Presently a squirrel came along, whisking his tail.

"Are you my brother?" asked the child.

The squirrel looked him over carefully.

"Well, I should hope not!" he said. "My fur is neat and smooth, my nest is
handsomely made, and in perfect order, and my young ones are properly
brought up. Why do you insult me by asking such a question?"

He whisked off, and the child waited.

Presently a wren came hopping by.

"Are you my brother?" asked the child.

"No, indeed!" said the wren. "What impertinence! You will find no tidier
person than I in the whole garden. Not a feather is out of place, and my
eggs are the wonder of all for smoothness and beauty. Brother, indeed!" He
hopped off, ruffling his feathers, and the child waited.

By-and-by a large Tommy Cat came along.

"Are you my brother?" asked the child.

"Go and look at yourself in the glass," said the Tommy Cat haughtily, "and
you will have your answer. I have been washing myself in the sun all the
morning, while it is clear that no water has come near you for a long
time. There are no such creatures as you in my family, I am humbly
thankful to say."