Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-04-17


dog on his track and concealed myself IN
the thicket, knowing that fox will Of
ten circle and pick up his old track. ]
could hear the hound baying off toward
New Gloucester. Then it changed and
grew more and more distinct, and knew
the fox was returning. | must have
waited some half hour, when ! saw the
fox dart into a hollow log little dis
lance to my left, but he went out the
other end and | remained in my hiding
place, supposing i, trick Of the fox TO
put the dog off his track. The dog was
puzzled only an instant, and followed
the fox on longer circuit this time (; but
in the course OF an hour | saw 1t again
enter one end Of the log and out at the
other. Thinks |, My chap, I'll play you
a Yankee trick BY stopping up the far
Their end of the log. This did, and again
hid myself hoping for third return. |
was hidden about the same length of
time, when, by the voice of my dog, ]
knew the fox was returning. A few
minutes later | saw the fox enter the log.
ran up to the open end and soon had 1t
secured. This being done awaited the
coming up Of the dog, which | tied to
sapling, while went out to get an axe.
soon got back and opened the log sufh-
GENTLY to see four foxes instead of one.
How was that: It's plain enough. One
fox would run until tired, then would
enter the log and another take his place.
But why did not the hound bay the three
in the log: The trail was too hot you
see"
Now, we of the Nail don't care wheth-
er the Journal swallowed the above yarn
or not but let him read the following,
attested by our own ears in every word.
and then doubt, if he can. story for the
first time on the Sabbath day. For "Old
John as we boys on the farm called him,
stayed a, home to guard the house while
we went to church.
you see" he began, "you hadn't been
gone more'n half an hour when | heard
something squeal down cellar. ! sot
here by the kitchen sink. and the GEL
lar door there was wide open just
as It's now, and that back door to keep
cool. didn't mind, but kept on read
ing in this paper an old story used to
hear father tell, about holipg four foxes
in a hollow log, by stopping up one end.
Well, just got through-not through
the log. but the stOry-when there came
another squeal. and as sot right here
in front of the door. so | could see clear
down 10 the bottom stair, kept my ar
tina, way till the third squeal. At that
| looked a little sharp, and | see tarnal
little weasel hop on to the bottom stair,
end then stop and look back. He look
ed anxious a minute and then Jump
down out of sight; but 'twant more n
two minu'es fore there come another
squeal, louder and longer. than to,her.
and then the little scamp of a weasel
Jumped up about two or three or four or
five stairs before he stopped to look back.
When he did,-now you wouldn't believe
there was so big a rat as that this side OF
the one the blessed old ark rested on,
the day arter the food we read on. He
stood on that bottom stair, and when the
weasel looked little over his left should
er, the rat left him alone, and put him
self out of sight. Weasel looked as
much disappointed as you boys did when
you dug out that woodchuck and found
he wasn't there. But down he went
again, and after another squeal. up CO ne
weasel clean into this room, within six
feet of me, and rat settin' on the top
stair. Now | yum -
This wasaold Johns Sunday oath, for
he had been sailor all his days, and
could swear all the week like Fallstaff 5
soldiers in Flankers.
81 yum !" he went on, "if that rat
wasn't as big as decent cat, then
he was as big as a-a-ahem down
went rat again, down cellar. This time
weasel looked clean discouraged but all
at once he stuck up his ears and darted
out that back door. kept in sight of
him till he come to little knoll about as
big as bushel basket, and he begun to
dig; and in less'n five minutes he had
bored hole clean through it, and come
out on t'other side YUM, he had !
Then he come round and went in and
dug little more, and then he cut like a
flash into the house and down cellar
again after that rat
"By this time l begun to smell rat,
and a weasel too. put my hand into
that hole and found it was rat hole
about half way. and weasel hole t'othr
half, and tight one too. Do you see
through it mot the hole but the trap
well, squesl and a tussle come
next, and up come weasel, with rat at.
ter him. You see, weasel could run the
fastest when he'd mind to, but he only
had mind to keep out of the clutches
Of rat and coax him on toward that hole.
It took more'n an hour tackin' ship one
way and t'other to git the right pint o
compass, and that was just over the
mouth of that hole. with rat not more
. yard behind. and lookin' one another
n the face with couple of mouths fell
If no you don't teeth. l YUM you
'ugh' to see 'em
presto change and open sesame, and
weasel was out o sight and rat arter
lin, gum no he want neither-in
ess'n jiffy he was out'n the little end
VI that hole, and in again in the rear, |
Ium. Do you see!-he had i'm. You
,ugh' to heard the sauealin' but twas |