Arizona silver belt., 1891-12-26
WARMING ON uooooAuoKs.
. Boys Experience in Trying to Giet Rid
 Of the TricIsy Little Pests.

Boys Experience In Trying to Got Ri6 of the TricHy Little Pests. had an interesting experience with woodehucks, writes New Hampshire boy The mischievous rodents nearly destroyed a field of clover, and then be- gan to forage in bean patch in which ! had a particular interest, as the pro. ceeds of tt were expected to defray my expenses a term or two at the village academy set traps in vain The woodchucks were too cunning to touch my bait when they had field of clover in which to forage tried to get shot at them, but they were too wary for me, Tim, my dog, managed with my energetic assistance in demolishing the stone wall where they had taken refuge, to catch two of the trespasSers and shake them to death, but that was ali.
 When 1 saw my academy tuition falling before the woodchucks' sharp teeth and adding to tle sIeekness of their fat sides was fully aroused stoned up half a dozen woodchuck holes, but it availed nothing The ras. calls seemed just as numerous and de- voured clover and beans just as per sistently as before They had reached an age and size when holes were of small account In several instances the stones were removed doubt if ever succeeded in penning a single wood chuck
 Their time of feeding, learned, was very early in the morning, and re solved to be in season for them. For four mornings 1 was in the field watch ing for them between and o'clock | succeeded in shooting one The willy fellows then began feeding in the even ing It seemed as if they kept spies on the lookout constantly
 Just at dusk one day came upon a solitary woodchuck helping himself to my beans seized stone and threw 1t. and the woodchuck fell l Tn for ward to secure my game. The next moment the little beast, which had Jeen merely stunned, rallied and set his sharp teeth tn my finger choked aim until he was glad Co let go
 was on the point of closing his ca. reer then and there in a summary fash. iod when decided to wait bit and make an experiment. carried the chattering. brown coated animal to the house where smeared hiu all over with tar and then attached an old sleigh bell to his neck by stout wire. ] took him in a wire cage an angry, disguSted woodchucE. othe bean patch and gave his freedom The instant he was at liberty he began scratching at the bell wire, rolling over and paving the dirt in a vain endeavur to clean himself Soon he ran oI into the bean patch
 went out to the field next morning to see if my experiment had resulted in anything There were no fresh signs oi devastation in the beans, and l was proceeding toward the clover, following along little beaten track made by tine woodchucks in their travels between their two feeding grounds, when came upon the dead and iuutilated body of the unIucky creature which tad tar red the previous day
 From the signs judged that his fel. low woodchuckN enraged al bis dis graceful appearance, had attacked him in body and literally torn hm to pieces
 That was the end of the woodchucis depredations never saw sign of their work aIterward They deserted the premises. learned, however. that a farmer living few miles away was much annoyed by woodchucks about that time, and think it probable that they were the same which had given me trouble earlier in the season. Youths Companion