Transcriber's Note
The spelling, grammar and punctuation in this ebook are variable andunusual. These oddities have been preserved to match the original 1807 document.
A few minor corrections have been made where typographical errors were suspected.Details of these changes can be found in a Transcriber's Note at the end of this text.
THE
ADVENTURES
OF A
SQUIRREL,
SUPPOSED TO BE
RELATED BY HIMSELF.
PRINTED BY AND FOR DARTON AND HARVEY
GRACECHURCH-STREET.
1807.
Price Sixpence.
PREFACE.
When I was upon a visit at your good mamma's, I promised to makeyou a present. Now a present for a girl of your age (if I onlyconsidered your age) is easy enough to find; but when I think onyour good sense, I cannot reconcile myself to buy for you what Iotherwise should. Not to keep you in suspense, I have at lastfound out a present, which I hope will be agreeable to you. Attendto the following adventure: I was walking, about a week ago, inthe fields adjoining my house at Croydon. The evening was sodelightful, I wandered insensibly much farther than I at firstintended to go. The prospect was so charming, and the hay smelt soagreeably, that I never thought of returning, till I found myself[Pg iv]rather tired, so sat down by one of the haycocks to rest myself.After having sufficiently rested, I made the best of my waytowards home; when, (guess my surprise!) putting my hand in mypocket, I felt something soft, which seemed as if it moved, andpulling it out, I found it to be as pretty a Squirrel as you wouldwish to see. He ran round the table several times, and giving agood spring, seated himself on the dumb waiter. I immediately saidto one of my servants: "I wonder how this squirrel got in mypocket," when my surprise was greatly increased by hearing it say,"If you will use me kindly, I will relate my history, and then youwill learn what made me get into your pocket." My dear Anneimmediately came in my mind, for I thought nothing would be moreagreeable to her than, "The Adventures of a Squirrel, related byhimself." "Come and sit nearer to me," said I, "that I may hearbetter all you are going to relate." After having seated himselfonce more, he began as follows.
ADVENTURES
OF A
SQUIRREL, &c.
CHAPTER I.
I was born in Caen Wood, near Hampstead. Being taken out of thenest, (in which were my mother and my brother,) very young, Ishall begin by telling you, I was carried to the house of him thatstole me, which was at Hackney. Here I was tied to a long pole,till he could procure a cage, which was not