New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
A SQUIRREL ROMANCE.
HIS EARLY NOURISHMENT WAS Ex-
TRACTED FROM A BOTTLE.
WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE HE LEFT HIS HUMAN
FRIENDS.

y. y.
the State is there just such a place Round Lake
for studying the habits of the squirrel in winter
Here they live in the woods just the regular wild
gray squirrel of the forest does except that they
are more acquainted with human life and are less
afraid But the surroundings Of the gray squirrel
here do not eliminate his woodland instincts. ana
mis- habits such as his habits would be In his
native woods, modified little by his propnqu.y to
the cottager
In August last young squirrel was found help
less the foot of pine tree. the nest possibly nav
ing been blown over by a high wind. He was about
eleven days old, his eyes being barely opened ana
he was about the size of a chlpmunk He was IN
| ordlnately hungry. and when he was taken IN haho
I by a lady, who rugged up a miniature baby bottle
for him with rubber suction pipe. and filled Win
warm milk forced 4, between his famished Jaws
new life must have opened up before him. lie
Rugged that tiny bottle with four feet and his TAIL
and strained away at it. with occasional slips until
he had emptied II. He disposed of three of these
tiny decorations and them his feet, hands ana tau
still ncosng the precious parcel he fell asleep.
A nest Of cotton In a basket was prepared for him.
and he passed his nights in this without disturb
ance But at the earliest dawn he would make
demand for his bottle. and between draining II ana
falling asleep he passed each day for several weeks
He became object of universal interest Inc
Minister'S Institute in session at the time. and
most of the ministers present called at the cottage
at feeding time 10 see him. He named Christie.
pher Columbus. but the name was plainly too
cumbersome for so small body It was shortened
10 Christie and by that name the animal is known
now to every nhabant OF Round Lake.
Christe's nursing days continued about three
weeks. when with preliminares of weaving. he
disdainfuly rejected his bottle and demanded moro
substantial food He took to nuts. OF course, ana
in the temporary unseasonableness OF beech and
hickory nuts, which the natural nut or the
American squirrel he flourishel on high diet or
almonds. hazel-nuts and English walnuts. Brazil
nuts he refused lie took hold Of the nuts with his
paws but he could not crack them. Then ne had
to the facilities of the human race.
and one Of the young daughters OF the house be-
came his abject slave crack nuts for him lie
also apples. watermelon candy. cake ana
even essayed pie crust. His thrifty instincts were
displayed even this early, for when he had
! taken his fill from paper bag Of nuts ne would
close the mouth Of the bag down and put IT to-
! gether with his forcpaws. Moreover. he took 10
! burylng the that rot cracked. He would
put these anywhere, under the rugs. under the bed
! covering. In pockets in shoes. and as II he
apprehended that the family was shiftess and was
not preparing in a seemy manner for winter, 10
exerted great energy in buryng nuts down tie
backs OF the dresses OF the mistress and daughters
Of the house.
But also about this time he disclosed a mos. ~
genous liveliness at play. When one OF the dauga-
| ters would tom-tom on the parlor lounge as II se
were playing a tune. he would dance from one end
to the other. executing most astonishing whris
|
| them These We're appropriately denomina;h
Christes skirt dances. and they also excited great
admiration from the summer visitors He d.
| played also a devotion TO music. and when SIT
| air played on the piano, he has perched hims3f
| on one corner of the instrument. his haunchee.
with his left arm across his breast, and nodded
| drowsily 10 the seductive music
There was any intention OF keeping him
| housed, and day he taken rto the grounds.
1t his first experience OF his native woods andi
he plainly drank It in with delight In his first wan
derings he lost his bearings. Rain on an
other experience. and for about two hours hei
| rendered the woods dismal with his chatter OF ds4
| tress Finally. as he wandered. he came again in
sight OF familiar faces on the piazza. and with an
unmistakabe scream OF delight and one spring.
| he landed friendly shoulders ran through the
cottage. and upstairs TO his nest. where he en-.
sconced himself for the rest Of the day growing at
all friendly urging 10 come forth AFTER that ne
| was gradually taught the intrcacies or the parH
! about the house. and he was in the woods all day
| long except. when tired with his active life. no
would return TO his for siesta or romp with
| rho children or for a meal At early dawn he asked
| to be released and almost at the hrst coming oi
| twilight he would beake himself 10 his nest Tor
| the night His first call in the morning was lot
drink of water and from the cup he would WASH MS
| face and arrange his brush. which by this time had
| assumed handsome proportions with the care ana
satisfaction. and possibly he vanity, when oeau-
/ tiful woman devotes TO her toilet
Christie dill not pass his early chldhood WITHOUT
| experiencing the ills that beset babyhood in all the
| walks OF life. He hal fits and spasms when he
! would fall stiff and apparently feless, an object
| SO titiabe that II would wiring the hearts OF MS
little friends and their mothr-the more so as there
was nothing In the good lady's pharmacopoela that
| she could venture TO administer in such case APP
picaton 70 the family physician appeared to be
| 700 ridiculous a veterinary farmer few miles
away hearing OF the case through the school chill
dren. could propose only the most homeopathic
doses and the anxious family could learn nothing
| from The Household Cyclopaeda" under the neao
OF Squirrels" except cook directed for rabbit
| Wrapping in warm flannel. with warm milk TO
drink when ne would take IT, and charcoal 10 gnaw
on. were all the remedies that were available and
these possibly steered Christopher Columbus through
iearnnI enough 10 take up his daytime NE in the
woods all these ills disappeared. He grew steadily
and in ali that he did there was a breezness OF the
wild woodland that no domestic pei WI ever nave
IL was a study 70 see him build his nest and when
thing could have compared with Il IN rs silky fine
ness woollen softness. and i,s inaccessiblity 10
ordinary approach He selected several OF the
dantiest casi-off woolen garments OF the Household
he could find These he slowed away under the
nS Of the n at ro mA FL G ad d also rs so
! leaves from tn myriads that were now falling in
ment. he put in his nest also many lightly coored
articles like spool Of scarlet silk and silver
winter he suddenly developed the most treess
activity streng henng his castle. Nearly all day
long he carrying paper or wool 10 reinforce IT,
using large pieces OF particularly pretty but dis
carded screen among other things for the purpose.
and pressing in the services Of both the daughters
In a most imperious manner 10 help him. Where a
piece OF wool OF paper was so long as TO EN-
barrass his movements by getting under his Feet
the younger daughter would be set TO carrying one
end of the article while he carried the other. Then
as a nearer way of reaching his perch he would fire.
uiently require services of some member OF the
family climbing pole. and on very pressing
occasions he did not hesitate TO mount 10 the
shoulders the aster o: the house. and by mods
and little cries direct him where he should TO
serve AZ a step-ladder. As the winter drew nearer.
/ this activity grew more notable. and he dis
! covered also TO be building another nest. In the
farther corner of the opposite caves Ii found
also that the forehanded little elfn actually
shea thing the cottage.
! The first snow wonder to Christie
but within an hour after he had timidy ventured