Litchfield enquirer., 1830-04-01

feet in putting it on.
 "One day while I was very busy watch 1 ing them, a heavy shower came on so sud- denly that had not noticed its approach. The wind blew very tempestuously all the time it was not till the storm had consid- erably abated that I could look about me and observe the condition of my friends, the beavers.-When did so, I could not but remark with surprise, how comfortably and perfectly sheltered they had been. They had retreated to the inside of their cabins, where neither wind nor rain could get at them observed large trees rooted up and fragments hurled from the rocks ,; but the houses of the beavers stood perfect ly firm and were quite dry on the inside, for by this time had got familiar enough to take peep without disturbing them at all.
 Different materials, wood, stone, and kind of sandy earth, were used in the construction of these houses the wood was principally that of Ofalders, willows, and pop lars, which grew on the bank of the river, and were most easily cut, stripped of their bark and transported, than heavier and more solid trees could have been. The beavers cut them off about foot from the ground. They do this in sitting pos ture, and enjoy at the same time the pleas ures of gnawing the bark and wood which is their favorite food. After the cabins were finished, the beavers employed them- selves in laying in ample stores of provi- sions.-This seemed to be done in exact proportion to the size of the cabin and the number of its inhabitants, and the Indians told us that they never pillaged from one another.-Some families consisted of only three or four individuals: the largest cab- ins contained 30; but generally there were from 10 to IA inhabiting one dwelling.
 |" "They never quarrel with one another: when danger approaches they give notice by striking their tails on the water. Some on such occasions plunge into the water for security; others conceal themselves wltll- in their walls, which no animal will attempt either to enter or overturn.
 "I was charmed with the neatness ot these houses the floors were spread with the green branches of the box and fir trees, and were always kept quite clean. me window that faces the water answers for balcony to receive the fresh air. and for the purpose of bathing. Those windows are made high enough to prevent being stopped up with ice, which is often or 3 feet thick on the river it is very important to the beavers to keep up a free communication with the water they often swim for con- siderable distance under the ice ]; and thelr favorite position, when in their houses' sec med to be sitting on an end at their win dows. with the lower part ofthe body in the water.
 In September, they collect their provi- sions. From this time till the close of the winter they remain in their cabins, enjoy the fruits of their labors, and the pleasures of society. This is their time of lepose. In the spring they separate the males re- tire into the country to enjoy the pleasures and the fruits of the season. They return, however, occasionally to their cabins, but dwell there no more. The females con tinue in the cabins, and are occupied III nursing, protecting, and rearing their young, which are in few weeks in con- dition to follow their dams. The beavers do not assemble again till autumn unless their banks or cabins be injured by inunda- tions, for when this happens, they suddenly collect their forces and repair the breaches that have been made."
 Buying goods asleep.-We hope nobody will doubt the truth of the following anec- dote, nor cali in question the propriety of putting down the hero as Dutchman, seeing that the Knickerbockers and the Schlalenschlagers have prescrptive right of snoozing whensoever and wheresoever they please.
 A fat descendant of one of the old Dutch burghers of this goodly city, was awhile a. 20 attending an auction sale. Every body knows that at these sales a nod is taken for a bid. Very soon after the sale commen- ced, the Dutch merchant, who had set up late at row-de-dow the night before, fell into comfortable snooze in which con- dition, as people are apt to do who sit and sleep, he kept
 "Nd, nod, nodding" The auctioneer, supposing he was buying { goods all the while, knocked down several thousand dollars worth in his name. The sale was closed, and the Dutchman, uncon- scious of having made any purchases, rub- bed his eyes and returned home. IL may well bo supposed then, that he was prodi- giously astonished the next morning, when a bill of goods as long as his arm, purpor- ting to have been purchased by him the day