Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-06-21
Our 4Juung FOLKS.
Wv Tame Squirrel.

-
| was born and brought up on 4 farm,
far away from the city Ny parents liv-
ed a mile or 70 from small village, on
the bank of a pretty river, the waters Of
which operated some mills short distance
below.
Our house was a funny looking affair,
three stories high, and yet ! could almost
touch the caves on both sides ID was
something ike the letter \, with two at
tics, one above the other. But it was
home for all that
\ lane passed up by our barn toward :
large and beautiful meadow beyond On
one side was stone wall which formed
the boundary of our orchard on the other
arose high ledge Of rocks, over which Il
brook tumblcd down, and ran laughing to
its junction with the river little way be-
low. The tot Of the ledge and tie -iie Of
a modest hill beyond were covered with
groves Of walnut and maple trets-grove>
which remind me, even now, o. the nuts
and maple sugar, which we children al-
ways valued 81 highly ID their season The
lane terminated ln the meadow, before
spoken 81, a quarter 81 mile distant
one day, when returning lrom the
meadow, ! saw a small striped squirrel
On the wall The men had just been talk
ing about tae little creatures, telling how
full of curiosity they were, how they
would pop their heads out Of their hiding
place al the slightest unusual noise, and
now person might approach quite lear
70 them By gently tapping On fence ora
wall with Il stone
Here was good opportunity 10 try tae
experiment. l picked up two small stones,
aud taen very carefully approached THE
squirrel. who seemed ID be waiting 1, sec
what I would DO. When / hal taseu d
few steps toward him. be darteI down iu-
to the wall with a chip-r-r, as if to -ay.
!. No. you dont," | took two 5. three
steps more toward the place whore be bal
been sitting. stood perfectly still tar, eay
three minutes, quI then began ID tau the
stones together, very gently and slowly
In short time up came the little head out
Of the wall. ! stopped tapping, anil very
carefully took p step Or two more toward
the little fellow. IS before lad n3w GOT
within six feet OF him, when down he went
again into tue wall. and out ot II ht Inn
mcdate}y, and without noise, | weuf
close ID THE wall, and Jay down 81 the
bank. with INV face not two feet from tb,
place where the squirrel had been sitting
| laid several kernels of corn upon the
rock, temrtugly. and waitei Is much a-
ten minutes
NAV here tel the boys who have to
work in the hot sun ia Summer time a -e-
crct which may BE Of use to them. When
| wa. Young / always kept Ii handful ST
,heI.ed corn III INV pocket during TIL hot
weather. Perhaps Won can tclT what II
was for. No2 WEI hgt weather Inln-
ces thirst: ana to drinks .rea; dc.l III
water Is hurtfut. But YOU Just hold i law
kernels of corn ia YOUR mouth. II \ hot
day. and see how it VIII allay your thirst.
Don't take NV word for it. but try the
experiment. That why happened ID
have corn in nv pocket to tempt nv ,,,uir-
rel with.
After while took one 81 the stones
and gave three or four gentle taps anon
the wall. 80 reply. In moment or two
| repeated the nose Presently I heard
a scratching in the wall. and soon up came
tine little head. not two feet from mo
wanted to scream with delight, but did
not move an cyelid There .7c were. thu
squirrel and myself. looking into each 9TH
er face for 1T .yl~t half a minute.
could see the little fellow hurried breath
ing distinctly. Once he gave single
chrp-r-r. and braccd his feet firmly jill tde
rock as if ready to vanish il I should
offer any warike menace But | kept
perfectly sti AID. after another good
long stare. tho squirrel coolly gathered up
the corn had put down, anI, with fare
well chip-r-r, he ran into the wall.
OF course | was delighted with nv ey-
pertinent. You may be sure that tried
1t the next day. and with equal success
Only it seemed to me that the littls ami
NAL showed less fear. Within week [
could plainly see that be was growing
tame. always FED him at the same
place and about the same time Of dav.
taking good care that the dog was not Wis
ibIe. and no one about but myself
Not 10 make nv story too long. ID win
suffice to say, that in less than a month
Tommy. as [ called my squirrel, would
actually take corn from my hand. But it
was not corn all the time, for the food .