Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-01-31
A Mild Xintsr.

"Muskrsts amt troubling themselves
much abott hard winter," said an old
hunter Yesterday. "YOu don't fool
them much en the weather." he con-
tinued; ''they're better than an alma
mac. I've watched them o good many
years over In the American bottom, and
/ can always tell along in The fan
whether we are going 10 have an open
winter or not How can j tellg ad-
,ded the Nimrod, repeating the report.
er's question Fay enough ! don't
have to feel Tor Il, either. IL it's going
TO be hard winter. you'll see the
muskrats commence house-building
early In the fall. and by this time they
will have their mounds on the marshes
built up of mud and sticks and leaves
three or four feet above water. But u
the weather Is going 10 be mild, you'll
see nothing of that kind" A colored
man from Bonhomme bottom where
he has lived most of the time since the
war. was standing by, and added his
testimony as to the signs OF the season
IL tell you, boss" said he, ''de groun'
hog am de animal dat goes by. He's
learned more about de weather dan all
de rest OBJ de beasts. Ii he kin see his
shadow when he comes outen his hole
in February he gifts back in de groun'
quick and stays thar six weeks longer.
Then you can bet thar II be late
spring. He's Jest as smart about de
winter, foah if it's gwinc to be warm
he jes' scratches a shsller hole to hide
in; that's all hc.wsnts. But If it's gwine
ter freeze hard be lgoin deep and make
hisself warm nest of dry grass and
leaves. De groun' hog amt trou lin
any bout cold weather, now. He's
made up his mind it's no use an is
going to lib close to de top OBJ de groun'
widout any bed dis winter. amt got
any use for big wood pile dis winter.
nor you won't either, boss" and the
colored scientist walked away! Look-
ing for further information, the reporler
questioned well known pollterer in
Union market and was informed that
the inner skin of chicken gizzards peel.
ed off very easily, a never failing sign
they say OF green Christmas. Another
point was gained from farmer who
says the corn husks are remarkably
thin and light this fall, another evil
dence recognized as a promise of thin
Ice.
Mallard ducks have very few feathers
this fall. "You needn't fear much cold
weather when the ducks are not well
feathered," remarked Judy, the game.
dealer. Another thing" said he, 1.-THE
III fTVU ha Vrnf
They are feeding north of here and
will come down later and stay around
here as they did two years ago." Cnris
Meiderwciser. of Baden, cites the old,
iniallible German sign OF the breast
bone of q goose, to prove that fuel
ought to be cheap this winter. Chris
killed goose for dinner last Sunday.
and after eating the meat from the
breast found the bone 30 thin that he
could see through it. If the winter
were going to be very cold" he says,
"the goose bone would have been three
times as thick"
Ripe tomatos, picked daily from the
vines, are for sale on Union market. q
luxury. Grundemeyer says, that is not
afforded SO late in the season one year
in ten.
Ii further evidence is needed to con-
vince the skeptical that there is no ne
cessity for squandering fortune In
coal, it is afforded in the willy catfish OF
the Missouri river. When the stream
is go ng to freeze up, the catfish knows
it long enougA in advance to prepare
himself with Il good thick hide. Joan
son, the ti,hmonger, declares the cat
fish had skins like whales last winter,
but now their winter covering is as thin
as silk LOUIS Globe Democrat.