The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-06-19
FORTHE BOYS & GIRL S.
THESACACIOUS SQUIRREL.

Mayne Rrii'S interesting work just published
bv Tmknor x Co.. entitled The Desert
Home" This, and similar sketches in the
same book are founded on actual character
,.tic- in the habits of animals
While We thu; stood watching the move
mrnts o.. orr hc4r"rs. and conycrsing about
the habits Of these interesting animals. an in
cilcn' o"currcd which very much amused US.
and proved that hravcrs were not the only
animals Fitted with extraordinary saaacitv.
Near til" middle Of the lake TODD a clump
Of tall trees their Trunks immersed for two
or,hrrc feet under the water. These trees
had been upon the bank of the rivulct pre-
vioriS TO the formation Of the dam: and they
were now surrounded on all sides with wa
ter. forming 4 kind # timber i>'c'. 1t was
evident, however, that th.r We're destined to
decay a> they were trees Of poplar species,
and such rs could not live with their roots
covered with wafer
Among tlc tops of the trees, We Observed
several mall animals .capine nimbIy about
from branch % branch. and from tree TO tree.
They wcr" squirrels. They seemed to he
lahorinG under some unusual excitement. as
though they had been alarmed lv the pres
cncc of an enemy. Bat there did not appear
TO BE- any such enemy near them. We no.
ticcl that they passed from tree to tree. run
ming down the trunks of each. as far as the
wafer would allow them: and then. after
looking outward as if they intended to leap
into the lake they would suddenly turn back.
and gallop MO the HIGH branches. There
were in all, about dozen OF them: but the
nimblcness with which they passed from
place to place would have led one 10 believe
that there were ten times that number; and
the twirs and leaves We're constantly kept in
motion. as..linu.h flock Of birds were fit
TING amcrc tiItrl.
We noticed these animals before. from
of trees but not thinking it anything nnnSu-
al. had paid no attention TO them. Now how
ever, it occurred. 20 IL, that these little crca-
lures who never take to water unless COM
PEELED bv absolute necessity. had hc,E cut
off from their usual ran@c hy the forming of
the dam. and were held where they were in
state Of captivity. This was the more evil
dent, as the trees had been stripped of many
of their leaves, and the bark pcalcd from the
more tender twig> and branches. It was
plain that the squirrels had been living for
some time upon short allowance. and were
anxions to Get of from the place.
We now saw what was causing the unusual
commotion among them. Near the trees hut
higher up the lake, small Iog was floating
in the water. 1t had somehow cot into the
stream above. and was being borne down hv
the current. Il was at this moment ncarin"
the little island of timber upon which were
the sluirrcl> but it came on yer, slowly. as
the current through the lake was hardly per
ccptble. 1t was this LOG that was causing
such furry: and the animals evidently
intended should it come near enough. to use
it aS a raft.
We Sca:c'. c-~sclvc> to watrh their mn
nmnvers. On came the los. slowly and .ra1-
uallv; but instead of drifting directly for the
trees. it was borne hv the current in drrc-
tion that would carry it at least twenty wards
from the tree. The squirrels had gathered
mp that side: and now instead OF running mp
and down the trunks. as before. they all stood
upon the topmost branches, apparently watch
ing the motions of the lor.
Poor little creatures" said Mary. ''thcv
will he unable to reach it, after all. What
pity.
Just as she made this reflection. the log
Aoatcd forward to the point where it was like
" to be nearest to the clump in passing A
long branch stretched ont in that direction I;
hnt as we calculated the log would not pass
nearer than twenty yards. On .iiiS branch
the squirrels had now gathered. one behind
the other in a long string: and we conI,l see
the foremost of them straninc himself as if
to spring
"Snrclv. they do not intcnd-thev cannot
leap so far" said Mary as we all stood hold
inc our breath, and watching them with in
tense curiosity.
''Yc> Mi>sa," replied Culio, ode do iutcnd
Gosh, de leap him too, Dis NIGGA see EN-
in Vicinny leap far fnrrcr. Looky now :
Wonder de go-wap"'
As Cudio spoke. the foremost squire
launched ont into the air. and the next mo
Ecnt poUnccd upon the LOG. Then another
followed. and another. looking like 50 man,
birds iyn" through the air in string. unit
the loo was covered with the little creatures
and lioated 'tl witl.it> living car-o:
We supposed they had all succeeded il
getting off: but in this we were mistaken
On looking up to the tree again. we saw
there was one remaining. He appeared no
to have rot ont on the projecting branch il
time for the weiGht Of each Of those tina
preceded him. coming down upon the loo
had pushed it so far off that he was no doubt
atrai! to venture such long leap. lie wa
now running to and fro. apparently in a fran
nc STATE For sometime he Kept >pringin
from tree to tree. running down the trnnk
Of all TO the very cd re of the water. and stop