fly, it's a wonder I am ever able tobring up a family."

  "Well, little Mother Robin," said Buddy Jim, "you can be quiet now,and forget all about it. Old Dog Sandy will be sure to see that PeterProwler does not come around here. He doesn't like cats. And I'm goingto live here all summer, and I'll see that old Red Squirrel keeps away.Goodbye, little Mother bird." And Buddy Jim slid back down the old elmtree, and found old Dog Sandy just coming back from his long chaseafter old Red Squirrel.

  "Sandy," said Buddy Jim, "If you happen to see Peter Prowler the cataround here after Mrs. Robin's babies, I want you to chase him away. Doyou hear?"

  "Woof, woof!" promised Old Dog Sandy. And he kept his word, and soafter awhile there were four very fat, speckly young robin birdsrunning around the lawn, and they got so tame they would hop right upon the swing and chatter to Buddy Jim.