The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1890-12-19
Boys Squirrel Story.

With some of tho war gossip of to
day has appeared the remark that the
American boy inhcrits very little of III.
sturdy traits of character That marked
the heroes OF the Revolution In
other words, that In courage the
Americans are dogcncrating. Young
America believes this Is all nonsense.
All over the land there are evidences.
they say. of superior culture and
strength, and II foreign foes should
come they will find that In the char
acter aud courage of the American
boy there Is nothing wanting. An cx-
ample:
The Bcrskcnrt family Of seven boys.
living south Of tho city, compares favor
ably with their great-graudiathcr who
was hero In 1912. Their grandfather
was one Of the early settlers Of Indiana.
mud he delights In relating TO the boys
the adventures of their ancestors. But
the other day the boys forced their
'grard-pap." ms they call him, to adj
nit that they are not Inferior in cour-
age. They have u single-barrcled shot
gun that will throw shot about thirty
yards, aud thcy have killed young rab-
bits and squirrels with Il; but have also
wasted about five pounds Of shots and
powder on an old squirrel that lived IN
n large oak tree. The other day the
boys saw this veteran Of the wood In n
mulberry tree helping himself 10 the
delicious fruit. The oldest boy. who
Is Just fifteen. erawlcd up TO tho tree,
lcvelcd the gun and fired nj the coveted
prize. The shot knocked oil few
leaves aud tioklod the squirrel, but he
did not fall
lilo ran up the tree irisking his tail.
Then he jumped from tho mulberry
Into tho branches Of beech, and from
the beech he crossed Into tall maple
sugar. The top branches Of tho latter
crossed large llmb Of the massive
oak. Tho squirrel mounted tho limb
Of the oak. aud ran down about fifteen
feet 10 n curve. Then he looked Gun.
ningly at tho boys and disappeared In
. hole.
The younger lads looked nj III, SPUR.
rrl's vanishing tall with considerable
dismay. but the older ones exclaimed.
III he kin do that wc Kin. iooN Ons
boy ran home after climbing material,
aud In another half hour the two older
boys came sliding down the large oak
limb with nil the material necessary
for capture. A cage was placed
over the hole. One boy sounded along
tho limb. and then cut open n small
cavity. Then he inserted slim stick
Into the den. aud In n moment more
tho old sly squirrel ran out into til,
cage n prisoner A ball of ,wlnc wns
then fastened TO the cage. aud u was
lowered TO the ground. Then there was
nothing for the boys to do hut TO come
down. but first they had TO go up tina,
limb.
Probably any other persons In tho
same position, supplied with hntrhct.
would hnyc fallen OF or cut n9tclcs to
climb up by. but not 20 with the boys.
They Ind tried cutting noiehes with a
dull Ratchet before onn boy drew
from his poke, u nnmbcr Of large
nails that nrr used In building bridges,
lie then drove them into the limb,
like the iron hand.holis ON tho tclni
graph poles. Then. In about ten min
utos more. the boys including grand.
dad" who had como out 10 see what
they were mp to, gathered around tho
cage 10 Wow the prize, The old veteran
turned his eyes up nj tho dizzy hight,
aud ~ the fears twinklcd under hla
glasses. hc said
Boys your grand.dad would abip
Air,rcd 10 done II, 81
The boys arc nov supplied with n
Winchester rifle, mud they arc practir'
Ing on squirrels ctes hundred yards
with remarkable success
They will soon be ready for the luz
vadors' L,ldlanel2li' News .-..