branch of an old oak-tree that grew on one of the rocky islands in a
beautiful lake in Upper Canada, called _Stony Lake_ (because it was
full of rocky islands), these little creatures were far from being
contented, and were always wishing for a change. Indeed, they had been
very happy, till one day when a great black squirrel swam to the island
and paid them a visit. He was a very fine handsome fellow, nearly twice as
large as any of the grey squirrels; he had a tail that flourished over his
back, when he set it up, like a great black feather; his claws were sharp
and strong, and his eyes very round and bright; he had upright ears, and
long, sharp teeth, of which he made good use. The old grey squirrels
called him cousin, and invited him to dinner. They very civilly set before
him some acorns and beech-nuts; but he proved a hungry visitor, and ate as
much as would have fed the whole family for a week. After the grey
squirrels had cleared away the shells and scraps, they asked their greedy
guest where he came from, when Blackie told them he was a great traveller,
and had seen many wonderful things; that he had once lived on a forked
pine at the head of the Waterfall, but being tired of a dull life, he had
gone out on his travels to see the world; that he had been down the lake,
and along the river shore, where there were great places cut out in the
thick forest, called clearings, where some very tall creatures lived, who
were called men and women, with young ones called children; that though
they were not so pretty as squirrels--for they had no for on them, and
were obliged to make clothes to cover them and keep them warm--they were
very useful, and sowed corn and planted fruit-trees and roots for
squirrels to eat, and even built large grain stores to keep it safe and
dry for them.

This seemed very strange, and the simple little grey squirrels were very
much pleased, and said they should like very much to go down the lakes
too, and see these wonderful things.