The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-25
STRIPES AND THE SQUIRRELS.
Their Talk in the Capital Park on Christ
mas I've.
Written for Inn TIMES.


You don't know Stripes Why. of coursl
YOU do. Well. how long have you beer
living in Richmond anyway Stripes, then
is the benevolent looking negro convict wh'
il charged with the task of distributing ever,
morning the Commonwealth apprOpria
ton Of cracked walnut, among the score d
squirrels which are such an additional at
traction for children in the capital grounds
Stripes isn't his real name. but that is what
the squirrels call him. and he seems salts
fed 10 have IL conceal his given name
Henry.
stripes was a little later than usual in ap
pearing Yesterday morning, and his pets.
nearly all OF whom had gathered on the
southeastern slope. were a little anxious
when, squirting at the sun, be saw that il
was past 10 O'Clock. What could detair
him. some Of them ratified up one Of the
big trees and made reconnaissance Of the
grOunds-but no Stripes. Matters were be-
coming desperate. What would they do
for Christmas dinner The Assembly had
adjourned, and there was consequently no
appeal 10 that body.
In the midst Of their hurried consultation
Stripes appeared around the State-hOnse
corner. and approached them. InyOluntar-
ily he placed his whistle to his lips and
sent forth the usual shrll sounds Of sum
mons. All. however. were ready with the
exception of one. who had been fOOling
around the base Of StOnewall JacksOn's
statue. At the signal. however. he came
Looping across the grass and paths. tail
erect aud ewes twinkling. and joined his
comrades. But Stripes was cast down IN
spirit about something. He strewed tho
walnuts mechanically, and the squirrels.
rs if i'm sympathy with ms feeling, neglected
the tempting mOrsels and gathered al a
halfcircle around him. My curiosity was
excited. and though pretended TO he alb
sOrbed ia reading report Of the prepare
tons for Christmas in the churches, kept
a sharp eve aud ear for further develop
ments.
Who am |? Pardon. ! should have inc
trOduccd myself before. 4 man Of leisur-
and lover of out of doors. Ten years her
NIT life in the mountains had given me the
facility Of understanding the language Of
squirrels. rs well rs birds and reptiles. My
chief amusement since have taken up my
residence i'm Richmond is 10 spend two or
three hours every morning listening 10 those
squirrels and enjoying their spicy com
ments upon what they saw around them;
the meeting Of the Assembly. the passing 10
and fro of Governor Lee senators, delegates
and other officials. the bicyclers and stroll
ers. As they did not for moment suspect
me. ! had the advantage of uladulterated
and uncOnceacd opinions So difficult 10 be
obtained from individuals.
But what is thiss Stripes speaks 10 them
and they draw nearer 10 him and sit know
inglv upon their launches listening atten-
lively. Well. / never. This is the first time
that / ever knew i'm my life that they I'M
derst0Od human language. Long ass0cia-
ton with Stripes has probably taught them.
In their dialects. the Negroes smacking OF
the soft syb0lations of the plantation and
the squirrels of the nesting of forest leaves,
of gentle thuds Of hickory nuts dropping
upon the messy turf aud Of the chuckling Of
the mountain stream they conNcrsed Tor
about fifteen minutes. No. This Is MOI
going 30 be dialect story. because ! dph
believe / could write correctly either that OF
the negro or of the squirrel. But here Is
about the English translation of the cOnilb:
smoke Stripes: Dear Buns. You All
are doubtless, surprised at my detection
1 am very sad For fear that this is the
last Christmas eve shall be able 90 see
you for several years. These fellows up ia
the capitol are trying 10 keep us aIlo-
.ether within The penitentiary walls ana
nut others 10 do our work. I'm nightly
afraid that should they succeed that 4
shall miss you all. For ten years nave /
been i'm the prison The daily sameness ms
been something terrible 10 bear, but TINS
lille morning exercise has been great re-
l.oft0 me i'm three years my time VIII bel
/ don't want 10 leave the penitentiary al all,
and would bee willing 10 stay there the rest
II NV life if ! only was positive enough
that 1 could feed YOU daily 10 wish you a
merry Christmas
A suspicion Of tears i'm the conyict's eyes,
a rubbing of heads together by the squirrels
and Scrawbler. one of them said: "sirpes.
,ou mustn't leave US: we can't do without
YOU. but what can we do =
Here one Eye aud Twnklcr both uttered
LETS resolve chorus
asked. rRosolVed What's that
"Why don't yQp know SAID one i.ye'
''that whenever people want anything done
they resOlNcE
YES" chimed i'm Twinkler. didn't you
hear the resolves Of the farmers when they
met up wonder, and the ayes ana noes oil
every dayy There's nothing
easier i'm the world than to resolve. mats
what we want to do
one Eve. Twinkler and Scrambler were
,ive voce chosen as "a committee 10 drall
The resolutions. They scampered oil, ana
with the aid Of burnt switch stems ana
scraps Of paper, were enabled TO return ID
"A few moments with the resolutions "hich
Busby sQueaked out as follows
lightened squirrels of this old Common
wealth. having little in common with those
who grind out precarlous existence IN the
woods. desOfng ourselves 20 the pleasant
~ future leaders of pubic
OpiniOn and Of society. 2nd interested soleii
i'm the welfare and prosperity Of our naive
Statei and whereas We have heard with re-
gret and sorrow that Stripes. our faithful
feeder, may probably DE removed irom thal
Office. which is no sinecure, ana when ne
has filed acceptably to us and 10 the gene
raj public therefore, be- II
Resolved. That while we are strongly IN
favor of doing away generally with convict
labor i'm the capitol grounds, we are pariic'
ularlv urgent in requesting and demanding
thai exception be made in the case OF the
aforesaid Stripes. and that he be continued
in his present position, or be 1t
Resolved. That should be be removed
thgt after the completion OF his term, he be
appointed for life our feeder.
Resolved. That in the event OF neither OF
these propositions being accepted thai we
will refuse 10 eat any walnuts or other iood
provided for us IN this Commonweaiia'
that We will unite With our untamed hreth-
.ren and thereby deprive the capital city OF
the large amount Of capital drawn mere d!
our presence.
Resolved, That n copy 81 these re-c lutions
he transmitted to his excellency, tho
Governor OF Virginia, the honorable, the
members of The senate and the House OF
Delegates and to lie daily papers OF Rich
RcDd,
some children were delighted at
he antics Of the squirrels, apparently
with the biis " paper and at the /
,rin of satisfaction which spread over /
stripes face. They didn't know that ne
.au,srels were adopting resolutions Win !
,ul appiause and didn't under'tan th't
he clatter viii which they separated ana
,etook themselves 90 their boxes and tree
limbs was their way OF saying TO STRIPES
hat thev hoped he would have merry
christmas.
FRENCH cider ~ iIkeiy 10 De very n'egioi
10Th i'm quantity and quality this season.
The apple harvcsts in Brittany AMI Nor
mandy have given very unfavorable results /
md in Picardy. where the cultivation OF the
nicy fruit has been greatly increased OF laie,
he apples were numerous out mediocre. II
: from Picardy and few districts IN The
Too rtr,an a, az the NOrDihau and the lie /