The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-04-22

~ IS hard SOmeti mes TO tell when the
back Of winter Is fairly broken. The
persistence Of its ycrtebrc in our
climate Is something wonderful. II
surrenders a good many times in liz
later days, only 10 stiilen up more per
pendicuIarly again for a renewed con
test with the inevitable. Some If the
birds which are always with us leave
their haunts In the woods in these in
tervals when the weather relaxes TO
forage near the house and barn They
make q reconnaissance along the more
Travelled roads TO see what bits Of straw
they can lind 70 thresh out, or to
! gather the kernels spilled from the
farmers sleigh on its way TO or from
the mill. have seen the crows par-
ticularly active in this way Of late. as If
their winter fast had made them bold.
and they could endure their en- o-ced
hunger no longer.
The crow, II anybody does. knows
pretty well what he il about. and he
keeps his eyes and mind on the alert
when he has mission near the human
habitation. think ! can see already
that the belief in spring has had its Ell
feet upon him. although the vicissi-
tudes Of the late winter have given him
an early and rigidly compulsory Lent
which he is trying to terminate Just as
ours begins. Not long after / was
watching his and two Of his brethrcn's
movements the other day. pair OF
blucjays came into the yard here, and
both seated themselves on The low
limb Of q tall elm not far from nv win
dow. They were pretty specimens.
with exceptionally soft and rich plum
age; and II they were not making some
calculations for the summer soon 10
come. then they were looking very
wise and discoursiye over matters that
seemed not particle less significant.
They are rare visitors al SO close a
range. but the proximity Of corn
crib % their familiarity perch
may account for the unusual invasion.
On the ID Of March, late in the dav.
| was surprised 70 find within few feet
Of me as opened the do0r-yard gate
leading TO the highway. plump little
red squirrel. who. with his mate. occu.
pies a hollow tree near b.. He II a |
constant summer guest. but he had not |
shown his head for months until that |
moment. He knew me at sight as well /
~ knew him. and Just turned back a |
little On the p'ckcts III the fence which /
he had made his trotting-track until l !
had achieved the passage through IL.
His foresight had served 10 keep him /
fat and sleek. for no squirrel could look \
MS he did who had moi nut ar rafions \
TO the strength and severi.
" Of this uncommon season. There
was luster in his beady eye. too. that
spoke Of good heart and good cheer.
and cordial relish in his enjoyment of
his new observations that assured me
All was well with him and his house
hold But why should he have selected
The I'd Of March for his tribute to the
Did he wish 10 see the very
last Of the Hayes quadrennial. or was
he awaking himself betimes for the in
Of Garfield?
How gracefully at ease this little
rodent deports himself. as II ain infinite
eisure were his. and no carping con
'erns could BE- permitted 70 mar IL. The
'vergrecns near b. were the only OBJ
ccts that gave any sensible hint of
ummer attire. and vet the summer
must somehow have entered into his
bought. His confident step bctokened
hat The worst Of our journey % IL Is
low ended, and that new order OF
hings Is at hand 10 see him. III the
right expcctant attitude he had SO sud
|enly assumed. was vcritablc token
( spring forctoken Of summer
4" Annihilaiing an that's made
10 green thought III q green shade
nv .