The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-07-31
SUuirreI q Hunting.

For several days we had been prOmlS-
ing ourself the pleasure, as well as the
vigorous and healthy exercise, of squir-
rel hunt, but the weather had been so
warm and dry that there was poor
prospect. On last Friday, however, there
was promise of better weather. The
sky was overcast with clouds, and quite
early in the morning there was slight
shower. At seven o'clock, or thereabout,
we started, in company with Rev. w. ID.
Hendrickson, of the Baptist Church, we
struck out for the hills and valleys, the
homes and good people of Liberty town
ship, and an hour later found ourselves
at the home of Mr.. John Garrett. The
roads were terribly dusty, but otherwise
the travelling was good. The meadow
and the pasture lands look burned, and it
seemed as though the very roots of the
grass were killed. But the corn had
rich green, healthy color, although the
ground where it stands seems literally
baked.
AS we drove down the lane to Garrett's
residence, we heard the noisy ring of
shotgun in the adjacent wood, and soon
saw an old friend coming with trophy
of his skill in Workmanship. After few
preliminaries we all struck out for the
timber, four mighty hunters armed with
shot-guns. The squirrels must have seen
us coming. and lit out for taller timber.
At least we found very few Of them at
home. We had given our breech-loader
to the minister, and we carried an old
fashioned "Yager" borrowed of Police
man Tom Griffiths. Mr.. Griffiths told us
that he had two enormous loads in the
gun for the purpose of killing dogs, and
that If we turned her loose she would be
apt to kick one way and kill the other.
Over in the timber squirrel leaped up
against the side of a sapling, some
twenty-five yards away. We hastily took
aim at the middle of the body, and held
our face away from the stock as we pull
ed the trigger There was not powder
enough in the gun to have killed a grass
hopper. We knocked the squirrel off the
bush, but he got up and Travelled again.
Then it flashed upon us that Tom had
put up practical joke upon us. After a
while we heard CARROTS gun, then the
minister's. in quick succession. When
they came up they had young squirrel
which they had crippled and dug out of
rock pile. Some one suggested that the
squirrel had possibly lain down for nap
in the rock pile, and the two slipped up
and assassinated it. The good lady of
the house afterward declared, with a
4rryi fhot ssthQ
squirrel was considerably bruised" But
we will give these gentlemen credit for
having killed the only one killed by our
party, for we became discouraged and
went back to the house, where the great
est enjoyment of the day was found
that chiefest of blessings to the weary
hunter, first-class country dinner. And
there are no people who understand bet
ter how to get them up than Mrs. Garrett
and her excellent daughters. Ministers
and editors are proverbially bashful and
backward, but this excellent family final
ly persuaded @ both tc eat square meal.
about foot square).
Wespent the afternoon with the family,
MI. Isaac Garrett-who lives near by
having joined our party. Along towards
evening, as we started to get our horse,
we were met by peremprory orders from
the lady of the house to remain for sup
per. After vainly offering every excuse,
we remained until the cool of the even
ing, when we came away, certainly the
happier for. the social enjoyments of the
day, and feeling better for the hours
spent in the pure air, and amid the sacred
atmosphere, the peace and the joy, of
John CARROTS house. We did not kill
any SQUIRRELS but we killed the time most
admirably, among the Liberty hills.