Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-08

al see by the sparkle in your eye that
you have something TO tell us this morn
ing" said Aunt Belle, as Oracle seated
herself.
"My mamma says" answered Oracle,
that my Uncle Paul had tame raccoon,
and it followed him to the store one day
and went behind the counter and ate up the
| eggs and once when farmer brought uncle
some chickens, the raccoon got into his
wagon and began to eat them while the far
mer was in the house."
al should say it was mischievous vii.
lain" said Philip "What kind of an ami
NAL is it ?"
at is as mischievous and cunning as a
monkey" said Aunt Belle and about
twice as large as a cat. Its color, with the
exception Of its nose, which is black, is
blsckish gray. 1t has circle of yellowish
white hair around its eyes and on the sides
of its nose. Its tail has six black rings
around it. Its head is not round like that
of the lion and cat, but is almost pointed,
| like sugar-loaf or cone. Its nose, too,
| is so pointed and flexible that it can easily
be turned into crevices and corners where
it finds worms and SPIDERS besides ants and
| insects of all kinds, which it eats. 1t is not
contented with all these, but goes around
hunting for birds nests and robs them of
| eggs and young birds. 1t is not afraid to
| go into hen-coops for eggs and chickens
or into corn fields to break down the nice
green corn and eat it for its sweet white
milk. 1t is hungry creature, willing to
eat almost anything coming in its way. 1t
has been known to go down by the seaside
and dig oysters and eat them for its
supper.
Oracle held up her hand, for she had
something more to tell so Aunt Belle nod
ded, which meant yes, and she commenced {:
"One day Uncle Paul went with my papa
| to the beach, and the raccoon followed.
After dinner aunt went to find it to give it
some dinner, but it was gone. Then papa
remembered that it did not come home with
them, SO he went back to the beach, and
found the raccoon crying, and trying to get
away, but it couldn't"
"Why not 2" asked Walter. As Oracle
couldn't tell, Aunt Belle said al think it
probable that it was held fast by little
oyster, for sometimes the greedy fellows get
into trap of this kind, when they are dig
ging. If an oyster that is imbedded in the
ground shuts its shell very tightly, the rae
| coon cannot get away, and when the tide
comes in, then the poor creature is drowned"
"Good enough for it hate the greedy
creatures" said Philip sand I'm glad this
sly, greedy, strong.built animal is not as
large as a bison. If it was, there would be
no chance for u.s.
"When Mr.. Twink was SOUTH" said Eddie
Drown, che had his pocket picked by
raccoon."
"Tell us about it," shouted the children.
Gall | know about it is that he had a lot
of bills taken from his pocket one night,
and supposed that some one entered his room
and stole them but the next day the cham
bermad found them pretty well chewed up
where the raccoon had been eating oranges
and other things it had stolen from the din
ing room.
"That is just like raccoon. 1t will do
almost anything to crafty its appetite.
There are but few things that it does not
eat A writer says One of these animals
ate piece of cedar pencil which it snstched
from my hand, and tried very hard to eat
the envelope of a letter on which was max
ing notes. Not succeeding in the attempt,
it consoled itself by tearing the paper into
minute morsels, using teeth and paws in
the attempt Itdid its best to get ring off
my finger by hitching one of its crooked
claws into the ring, aud pulling with all its
strength, which was considerable for an ami
NAL of its size. Its brown eyes lighted up
with animation when engaged in play, and
it was very fond of pushing its paw through
the bars of its cage in order to attract at
tention.'
MANY years ago the raccoon was SO
troublesome to the farmers of Vermont and
New Hampshire that they used to go coon
hunting which was an exciting sport to
the men and large boys. The dogs which
they took along with them seemed to like
the sport, and when once on the trail |
would chase the raccoon until it took |
refuge in a tree. The boys then made a
blazing fire under it, which served to blind |
the raccoon and discover its hiding-place. |
A good climber would then ascend the tree,
and take the frightened animal away.
Sometimes the hunter would strike its feet |
with long clu b and knock it from the tree,
but instead of falling to the ground it
would catch hold of limb with its tail and |
hang by it,"