It was a huge pile of big , fat hickory nuts . Now who could remain ill-tempered and cross with such a lot of goodies spread before him ? Certainly not Happy Jack or his cousin , Chatterer the Red Squirrel . They just had to smile in spite of themselves , and when Striped Chipmunk urged them to sit down and help themselves , they did . In three minutes they were so busy eating that they had forgotten all about their quarrel and were laughing and chatting like the best of friends . `` It 's quite a family party , is n't it ? '' said Striped Chipmunk , for you know they are all cousins . Whitefoot the Wood Mouse happened along , and Striped Chipmunk insisted that he should join the party . Later Sammy Jay came along , and nothing would excuse him from sharing in the feast , too . When everybody had eaten and eaten until they could n't hold another thing , and it was time to think of going home , Striped Chipmunk insisted that Happy Jack and Chatterer should divide between them the big , fat hickory nuts that were left , and they did without once quarreling about it . `` Thanksgiving comes but once a year , And when it comes it brings good cheer , '' said Striped Chipmunk to himself as he watched his guests depart . CHAPTER XII HAPPY JACK DOES SOME THINKING To call another a thief does n't make him one . Happy Jack . Happy Jack sat up in a chestnut tree , and his face was very sober . The fact is , Happy Jack was doing some very hard thinking . This is so very unusual for him that Sammy Jay stopped to ask if he was sick . You see he is naturally a happy-go-lucky little scamp , and that is one reason that he is called Happy Jack . But this morning he was thinking and thinking hard , so hard , in fact , that he almost lost his temper when Sammy Jay interrupted his thoughts with such a foolish question . What was he thinking about ? Can you not guess ?
Why , he was thinking about those big , fat hickory nuts that Striped XXXXX had had for his Thanksgiving dinner , and how Striped Chipmunk had given him some of them to bring home .
Chatterer Chipmunk Jack Jay Squirrel Whitefoot left minutes scamp year