Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-07-07
sglunlhs' Column.
MR.. THOMPSON AND THE
SQUIRRELS.

nlng all DAY mol. tnat ne WAS lonu
of cunning, but everybody else went
cunning SO in order to be in fashion
Mr.. Thompson purchased shotgun,
some powder and shot, and a pipe.
Mr.. Thompson never smoked, but he
had read of hunters smoking their
pipes so he bought pipe as a part
of his outfit.
After he had tramped around
through the woods all the morning
and had not seen living thing to
shoot at, he became tired, and sat
down under tree to rest and eat his
sandwiches, and as he had read it
was the proper thing for a hunter to
do, to smoke his pipe. He sat at
the foot of large hickory-tree, and
as he puffed slowly and painfully at
his pipe he began to consider that
hunting was not so much fun after
all. His legs were tired, his hands
were scratched by the brambles, and
there was big blister on his Shout
der where he had been carrying his
gun.
Il don't believe there are any
squirrels in this woods, anyhow" he
muttered in disgust. A litter in the
tree above him attracted his attention,
and he stopped to listen.
"He don't believe there are any
squirrels Ha, ha, la ]"
"Tee, he, he, he -
SHOW that smoke smells Phew !!
it's worse than gunpowder," came
from the tree.
81 DON'T see how men can smoke
the nasty stuff chartered the sec
ond voice.
"Nor /. Let's drop nut on his
pipe, and put it out"
Then came another litter, and
plump down came a big walnut on
the bowl of the pipe; the stem slip
ped from Mr.. Thompson's nerveless
lips, and the pipe fell on the ground
beside him.
'sGood!" exclaimed both voices in
unison.
Mr.. Thompson looked up. There,
on branch just above his head, sat
two squirrels gazing down upon him
with great satisfaction.
"We put your old pipe OUT" cried
the larger one in great glee.
''Come up here" added the SECOND
voice, invitingly.
Mr.. Thompson looked up the tree
fifteen feet smooth and solid, with.
out limb or knot to afford foot
hold. II can't come up" he replied
''Come on come on why not?
shouted the two squirrels in chorus
''Just stick your claws into thu
bark and come on"
Mr.. Thompson shook his head sad
ly, ahd looked down at his hands
He gave an involuntary start. Hi
hands had grown smaller; he hat
grown smaller, and in place of hi
carefully kept white fingers, and hi
rather small feet, of which he wa
very proud, were four hairy paw
just like squirrels; his gray cordu
roy shooting-coat had changed int
gray fur, and he was conscious of
long bushy tail which swept ovel hi
back. He shook himself for a me
ment to realize that the change wa
true; then sprang to his feet, an
scampered lightly up the side of tn
tree.
"We told you you could come u
all right exclaimed the larger squi
rel, as Mr.. Thompson gained tt
limb.
"You look like quite respectab
squirrel" said the other.
II say" interrupted the frs
"what do you want to shoot us fol-
We never do you any harm, but &c
men are always after us"
MI. Thompson looked very sheepis
for few minutes finally he mute
ed something to the effect that he d
not shoot any.
81 know" answered the squire
cheerfully, ''you never shoot, b
cause, in the first place, you are
much interested in what is going (
on the ground that you never THU
to look up in the trees then, if som
body points us out to you, you do
you did the other day, and stop
see what you are going to do" a
the squirrel laughed again.
"Well, you see,'' explained N
Thompson, volubly, Il don't C;
for cunning, but l am interested
the habits of animals, and ! try
study them at every opportunity
Interested, Ell? Well, then
think can show you a thing or tV
Come on" said the larger squirrel
He jumped from branch to bran
Mr.. Thompson following. At
they reached tall tree, nearly at
top was what appeared to be gr
bunch of dry leaves lodged in a crot
But when Mr.. Thompson came cl
to it he discovered that it was M
of twigs, curiously twined togetl
and made into sort of q nest.
This" said the squirrel, sis
summer residence. You see ii
strongly enough built to Whilst
the lighter storms of summer; t
the foliage on the trees protects il
WE'LL
''How do you get mp inqu