The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-10-20
THE soUIRRELsIN THE OAK.
How They Kept House and Got Their
Provisions.

How They Kept House and Got Their
Provisions.
Nv fayorite boarders IN the oak were
the gray squirrels The boys knew their
hole from the woodpeckers' at a glance.
for il was in the living trunk of the
tree, and the red brown margin always
showed where their powerful teeth had
been cutting away the bark that threat
ened 70 grow in and close them up. l
have oftened wondered how the wood
peckers knew that it would imprison
them, and that they must put up with
the dead limb.
AS for the grays. they Were not afraid
20 live in the heart of the oak. and what
stores of nuts, harvested in the hickories
ON the hill, they did manage TO tote"
Cp there. There must have been a peck
at least when ruthlessly chopped into
the hollow with a sharp hatchet and
captured fine brood OF young ones that
were soon tanned into graceful and af-
fectionate pets
The old father and mother we did not
want, even if we could have caught
them, because they are fierce and un-
tamable in captivity.
The abduction of their pretty chill
dren did not seem TO weigh much on
their minds. They gave no sign of the
poignant grief, not 10 be comforted,
that have seen, for instance, in blue
birds whose nest had been despoiled,
but refitted their den as sDugly as be-
fore and raised another family.
When my squirrels went harvesting,
one Of them first held his head in the
mouth of the hole for half a minute TO
see if the coast was clear. Presently out
he whisked and stopped again TO make
sure, while his mate followed Then
Mr.. Squirrel gave a raspiDg, long drawn
bark of defiance, which must have filled
his lady's heart with admiration for
his bOldness and with apprehension lest
some unwary creature should come
within reach of her lords anger.
Then-if you didn't betray yourself
and send both scampering in widest
fright back to the hole-after playing
hide and seek for few moments they
ran in single file out to the topmost
twigs Of a great bough, gained branch
of the neighboriDg bare walnut and,
crossing to its farther SIDE, made des-
perate flying leap into the top of
young hickory. Running half way down
this, they used succession of dogwoods
and oak saplings until they had reached
the grove Of tall, straight hickories on
the hill, an eighth of mile from their
hole in the OAK. Come ON them sudden
ly now if you would care TO see fast
time made over this queer course and
some record breaking leaps that fairly
take away ones breath.-Scribner'
Magazine.
Betrayed by a Flower.
To the monastery Of the Grand Char
treuse women, as a rule, are inexorably
refused admittance. only a very few
having had the privilege Of seeing the
Carthusians tmonks Of the order) at
home A story Is told of a French
daughter Of Eve, blessed with even
greater share of curiosity than that pos
sessed by the generality Of her sex,
who, having heard from her husband
sud brother of their late interesting
NlSll 10 Nnc 1uOudcN6Ies SiACo Dg every
means in her power TO effect an entrance
there, but all 10 no avail Determined,
however, by hook or crook, to succeed,
she at last hit upon the happy idea Of
presenting herself there dressed as a
man, managing 10 persuade her husband
10 allow her to do so, and 10 take her
with him ON his next visit.
On arriving at the gates Of the mon
astery she entered unchallenged with
the remainder Of the party, bat while
in the garden the conducting monk,
leaving her side, gathered an exquisite
rose, which he brought and presented
to her with oourtly bow, proving that
be at least was not deceived by her dis
guise. She. too, foolishiy betrayed her
self by her ready grAce and charm of
manner in accepting the rose, which she
did most willingly. Needless to say
that after this incident she er'pene-
trated into the interior of the building
nor saw what she was dying TO see, but
returned unsatisfed, a sadder and q
wiser woman, with high appreciation,
however, of the keen discernment of the
cloistered ones