Happy Jack

STRIPED CHIPMUNK’S THANKSGIVING DINNER

    There’s nothing quite so sweet in life
    As making up and ending strife.

    Happy Jack.

Striped Chipmunk jumped out of bed very early Thanksgiving morning.  It was going to be a very busy day.  He had invited Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel, and Chatterer the Red Squirrel, to eat Thanksgiving dinner with him, and each had promised to be there.  Striped Chipmunk chuckled as he thought how neither of his guests knew that the other was to be there.  He washed his face and hands, brushed his hair, and ate his breakfast.  Then he scurried over to his splendid new storehouse, which no one knew of but himself, and stuffed the pockets in his cheeks with good things to eat.  When he couldn’t stuff another thing in, he scurried over to the nice, mossy log on the edge of the Green Forest, and there he emptied his pockets, for that was to be his dining table.

Back and forth, back and forth between his secret storehouse and the smooth, mossy log hurried Striped Chipmunk.  He knew that Happy Jack and the Chatterer have great appetites, and he wanted to be sure that there was plenty of good things to eat.  And as he scurried along, he sang a little song.

    “Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
    But when it comes it brings good cheer. 
    For in my storehouse on this day
    Are piles of good things hid away. 
    Each day I’ve worked from early morn
    To gather acorns, nuts, and corn,
    Till now I’ve plenty and to spare
    Without a worry or a care. 
    So light of heart the whole day long,
    I’ll sing a glad Thanksgiving song.”

Promptly at the dinner hour Happy Jack appeared coming from one direction, and Chatterer the Red Squirrel coming from another direction.  They didn’t see each other until just as they reached Striped Chipmunk’s smooth, mossy log.  Then they stopped and scowled.  Striped Chipmunk pretended not to notice anything wrong and bustled about, talking all the time as if his guests were the best of friends.

On the smooth, mossy log was a great pile of shining yellow corn.  There was another pile of plump ripe acorns, and three little piles of dainty looking brown seeds.  But the thing that Happy Jack couldn’t keep his eyes off was right in the middle.  It was a huge pile of big, fat hickory nuts.  Now who could remain ill-tempered and cross with such a lot of goodies spread before him?  Certainly not Happy Jack or his cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel.  They just had to smile in spite of themselves, and when Striped Chipmunk urged them to sit down and help themselves, they did.  In three minutes they were so busy eating that they had forgotten all about their quarrel and were laughing and chatting like the best of friends.

“It’s quite a family party, isn’t it?” said Striped Chipmunk, for you know they are all cousins.

Whitefoot the Wood Mouse happened along, and Striped Chipmunk insisted that he should join the party.  Later Sammy Jay came along, and nothing would excuse him from sharing in the feast, too.  When everybody had eaten and eaten until they couldn’t hold another thing, and it was time to think of going home, Striped Chipmunk insisted that Happy Jack and Chatterer should divide between them the big, fat hickory nuts that were left, and they did without once quarreling about it.

    “Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
    And when it comes it brings good cheer,”

said Striped Chipmunk to himself as he watched his guests depart.