Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-10-29
White WO0dchuckS.
BY 8. f. CHURCH.

Poor old Jake! how the people did ard
do bother him. Jake was clever old man,
but not very popular among his neighbors,
for this reason. He was richer than the
whole possee of poor scamps around him ;
and they, because he would not trust them
for everything they wanted, used to fix him
every way they could do it. He truly was
not blessed with great share Of common
sense, and much less with ready wit and
foresight; So his mischievous neighbors, one
CT whom was full of develtry, found him IN
easy prey. This one, who, for the want of a
better name, we will call Burt, never let an
opportunity slip of fixing Jake. Now, Mr..
Burt was one of the easy good-natured tei-
lows, who did not care any great about
work; if he could help it-with a
swarm of little responsibilities around him,
noisy tie brats as ever came into the town
of B., and not finding any ready means
Of getting living without work, he con-
cluded to try Jake and see what could be
got out of him. So off be went to the resi-
dence of Jake, whom he found as usual, at
home. 75- s.f
= "Jake!" said Burt, going up to him,
eatin' up all your grass"
sWoodchucks e-e-eatin' up my grass,
dye say?" suffered Jake, in his hurry to
speak. s-s --.s.- .s. -.
"Yes, Jake, that's what they are aduin. "
@Whar bouts? let me hear-come say
on!' sputter Jake, faster than ever.
"Right north of the tater patch, in the
mowin', and they'll spile your hay, there
such grist on 'em! Why, ! skeert up
six when l cum through there, just now!"
"Pll tell We what, Mr.. Burt, Tll give you
pound of butter for every one you'll ketch
off er my farm.
sDonep' said Burt, and started for home,
adding as he went along "I've got him
-l'll fix him. +" f...-- s...s...
That afternoon Burt collected all the steel
traps in the vicinity, and going all over the
hills and around the ledges off from Jake's
farm, sure enough he made sweeping work
amongst the woodchucks. Woodchuck
after woodchuck came to Jake, till at last
even his thick skull began to mistrust some
thing. s. ya
"M-M-Mr. B B-Burt,'' said he, one fne
morning, as the the twenty first ananils
was presented to him, "you get these Oft er
my farm, sartain sure, don't yer!"
"All of of your farm, Jake was the
answer. -
"WeIl, Mr.. Burt" said Jake, for his
butter was growing minus, al guess you
needn't ketch any more woodchucks for me
guess you've got 'em all; | shan't give
you any more butter, any how. s..
Burt went off. "I'll have a little spor
with him to pay for this. "
One evening, about week from this time
Burt came into Jake's house, post haste.
whats the matter now" ciied Jake, il
astonishment. ..-,.,.r
"I've got white woodchuck in the trap
and if you'll go and ct i'm you may have
'im, - ..-... ~. ....
sWhar is it?" suffered Jake, for he hat
heard Of the @critter'' before. sE C -
Right in the ledge, close ter the paste
bar" @
81 know IN have him;" and Jake pick
edsup cudgel, and made tracks for ihs
white woodchuck. He soon came to tht
spot designated, and marched boldly to th'
trap. A form was dimly visible in thu
darkness. "I'll fix you!' cried Jake, il
ecstacies, and he bent his head close to th'
object. At that moment stream Of per
tun,e filled his face, and roar Of laughle
from dozen youngsters, who had hidder
in the bushes in order to see the sport.
''lt's skunk! It's a d-n sku-
nnkH" and the way he took himself few
feet from there was caution. On being
told the true state OF affairs he exclaimed
"rhat are Burt is devil, but guess h
wont get any more butter from this quar-
ter, nor get me to take any more aohite
uooodchucks out Of his trapl''-Flag o
| Our Union.