were out walking in the woods, and we met little Sister Sallie. We came to
call on Billie, and cheer him up."

"That is very kind of you," said Mamma Bushytail. "The poor little fellow
is quite miserable. I put his feet in hot mustard water, and gave him some
Jamaica ginger, and he is now in bed. I fear he has the epizootic, which
is a very dreadful disease."

"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Alice, kindly. "Perhaps he only has the pip,
which is not nearly so bad."

"Perhaps," answered Mamma Bushytail. "I have sent Johnnie for some
quinine, and that may help Billie."

"May we see him?" asked Lulu. "Perhaps we can cheer him up."

"To be sure, you may see him," replied Billie's mamma; so she opened the
door a little wider in order that the ducklings might look in the
hollow-stumphouse, for of course they could not enter, as it was too
small. They saw Billie, all wrapped up in blankets, in bed, and he looked
quite ill. But he seemed happy in spite of that, for the hot mustard
footbath had helped him some. He smiled when he saw Jimmie and Lulu and
Alice. Then Jimmie gave Mrs. Bushytail some nice acorns he had picked up
in the woods and had carried under his wing.

"They are for Billie," said Jimmie. Next Lulu gave the sick squirrel-boy
some nice, sweet grass she had gathered on the edge of the pond, and
Alice had some lovely sugared sweet-flag root, which is very good in case
of sickness. Then Billie felt much better, and after a while Jimmie said:
"Let's sing a funny little song for Billie." So Jimmie, Alice and Lulu