A SQUIRREL-STORY.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTAT011.1
Sin,—We are staying in the little village of West Burton, near Aysgarth, in Wensleydale. On coming down this morning we found a little red squirrel seated on the ball which surmounts the market cross. This cross consists of a spire 20 ft. high standing on an octagonal platform of five steps; the last 3 ft. of the spire are dressed stone, and the summit of the cross is crowned by a small bali supporting the weather-vane.
The little creature seems to have been attracted by some outs left by the village children on the steps, and early this morning a dog chased him up the spire. We wondered very much at his agility in climbing so steep and smooth an object, and were much concerned as to his fate. When we left the village to walk to church about 10 o'clock this morning he was sitting where we found him, and on our return he was still there, though in a different position. We did not expect to be witnesses of his escape. While we were having dinner, however, he began to move about, and finally ran rapidly down, stopping for a moment to eat a few nuts, till, frightened by the interest caused by his descent, he jumped away across the grass. We were not sure that he would get away in safety as there were several dogs about, but fortunately he ran up a neighbouring house and over the roof to the woods.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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