Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-09-13
Fun With a woodchuck.

Jack and l made up our mInts to catch
a woodchuck. We were spending the sum-
mer down ON tn east end of Long Island,
and i1dging from the number of cauli-
flowers eaten by them, the woodchucks
were abundant; sowe determined to catch
one
Farmer BroSn, to whom we spplied for
advice, told us to grab him by the tail as
he went into his hole" This sounded SO
easy that we decided to try it at once.
We found, however, after two or three
days of patient waiting, that the wood
chuck absolutely refused to 60 INTO his
hole while we were within grabbing DIS
tance.
We then set steel traps In the burrows,
but with no effect. We wandered around
the fielcs armed with an old musket, and
succeeded only in wasting large quantity
of powder and lead. We uied TO drown
one out, and after blistering our hands BY
carrying pals of water, were told that
,'woodchuck hasn't lived in that burrer for
two years" We were disappointed, but
not discouraged.
'.Lefs set the rabbit trap, said Jack
one morning as we were planning for the
days campaign.
SO we carried the rabbit trap, which
was great box with swinging door, up
to the hedge back of the barn, and set
1t. Farmer Brown laughed at us, and
said:
''Ef you see chuck, nut for the nearest
hole; eff you iqt thar before HIM you can
stop him from goln' IN"
This plan seemed so much more exciting
than any other that we spent that afternoon
and the next day looking for stray wood
chuck. Toward evening our patience
was rewarded at the SIGHT OF wcodchuck
IN the middle of field. Jack and had
by that time learned the location of the
holes as well as the owners themselves,
and we both started tor a burrow in the
hedge.
The woodchuck saw US, and made for
the sane burrow. He hadn't so far 10 go;
and was evidently In great hurry. Jack
managed to arrive just IN time 10 throw
his hat IN the mouth of the hole, thinking
10 bar the progress of the wcodchuck. ain
hope. On came the woodchuck, and dived
into the burrow. carrying Jacks bat with
him. Just reached the spot in time 10
see the brown stump o! tail vanish, and
near Jack exclaim:
''I wonder WHIST he is going TO do with
my hati"
The loss Of Jack hat cast damper
upon our hunting for the afternoon, and 1t
was not until alter supper that We thought
Of the rabbit trap. When we reached il,
it was sprung. and there was q sound of
that shnxuaA r,1uinly
something was trying TO escape. We car
ried the trap carefully down to the barn,
and opened 1t, SO as 10 lei our prize into a
large barrel
Our happiness was complete; it was q
large wooIchucK. What had tempted HIM
TO so into the trap AIN sure | can't tell,
Probably De was victim OF his own cur
osIiy. AT any Tale. We had bIm safe and
sound in the barrel, anu after We had COW
cred il with board we went 10 our beds
very much elated over cur success
The next morning We rose early, and
went to the barn to see our prize. There
he was n the barrel, Lis little eyes gleam-
ing with rage, and signifying his disappro-
val of our proceedings ty series of short,
sharp barks. Suddenly brilliant Idea
struck me.
''Let's shut the doors. then let him out
on the floor, and have some fun with him, y
/ said.
JACK agreed, snd We soon had every
door and window but one securely faster
co. This winCow was, fortunately for
me, over ooked in our haste TO have our
fun
We turned the barrel over, and out
spTang q very angry woodchuck. lie star
ted directly for Jack, and that youth,
with an agility which | had never given
him credit ior, scrambled into the oat
bin. The animal then turned his endi-
vlded attention to me, and 1 dashed
around the harm, the woodchuck in pur
suit.
Every nail in the barn seemed TO stand
out and lake hold upon some portion OF
my clothing, and ii Was rapidly being re
duced to fragments. Jack jumped cut
OF Tie bin to assist me, but only succeeded
in making the confusion worse. With a
jump The wCoGchuck fastened his teeth
oa JLck's arm. Luckily he only bit
through the sleeve of his loose blue fam
mel shirt. thoroughly frightened, Jack
grGsped rope which hung from one of
the raiters, and swung himself out CT
reach.
At that moment spied the open WIN
dow, and in a second n ore | was cut.
Jack WAS hanging on the rope with ten-
acIOus grip and the woodchuck was trot-
ting around trying to tind an avenue OF
escape. | ran TO the door and threw 1t
open. A dark form whizzed past me aid
JACK dropped iIom the rope. We had
had enough woOdchuck tor one summer.
''W hat ON aIrIh hev you boys been a.
dOInfn inquired Farmer Brown aE We en-
tered the house.
Been having come fun with a wood
chuck. replied Jack, little sheepishly
Farmer Brown laughed, and remarked,
as he took second look at our torn clothes
and flushed faces.
''Ma'al, don t know, but it kinder looks
as ef the woOdchuck had been a-hevin' fun
with you.
And when | III ink the natter over am
Ialher inclined 10 be OF the same opinion.