The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle Read Online Free PDF Page A

fault your son
is so late. I made him stay to supper while his clothes were drying.
He was soaked to the skin; and so was I. We ran into one another in the
storm and I insisted on his coming into my house for shelter."
    "I was beginning to get worried about him," said my mother. "I am
thankful to you, Sir, for looking after him so well and bringing him
home."
    "Don't mention it—don't mention it," said the Doctor. "We have had a
very interesting chat."
    "Who might it be that I have the honor of addressing?" asked my mother
staring at the gray parrot perched on the Doctor's shoulder.
    "Oh, I'm John Dolittle. I dare say your husband will remember me. He
made me some very excellent boots about four years ago. They really
are splendid," added the Doctor, gazing down at his feet with great
satisfaction.
    "The Doctor has come to cure my squirrel, Mother," said I. "He knows all
about animals."
    "Oh, no," said the Doctor, "not all, Stubbins, not all about them by any
means."
    "It is very kind of you to come so far to look after his pet," said my
mother. "Tom is always bringing home strange creatures from the woods
and the fields."
    "Is he?" said the Doctor. "Perhaps he will grow up to be a naturalist
some day. Who knows?"
    "Won't you come in?" asked my mother. "The place is a little untidy
because I haven't finished the spring cleaning yet. But there's a nice
fire burning in the parlor."
    "Thank you!" said the Doctor. "What a charming home you have!"
    And after wiping his enormous boots very, very carefully on the mat, the
great man passed into the house.

The Sixth Chapter. The Wounded Squirrel
*
    INSIDE we found my father busy practising on the flute beside the fire.
This he always did, every evening, after his work was over.
    The Doctor immediately began talking to him about flutes and piccolos
and bassoons; and presently my father said,
    "Perhaps you perform upon the flute yourself, Sir. Won't you play us a
tune?"
    "Well," said the Doctor, "it is a long time since I touched the
instrument. But I would like to try. May I?"
    Then the Doctor took the flute from my father and played and played and
played. It was wonderful. My mother and father sat as still as statues,
staring up at the ceiling as though they were in church; and even I, who
didn't bother much about music except on the mouth-organ—even I felt
all sad and cold and creepy and wished I had been a better boy.
    "Oh I think that was just beautiful!" sighed my mother when at length
the Doctor stopped.
    "You are a great musician, Sir," said my father, "a very great musician.
Won't you please play us something else?"
    "Why certainly," said the Doctor—"Oh, but look here, I've forgotten all
about the squirrel."
    "I'll show him to you," I said. "He is upstairs in my room."
    So I led the Doctor to my bedroom at the top of the house and showed him
the squirrel in the packing-case filled with straw.
    The animal, who had always seemed very much afraid of me—though I had
tried hard to make him feel at home, sat up at once when the Doctor came
into the room and started to chatter. The Doctor chattered back in
the same way and the squirrel when he was lifted up to have his leg
examined, appeared to be rather pleased than frightened.
    I held a candle while the Doctor tied the leg up in what he called
"splints," which he made out of match-sticks with his pen-knife.
    "I think you will find that his leg will get better now in a very short
time," said the Doctor closing up his bag. "Don't let him run about for
at least two weeks yet, but keep him in the open air and cover him up
with dry leaves if the nights get cool. He tells me he is rather lonely
here, all by himself, and is wondering how his wife and children are
getting on. I have assured him you are a man to be trusted; and I will
send a squirrel who lives in my garden to find out how his family are
and to bring him news of them. He must be kept cheerful at all costs.
Squirrels are naturally a very cheerful, active race. It is