Mrs. Matilda Squirrel, their mother came to the door of their home, high up in the Oak tree.
"Nutty, Peanutty", she called.
The two little squirrels stopped their play and called 'Yes, Mom, we're over here."
"Children, would you like to visit your cousins, Walnutty, and Hazelnutty?"
"Oh, great!" Nutty and Peanutty exclaimed as they recalled what fun they had had on their last visit. "When can we go"
"Come get washed up and be sure to comb your tails so you look pretty." said Mother.
After washing their faces and giving particular care to comb their tails with a pine "comb", they happily presented themselves to their mother.
"My, you both look so nice. I'm real proud of you," said Mother. "I want you to take this message to Aunt Becky Squirrel, it will invite her and her family to the Squirrel Festival next week. Then you can come back with them."
After Mother kissed Nutty and Peanutty goodbye, they scampered down the Old Oak to the ground and started their journey.
It was fun, the sun was warm and the birds had not yet gone South for the winter, and were chirping and singing gaily. Such a beautiful day.
They came to a glimmering stream, clear and cold and the water was so good, as they were thirsty. There were berries along the way, which theyate when they were hungry.
"How can we cross the stream?" asked Nutty.
"I don't know," said Peanutty, "what shall we do?"
"There has to be some way, but we didn't ask Mom.'
"Yes, there has to be a way." They sat on the bank pondering their problem.
Suddenly, Mr. Beaver splashed up to the shore. "What's the matter? You two look so sad."
"We are to go to Aunt Becky's, but we just can't see how we can cross the stream. We can't swim, you know."
"No, I didn't know." said Mr. Beaver. So he sat down by the two little squirrels, thinking what to do. Mr. Otter swam up and joined them, but he didn't have the answer either.
Grandfather Squirrel poked his head out of his house far abobe them in the Elm tree, and looked down at the sad little group.
"What is the matter?" he called in a crackely voice.
Nutty, Peanutty, Eager Beaver, and Tinker Otter all looked up at Grandfather Squirrel. 'Oh, we have problems!' they cried. "Just a minute and I'll be down." said Grandfather Squirrel as he slowly made his way to the ground.
"He must be awfully old," thought Nutty and Peanutty. His tail was as white as snow!
"Now tell me, what is wrong?"asked Grandfather.
All of them explained that Nutty and Peanutty could not cross the stream to visit Aunt Becky.
Grandfather Squirrel shook his tail back and forth and laughed and laughed! "To think...your mothere didn't tell you how to cross a stream!" he exclaimed. "Now look down stream. Do you see a big maple tree whose limbs reach clear across the river?"
"es." said Nutty and Peanutty.
"Well, climb up the Maple tree...follow the limbs over the stream and soon you will be on the other side!"
"Well, why didn't we think of that?" said Nutty to Peanutty.
"And why didn't we think of that?" said Eager Beaver to Tinker Otter.
"Thanks, Grandfather Squirrel."
So away Nutty and Peanutty ran to the Maple tree, climbed the limbs hanging over the river and were soon on the other side.
They went merrily along and soon met Hazelnutty and Walnutty playing in the tall grass along the path.
"Hello," the said. "We heard you were coming".
"How did you hear?" asked Nutty and Peanutty.
"Oh, we heard through the grape vine", Walnutty and Hazelnutty replied.
The little squirrels raced to the big cotton wood tree which was Aunt Becky's home.
Nutty and Peanutty stayed with Aunt Becky and Walnutty and Hazelnutty for two days...then it was time to go home to attend the big Squirrel festival which would be the next day.
Aunt Becky was up early and had everything packed for the journey. "Come children. It is time to leave." she said. "You may run on ahead and play on the way."
"Good". said Nutty and Peanutty.
"Let's play Follow the Leader," shouted Nutty as he scrambled up the tree.
"O.K." replied Peanutty, Walnutty and Hazelnutty.
They raced to the top of the tree, then down to the lower branches then jumped from one tree to another. It was so much fun!
They came to the river and remembered how to cross on the limbs reaching across the stream. On they went, up and down the trees from one tree to another, laughing and chattering. Soon they were home again.
"Did you have a good time at Aunt Becky's? My, Walnutty, and Hazelnutty, how you have grown!'
Mother Matilda Squirrel brought out a plate of acorns and some flower pods. They tasted so good!
Nutty, Peanutty, Walnutty and Hazelnutty stretched out on the branches of the tree near their home. They were very tired.
Night descended over the forest. The birds chirped now and then. An owl said, "Who, Who" and in the distance could be heard the lonely howl of the coyote. The moon shone down on the old Oak tree and the gentle breeze swayed the tree branches, lulling the squirrels into deep slumber.
No doubt they were dreaming of the Festival on the 'morrow.
