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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
with you。 He missed the stories you used to tell us out of your animal
books and the chats we used to have sitting round the kitchen…fire on
winter nights。 The； animals out there were very nice to us and all that。 But
somehow the dear kind creatures seemed a bit stupid。 Chee…Chee said he
had noticed it too。 But I suppose it wasn't they who had changed； it was
we who were different。 When I left； poor old Chee…Chee broke down and
cried。 He said he felt as though his only friend were leaving him though；
as you know； he has simply millions of relatives there。 He said it didn't
seem fair that I should have wings to fly over here any time I liked； and
him with no way to follow me。 But mark my words； I wouldn't be a bit
surprised if he found a way to comesome day。 He's a smart lad； is Chee…
Chee。〃
At this point we arrived at my home。 My father's shop was closed and
the shutters were up； but my mother was standing at the door looking
down the street。
〃Good evening； Mrs。 Stubbins；〃 said the Doctor。 〃It is my 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 itdon'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
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
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。〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃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 very hard for them to lie still doing nothing。 But
you needn't worry about him。 He will be all right。〃
Then we went back again to the parlor and my mother and father kept
him playing the flute till after ten o'clock。
Although my parents both liked the Doctor tremendously from the first
moment that they saw him； and were very proud to have him come and
play to us （for we were really terribly poor） they did not realize then what
a truly great man he was one day to become。 Of course now； when almost
everybody in the whole world has heard about Doctor Dolittle and his
books； if you were to go to that little house in Puddleby where my father
had his cobbler's shop you would see； set in the wall over the old…
fashioned door； a stone with writing on it which says： 〃JOHN DOLITTLE；
THE FAMOUS NATURALIST； PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THIS HOUSE
IN THE YEAR 1839。〃
I often look back upon that night long； long ago。 And if I close my
eyes and think hard I can see that parlor just as it wa