She
used to find their stores of nuts and carry them away and fill the
holes with pebbles; and this, when you are a hard-working squirrel
with a large family to support, is very trying to the temper. Then
she would tie acorns to their tails; and she would clap her hands
to frighten them, and pull the baby-squirrels' ears; till at last
they offered a reward to anyone who could catch Fairy Fluffikins
and bring her to be punished.
No one caught Fairy Fluffikins; but she caught herself, as you
shall hear.
She was poking about round a haystack one night, trying to find
something naughty to do, when she came upon a sweet little house
with pretty wire walls and a wooden door standing invitingly open.
In hopped Fluffikins, thinking she was going to have some new kind
of fun. There was a little white thing dangling from the roof, and
she laid hold of it. Immediately there was a bang; the wooden door
slammed; and Fluffikins was caught.
How she cried and stamped and pushed at the door, and promised to
be a good fairy and a great many other things! But all to no
purpose: the door was tight shut, and Fluffikins was not like some
fortunate fairies who can get out of anywhere.
There she remained, and in the morning one of the labourers found
her, and, thinking she was some kind of dormouse, he carried her
home to his little girl; and if you call on Mary Ann Smith you will
see Fairy Fluffikins there still in a little cage.
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