Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-05-24
Prairie Dogs.

"When I was little boy my father NOV.
ed from Hoosierdom over upon broad end
blooming prairie in Illinois," said man to
reporter Of the Chicago Mail THAT
prairie, stretching as far as the eye could
see to the north and west, was one vast
garden OF flowers from April to November.
There must have been hundred varieties
ot wild blooming plants, ranging from the
lowly strawberry, with its white blossoms To
the saudy, famboyant wild marigod, whose
Oriental splendors gave vivid color TO miles
anG miles of undulating plain. But this by
the way. Istarted to speak CT the prairie
dogs. The flowers were scarcely more nu.
merors than they. You might ride for miles
along path AankeG on either side by their
villages, which were seldom more than
few rods apart. These villages, always on
some little knoll were populous. The horse
man who approaciRd one Of them would see
sentinel sitting gravely motionless at the
door Of every burrow. One could scarcely
tell these septries from bits Of wood, so still
and straight were they. SO much part in
seeming Of the great, silent landscape. But
if ever there was case of now you see it
and now you DON'T those little sentinel
prairie dogs offer the traveller striking ex-
ample. He sees them there, as silent and
impressive as the scntries Of Pompeii, and
wonders what they will do when he gets
closer. He keeps his eye fixed On two or
three of them and uucopsciousy checbs bis
horse, go that the clatter of boofs may not
twenty PAGES, when 10 ! the sentries are gone.
swallowed them. He rubs his eyes and
cl l.,.
sion. He looks back 10 assure himself, when
10 the sentries are there, as still and statu-
esque as before. One time my father
trapped four or five of them. don't know
hoFg be managed it; I've forgotten that; 1
think they must have been young and fool
ish, like baby rats, which venture where
their pa and ma would nevergo. Ny father
brought them home and we children hugged
ourselves in delight ss We faucied them as
pretty pets like squirrels or white rabbits.
a cage was quickly fitted up the captives
were placed in it and surrounded by all the
dainties which we fancied could tempt them
to forget their captivity. Our parents kept
Us away from the cage, az tho little stran-
gers regarded Us with q torror which they
die not attempt 10 conceal. But we went
to place mere food before them lie next
morning. The food previously provided
had not been touched. The little prisoners
sat YEARLY On their hauDches in the dark
extremity oftheir cell. Childish curiosity
was repressed Till the second morning., when
the cage was again visited. The captives
sat in the samo position, snd no norsel of
the varied bill OF fare with which wo had de-
signed to tempt them had been touched.
The water was undiminished in the bowl.
Another day passed, the third morning
came, and we ran out to SEQ our pets. The
sight that met our eyes I shall never forget
In their hunger and despair the poor cap.
tives mad eaten their own feet. The bloody
stumps were sad and sickeping reproof to
our cruelty in depriving tho children of the
prairie Of their wild, sweet liberty. We felt
it, children as we were, and silently, almost
in {; tre, we opened the prison door and
slipped away to give the captives opportu.
nifty to escape. But it was too late. With
their feet gnawed off up almost 10 their lit
tie bodice, they could scarcely more than
drag themselves out and creep away into
the prsss where thew soon after died"