New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
THE HOHOKUS COMMUTER.
HE TELLS THE STORY OF FARMER VAN wINKLE'
4 wooDCHUCK AND A wAI:TCoAT

He TELLS THE STORY OF FARMER VAN "lNKLE'
A wooDCHUCK AND wAI:TCoAT.
aft was late in November, but the day was warm
ord sunnv even for nm Indian simmer day among
thc Bergen County hills said the Hohokus com
muier "The day was so nice that Farmer JohD
Van Wrinkle. Of Saddle River. thought he would 80
out and do some needed ditchlng In one OF Ills
meadows. There patches here and there ABOUT
the meadow where the clover was still fresh ana
green Farmer Van Wrinkle. during pause In his
labor looked around over his fair possessions ana
what was his surprise to a woodchuck placidly
feeding in one of the patches of clover. The farmer
wns surprised to see the woodchuck, because, ac-
cordng TO all tradition and precedent the woodchucR
should have long been In Its burrow. lost IN is
winter sleep pending its appearance on groundhos
day, February 2. 1892. The burrow Of this unex-
pectcd woodchuck on one edge OF tho meadow.
Feeling that the capture OF grounding under sucn
unusual circumstances would be something to boast
Of rs well something that would furnish evidence
OF the breaking Of the precedent fact which MS
unsustaned word of mouth might fall to establish
Farmer Van Wrinkle resolved to bag the belated and
unconventional hibernator Knowing from long ex-
perlence the activity and agility Of the grounding,
and that when one is surprised 1t will make for It's
hole no matter what stands between it and that hole.
the farmer took of his vest the warmth OF the ditch
ing work having caused him previously to dispense
with his coat and spread the vest over the ground
hogs hole.
Now, said the farmer, IL that grounding is too
quick for me, and reaches his hole before i knock
him over he wont be able to find the hole. an while
he's rinnin' round an to an fro, dazed an per
plexed lookn' for IT, I'll git my work in on him with
q club.
"Ar this time the grounding, usually so sly and
wary and quick to scent danger these animals are.
nibbled away in the clover-patch without noticing
what was going on. The farmer picked up stout
he bpt m
pro,nGhog walked brlsky toward the latter. lie had
zone but few steps when the hungry rodent stopped
feeding prlcked up his ears, saw the farmer, ana
started on the double-quiclS for his hole. As his
course would necessarily bring him face to face with
the farmer. that strategic yearner after unseason-
able grounding stopped and waited for the game to
come up and be killed. The grounding rushed upon
Eis fate but his fate was to SLOW and when the farmer
brourht his club down on the spot where he thought
the gronndhog would be the agile little animal
dodgcd and shot between his legs. The farmer turned
around In time the grounding not running about
dared and perplexed, seeking his hole that had been
so cunningIy and merclessly hidden from him. but
diving with marvellous precision against the vest Just
AT the SPOT where the hole was and disappearing with
tbe vest into whatever s,bterranean depths lay be
yond The thing was done so quickly and neatly
that u was a full minute before Farmer Van Wrinkle
could find words to express his surprise The words
few.
well, I'll be gigreG! Sald tne 1arIner.
"Then he walked, in dazed sort OF way himself.
I'M 10 the hole and STOPPING down looked through the
dark poral OF the groundhogs haunt As he gazcd his
countenance began to change Something akin to despair
appeared where simple amazement had sat before with
ont word he rushed to where he had been dtchng.
rushed back again with his pick and went TO digging
in the woodchuck's burrow. The ground soft.
the digging easy. The farmer worked like steam
shovel. following the subterranean passage Of the
eroundhogs home. but somehow he could not come up
with what he was after. Neghbor Windrow came
along in his wagon and stopped. For minute two
he watched Farmer Van Wrinkle digging away, and
then he said
saint you wastin' good deal o. time grubbin'
for grounding, neghbor"
"'Not when I'm grubbin for this groundhogp re-
piled Farmer Van between whacks with his pick
"'How so p asked Nelghbor Wndrow.
"'Causer said Farmer Van.
ass he more than the average heft !? asked Neigh
Dor windrow.
"'Nor exclaimed the farmer, pausing In his
work, with evident intention OF ending the
sation right there This grounding amt big one
at all. He's little one, TO that. Just been big
enough to away with vest o. mine, an that vest
has got thirty nice ookin dollars one Of It's poc
cts you ever seenl
Then the farmer resumed his mining. Neighbor
Windrow jumped down out OF his wagon. got the farm
er's shovel out Of the ditch. and lent hand in tho
digging. Tncy aug n quafter OF the way around the
meadow and at las; ran the grounding and his vest
down. the former wrapped hopeessy in the latter.
The farmer snache1 his lost property and shook the
elocaHbog out and 1t scampercd away the lot
fleeing from it, sadly dsnantlcd hearth. The $50
was all right In the pocket. and Farmer Van
wlnk'e gave sig - ,elief and mopped bis brow with
his shrtsleeve, he remarked 10 Nelghbor Windrow
"sIt aln't powerful lot o. money, thirty dollars
amt but it's leetle too much TO pay for lesson
I'm grounding huntin'r
4 aTben Farmer Van went back to his ditchng and
Neichbor Windrow drove his way"