The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-18

never do to shoot him m scare AVA the
silence of the woods. There he chung to
his tree, the bushy-tailed rascal. Evidently
he was scolding at us as inttuders, for We
had gotten between him and a corntield.
Yes. There were squirrel tracks over that
wav in the dust of the lane, and a touseled
ear on the tall stalks across the fence here
and there. Well, he was cheated out of
his breakfast or dinner, n would have to
wait.
Did you ever watch a squirrel, or even
try 80 strike up an acquaintance with one?
1t is not nearly as difficult as it looks at
first sight. Squirrels and chipmunks,
while shy, are very full of curiosity and if
you keep right quiet, to reassure them, will
come close up to you to find out who you
are. But if you love to hunt, don't try the
experiment.. You will always, after that,
hate to kill them. .
just watch this little gray follow a few
minutes, but first let's send Jack home. be-
cause the squirrel will not come where
there is q dog. Bunny has retreated up to
the topmost bough and there he is
tail hanging over, watching us as
we lie down again. All is quiet. but
for the occasional rattle of a falling leaf
shaken down by n vagrant breeze. The
yellow sunshine lies in great patches upon
the ground, or seems to gather about the
feathery golden rods on the edge of the
woods.
The whole wide country lies at rest.
. No reaper clanks; no thresher thrills
The dreary silence of the hills, VI
Or starts the squirrel to his nest.
The %purpling landscape has no sounds
Save the repeated partridge call,
Or tho faint rattle us they fall,
Or ripened nuts, burst from their bounds
1t is beautiful, and if it were not fol
Master Squirrel, l should throw up my hat
/ and shout with delight, rs | used to dc
when a boy. Look at the tented shocks OF
| corn. like-tha camp of an army gone into
| winter quarters. What inimitable tents OF
faded green, tipped with old gold; did ever
/ creature have suoh housing as the field
mice and rats will have until the farmer
| comes to husk the ears and house them!
Very quiet our admiration has kept us,
and bunny has started down the tree to
| investigate. Here he comes, winding from
side to side corkscrew fashion. stopping
every few feet to watch. Now he has
| reached the ground, still hiding behind the
/ tree, but his curiosity is aroused, he wants
! to know. I begin to whistle softly an nil
from Norma, in execrable time and with
many II false note. but tho squirrel is nc
critic, and he loves music. See him come
closer! All! He has come within n few yards,
and there he stops, sits on his launches
md twists his mustachios. What an nd,
mirablo imitation of the dashing society
man at a concert! Whistle now-something
nice and low! See! His bushytailed excel
lenoy Ia delighted, What antics and funny
manuevers he goes through with, whatg gen
utieSions! Like q Russian pape. Presto
Change! | sneeaed, and Master Squirrel ID
out of sight. up the tree, his tail trailing
behind like an ascending comet.
There are quite a number of animals
and birds of this section, which seem to
enjoy whistling; the rabbit, raccoon and
the fierce muskrat among the former, and
| the bluebird, robin and catbird among the
latter. g
But the whistling intended for the
| SQUIRRELS amusement has brought Jao K
| back. The scamp had not gone home as
ordered. He has lain pardu among the
bushes u little way off. and now thinks
himself privileged to return. Well, he
may 90 along. Thus together we roam
on through the woods, now and then
| surprising u dove or q golden-winged
woodpeoker out looking after the crop OF
berries.