Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-28

! What! must SpenG all my Time IN luis
spot, running up and down the same trees,
gathering nuts and acorns, and doing a.
way months together in hole!- see a
great many of the birds who inhabit tins
wood ramble about to distance, wherever
their fancy leads them, and at the approach
of winter set out for some remote country,
| where they enjoy summer weather all the
year round. To be sure have not wings
like them, but have legs nimble enough;
and if one does not use them, ont might as
well be a mole or dormouse.
Idare say could easily reach to that Blue
Ridge which | see from the tops of the
trees which, no doubt, must be fine place,
for the sun comes directly from il every
morning, and It often appears all covered
with red and yellow, and the finest colors
imaginable. There can be no harm at least
in trying, for can soon get back again if
don't like it am resolved TO go, and |
will set out tomorrow morning.
When Squirrel had taken this resolution,
he could not sleep all night, for thinking Of
il /; and at peep Of day, prudently taking
with him as much provision as he could
conveniently carry, he began his journey
in high spirits. He presently got to the
outside of the wood. and entered upon the
oman p,oore III, ,,bod 70 tho loot oc fh,
hills.-These he crossed before the sun
was high and then, having eaten bis break
fast with an excellent appetite, he began
to ascend. twas heavy, toilsome work,
scrambling up the steep sides Of The noun
tain; but Squirrel was used to climbing, so
for while he proceeded expeditiousl y
Often, however, he was obliged to stop and
take breath so that it was good deal past
noon before be had arrived al the summit of
the first cliff. Here he sat down TO eat his
dinner and looking back, was wonderfully
pleased with the fine prospect. The wood
In which he lived, lay far beneath his feet !;
and he viewed with scorn the humble habi-
tation in which he had been born and bred.
When he looked forwards, however, he
was somewhat'discouraged to OBSERVE that
another eminence rose above him, full as
distant as that to which he had already
reached and he now began to feel stiff and
fatigued. However, after little rest he
set out again, though not so briskly as be-
fore. The ground was rugged, bleak and
bare; and to his great surprise, instead OF
finding it warmer as he got nearer the sun,
he found it grow colder and colder. He
had not travelled two hours before his
strength and spirits were almost spent and
he seriously thought Of giving up the point
and returning before night should come on.
While he was thus celebrating with him
self, clouds began to gather round the noun
tain, and to take away all view of distant
objects.
Presently storm Of mingled snow and
hail came down, driven by violent wind,
which pelted poor Squirrel most pitifully,
and made him quite unable to move for.
wards or backwards ;--besides he had COM
pletely lost his road, and did not know
which way to turn towards that despised
home, which il was now his only desire
again to reach. The storm lasted till the
approach Of night and it was as much as
he could do, tenumbed and weary as he
was, to crawl 70 the hollow of rock at
some distance, which was the best lodging
he could find for the night. His provisions
were spent-so that hungry and shivering
he crept into The furthest corner Of the ca
vern, and rolling himselfup, with his bushy
tail over his back, he got little sleep.
though disturbed by the cold and the shrill
whislling of the wind among the stones.
The morning broke over the distant tops
ofthe mountains, when Squire, half frozen
and furnished, came out of his lodging and
advanced, as well as he could, towards the
brow Of the hill, that he might discover
which way TO take. As he was slowly
creeping along, a hungry kite soaring in The
air above, deserted him, and making
stoop, carried him off in her talons. Poor
Squirrel losing his senses with the fright,
was born away with vast rapidity, and
seemed inevitably doomed to become food
for the kites young ones: when an eagle
who had seen the kite seize her prey, pur-
sued her in order 10 take il from her: and
overtaking her, gave her such buffet as
caused her to drop the squirrel in order TO