"Useless!" said Phonny, "do you call a gray squirrel useless?" "He is not useful in the sense in which the animals of a farm-yard are useful," said Wallace. "He gives pleasure perhaps, but cows, sheep, and hens, are a source of profit. Boys don't care much about profit; but like any kind of animals, if they are pretty, or cunning in their motions and actions." "I like gray squirrels," said Phonny, "very much indeed, if it _is_ boyishness." "It is a very harmless kind of boyishness at all events," replied Wallace. "It is not like some other kinds of boyishness, such as I told you about the other day." "Well, Cousin Wallace," said Phonny, "what would you do, if you were in my case, for a cage?" "I would take some kind of box, without any top to it," replied Wallace, "and lay it down upon its side, and then make a front to it of wires." "Yes," said Phonny, "that will be an excellent plan. But how can I make the front of wires?" "I will come and show you," said Wallace, "when you get the box all ready. You must look about and find a box, and carry it into the shop. Is your shop in order?" "No," said Phonny, "not exactly; but I can put it in order in a few minutes." "Very well," said Wallace. "Put your shop all in order, and get the box, and then come and call me." "Well," said Phonny, "I will." CHAPTER VI. DIFFICULTY. After dinner, Stuyvesant told Phonny that he should be glad to help him about his cage, were it not that he was engaged to go with Beechnut that afternoon, to plow. Phonny was very sorry to hear this. In fact he had a great mind to go himself, and help plow, and so put off making his cage until the next day. It is very probable that he would have decided upon this plan, but while he was hesitating about it, Beechnut came to tell Stuyvesant that he should not be able to finish the plowing that day, for he was obliged to go away. Then Stuyvesant said that he would help Phonny. So they went together into the shop. They found the squirrel safe. Phonny examined the water very attentively, to see whether Frink had been drinking any of it. He was very confident that the water had diminished quite sensibly. Stuyvesant could not tell whether it had diminished or not. "And now," said Phonny, "the first thing is to put the shop in order." So saying, he took the plane away from before the trap, and looked at the hole to see whether Frink had gnawed it any bigger. He had not. Phonny then carried the trap to the back side of the shop and put it upon a great chopping-block which stood there. He did this for the purpose of having the bench clear, so as to put the tools in order upon it. "I am glad that you are going to put this shop in order," said Stuyvesant,--"that is, if you will let me use it afterward." "Yes," said Phonny, "I will let you use it. But what should you want to make in it?" "Why, Beechnut has given me charge of the hen-house," said Stuyvesant, "and I am to have one third of the eggs."