Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-16
wHIsTLlNG TO SQUIRRELS.

of which little is known in the East
in which he relates the following unique
experience:
Though cannot of course expect all
my readers to sympathize fully IN my
admiration of this little animal, few [
hope will think this sketch of his life
TOO long. [ cannot begin to tell here
how much he has cheered my lonely
wanderings during all the years | have
been pursuing my studies in these glo-
rious wilds; or how much unmistakable
humanity | have found in him. Take
this for example: One calm, creamy,
Indian summer morning, when the nuts
were ripe, I was camped in the upper
pine woods of the south fork of the San
Joaquin, where the squirrels seemed to
be about as plentiful as the ripe burrs.
They were taking an early breakfast be-
fore going to their regular harvest work.
While was busy with my own break
fast l heard the thudding fall of two or
three heavy cones from yellow pine
near me, and stole noiselessly forward
within about twenty feet of the base of
it to observe. In a few moments down
came the Douglass. The breakfast burrs
he had cut off had rolled on the gently
sloping ground into clump of ceanothus
bushes, but he seemed to know exactly
where they were, for he found them at
once. apparently without searching for
them. They were more than twice as
heavy as himself, but after turning them
into the right position for getting good
hold with his long sickle-teeth he man
aged to drag them up to the foot of the
tree he had cut them from, moving back
ward. Then seating himself comfortably.
he held them on end. bottom up, and
demolished them with easy rapidity. A
good deal of nibbling had to be done
before he got anything to eat, because
the lower scales are barren, but when
he had patiently worked his way up to
the fertile ones be found two sweet nuts
at the base of each. shaped like trimmed
hams, and purple spotted like birds
eggs. And Notwithstanding these cones
were dripping with soft balsam, and
covered with prickles, and so strongly
put together that boy would be puzzled
to cut them open with jackknife. he
accomplished his meal with easy dignity
and cleanliness, making less effort appar-
emily than man would in eating eoft
cookery from a plate.
Breakfast done, 1 thought would
whistle tune for him before he went to
work, curious to see how he would be
affected by it. He had not seen me all
the while; but the instant began he
darted up the tree nearest to him, and
came out on small dead limb oppo site
me, and composed himself to listen. I
sang and whistled more than a dozen
tunes, and as the music changed his eyes
sparkled, and he turned his head quick
ly from side to side, but made no other
response. Other squirrels, hearing the
strange sounds, came around on all sides,
chipmunks also. and birds. One of the
birds, a handsome, speckle- breasted
thrush, seemed even more interested than
the squirrels. After listening for while
on one of the lower dead sprays of pine.
he came swooping forward within few
feet of my face. where he remained Hut-
tering in the air for half minute or so,
sustaining himself with whirring wing
beats, like humming- bird in front of a
flower, while I could look into his eyes
and see bis innocent wonder.
! By this time my performance must
have lasted nearly half an hour. l sang
or whistled "Bonnie Doon,'' "Lass %
Gowrie, "O'er the Water to Charlie, !"
"Bonnie Woods O. Cragie Lee," etc., all
of which seemed to be listened to with
bright interest, my first Douglass sitting
patiently through it all, with his telling
eyes fixed upon me until | ventured to
give the "Old Hundredth," when he
screamed his Indian name, Pillillooeet,
turned tail, and darted with Iudicrous
haste up the tree out of sight. his voice
and actions in the case leaving some-
what profane impression, as if he said,
.l'll be hanged if you get me to hear
anything so solemn and unpiney." This
acted as signal for the general dispersal
of the whole hairy tribe, though the birds
seemed willing to wait further develop
ments. music being naturally more in
their line.
One ounce of thoroughwort, one ounce
faxseed, simmer together in one quart
of water until the strength is entirely
extracted strain carefully, and add
one pint of best molasses and half
pound loaf sugar; simmer them care
fully together, and when cold bottle
tight. A few doses of one teaspoonful
at time will alleviate the most dis
tressing cough of the lungs.
The gold medal awarded at the Paris
exposition for dresses was for laven-
der silk, embroidered upon satin with
silk of the same shade. Mrs. Mackev.