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People
by Clara Dillingham Pierson
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Table of Contents
The Black Spanish Chickens
The Wigglers Become Mosquitoes
The Naughty Raccoon Children
The Timid Little Ground Hog
The Young Raccoons Go to a Party
The Skunks and the Oven-Bird's Nest
The Lazy Cut-Worms
The Night-Moth's Party
The Lonely Old Bachelor Muskrat
The Greedy Red Fox
The Unfortunate Fireflies
The Kittens Come to the Forest
The Inquisitive Weasels
The Thrifty Deer-Mouse
The Humming-Bird and the Hawk-Moth
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MY DEAR LITTLE FRIENDS:--You can never guess how much I have enjoyed writing these stories of the night-time, and I must tell you how I first came to think of doing so. I once knew a girl--and she was not a very little girl, either,Ñwho was afraid of the dark. And I have known three boys who were as brave as could be by daylight, but who would not run on an errand alone after the lamps were lighted. They never seemed to think what a beautiful, restful, growing time the night is for plants and animals, and even for themselves. I thought that if they knew more of what happens between sunset and sunrise they would love the night as well as I.
It may be that you will never see Bats flying freely, or find the Owls flapping silently among the trees without touching even a twig. Perhaps while these things are happening you must be snugly tucked in bed. But that is no reason why you should not be told what they do while you are dreaming. Before this, you know, I have told you more of what is done by daylight in