Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-02-21
a Sol uirrsl,s Hospisalitx,

n SQU1KfoPo xAOoRIS0lltys
The following charming little story, writ
ten by Ernest Ingersoll appeared in the Con-
gregationaliat. The scene of the exploits of
the squirrel, as indicated in the article, was
the Hillhouse woods and adjacent wooded
territory just north of them, In which Mr..
Ingsrsoll's cottage house was located when
he was resident of New Haven:
Upon the large estates In the eastern part
of the city of New Haven are enclosed groves
Of oak, hickory, chestnut and other food
bearing trees, where many gray squirrels resr
their families in almost entire security.
For the dozen or more pairs which inhabit
one particular grove, my neighbor pat mp
boxes In convenient tree-crotches, wh1ch tne
squirrels at once took possession Of. he also
large trees much frequented by them, and
We all have derived great deal OF anuse-
ment In Watching the antics of the little fell
lows upon this aerial road. II Is sixty Ave
feet long, swings about twenty feet above
ground at the center of Its curve and CON-
sists of short poles wired into q cable.
Some families of squirrels, however, live In
make nests, In their wild fashion, of leaves
and twigs, lined with shredded bark. This
grove Is open to the public, and the squirrels
suffer in spite Of all our vigilance. One day
my neighbor heard the voices of squirrels
coming family from beneath boys coat, and
ct once bounced on the youth, who thought
Of various things pretty rapidly (for him) and
concluded IL would pay him to give up his
plumber.
The little creatures were now in the hands
Of well-wisher, but they were orphans and
homeless. What could be done with them3
In size they were half as large as the adults,
but they had hardly III at ally been weaned
and were totally innocent OF the world.
Brought into my friends big yard as the first
step toward help, one Of the rash pair daIted
from the doctors gentle grasp, scrambling up
Q tree to the first crotch, where 1t lay hug
Ring the limb.
With the other the doctor walked toward
the house. II uttered frequently a piteous
little cry and this attracted In an instant the
attention Of mother squirrel, who, with her
half-grown family occupied box in the oak.
hastened down to the bridge. As the doctor
came underneath the squirrel seemed almost
ready to jump down upon his shoulders, so
great was her distress at the wailing of the
frightened youngster he carried.
Thinking he could do no better, he placed
the little one on the ground, and retired to
watch what might follow. As soon as the
tribe have become very tame toward us) she
| ran swiftly down the chestnut trunk to the
| ground, and thence to the side of the lost
infant, which she could not find without
standing on her hind legs two or three
times, and gazing carefully around in the
tall grass.
No sooner was the orphan discovered than
the motherly heart Of the old one decided to
take it at once to her own home. Putting
her arms about 1t in the most touching way,
she spent few seconds by Its side, and then
trotted of, bidding the stranger to follow.
But the grass was tall, and the little one was
timid. Again and again it would lose the
way or give mp, and require the old one to
90 back and call to and encourage 1t. Fl
nslly the base Of the chestnut was reached
and the ascent of its smooth trunk and great
outstretching branch was an easy task.
Here, however, an immense difficulty
awaited tho anxious mother, and q seeming
" impossible task confronted the timij
founding. Out beyond the broad avenue Of
the chestnut limb stretched the slender
pathway Of the long bridge, with its steep
upward slope at the other end, to where the
| snug haven of 'home" nestled invitingly in
the lofty oak. To an adult squirrel, leaping
from spray to spray among the topmost twiga
of the talleat trees, this was the most pleas
ant and easy of runways; even the mother
squirrels half educated BARNS, one of which
now sat almost invisible upon the roof of it,
box watching the proceedings with curious
| they had practiced 1t by easy stages under
parental guidance; but for the baby so rude
ly thrown upon its own resources, that
wavering cable offered too thin and dizzy 6
foothold to be thought of for moment as 9
means Of transit, however alluring might be
the prospect at the other end.
There was pause. The old squirrel rar
nimbly out few feet and looked back. The
trembling youngster had not followed. Sh.
called to him In low gatherings, but he die
not dare to forsake the security of the biz
limb. Then she went back and caressed tn,
young stranger. One can Imagine oil thu
fond reassuring things she said to him, squir
rel fashion. while she licked his ruffied flu
and quieted his fears. The delay was 80 Joni
fall, but presently she marched slowly out OF
the bridge. looking over her shoulder. and
the young one timidly followed, creeping
with great caution and fear.
Seemingly everything was going well, bu
In the middle of the bridge the little fellow
courage failed, and all the old gray's coaxint
could not induce him to take another step
She was by no means ct the end of her re
sources, nevertheless. Darling across to bel
house she came back with one of her owl
children and introduced him to the terror
stricken little stranger. "See," she said t.
II, In effect, "here's kitten not much bigge
than You, who can run along the bridge o.
nns as anything. You need only to b.
brave" Thus stimulated, the founding
made desperate attempt to go on, ATTENDED
and coaxed by its two hosts. Once It fal
! tered, and then the mother squirrel tried
Anal expedient. Stretching her legs Wild
apart she placed herself completely over tn,
young ones fastened body, holding 1t on, ~
II were, and moving along with 1t as 1t crawl
ed forward, until the pluck of the baby 70
vived; the last quarter OF the bridge wa
more nimbly traversed, and the safety
warmth, and, doubtless, food of the new
hospice were gained.
Subsequently we caught the other orphan
and carried him to the root of the oak, wher
he was invited to share the same hospitalit!
without having to pass the ordeal of tn
bridge.
This incident seemed to as who witnessed
1t remarkable In several ways. In the frs
| place, that q stranger squirrel should ex
hibit SO intense anxiety at distress outside o
her own circle and show 30 genuine and per
sistent . desire to give aid, ending in adopt
ing two outcasts without hesitation. Next
that she should show so much sagacity In ao
complaining her purpose. Her patience !!
leading the nervous little stranger alonl
through the grass and out upon the bridge
seemed inexhaustible. When she found
that 1t was too timid and inexperienced t.
cross the long cable (for squirrels must learI
learn to walk) 1t was q vancouver dictated
by little less than reason to bring her Owl
!: kitten as an example of what little squirrel
a. we'll a. big might do II they had enough
resolution. So far as we could see, all he
coaxing and aid would have been futile hat
not this last expedient been brought to bear
i The atorv vhich hava triad NOT tn az