The times., 1898-10-31
SIGNS OF COLD WINTER
The Old Patriarch at Hand
With His Prophecies.
GOOSE BONES ARE BROAD
Corn Husks Grow Thicl<-Heavy Fur
on WOodchucks RaEweed Has
Obtained Unusual Height - These
and Other Unfniling Indications
Convince the Weathcr-Wise That
SHOWS Will he Frequent and Deep.

The bearded old patriarch who lives in
log house out on the flats and lets row
boats in the Summer has discovered
signs which convince him that the ap-
preaching Winter is going to be cold
and snowy one. The old patriarch is a
weather prophet, has been a weather
prophet for all time within the memory
of the Oldest who know him, and the
signs upon which he bases his predic
tions are those provided by nature which
are infallible.
The old patriarch predicts that man
and beast will feel the nipping breezes
and the biting frosts of many a hoary day
this Winter. The hot chestnut man will
absorb all the heat of his little stove
and let his chestnuts grow chill; grip
men will have to wear blankets and let
their cars run wild, while they flap their
arms like animated windmills; everyone
whose work calls him out of doors must
either wear heavy woolens or freeze to
death.
The goose bone is one sign, and so in
fallible is 1t that some one has immor-
talized ii in a verse, which the old pa
triarch has learned by heart, and re-
peats, to the confusion of doubters 1t
is as follows:
The weather prophet has a vogue,
Barometers the same;
The goOse-bOne has no vogue at all
But it gets there just the same.
And this year the goose bone is broad
and white. That is enough, in the opin-
ion of the old patriarch, to satisfy any
reasonable and reasoning mind that the
coming Winter is going to be colder than
the heart of coal dealer or the cardiac
organ of a plumber when he presents
bill for soldering break in a frozen wa
ter pipe. But if it should not happen to
be convincing. he has other signs.
Ragweed is equally infalible and shows
the providence of nature. Nature knows
when she is going to perpetrate n winter
with weather that will freeze the handles
of brass knockers or anything usually
unsusceptible to meteorological condi-
tions, and she provides accordingly This
year the ragweed has grown to an un-
usual height.
The meaning is plain. 1t is that there
will be snow: deep, lasting snow, when
ordinary grass and seeds will be covered
ture in making the ragweed grow tall,
every bit of her bird food would be
showed under. AS It is the strong stalks
of the ragweed will stick out over the
snow and the winter birds will be able
to feed upon ragweed seed all winter.
And in cold weather, when there is moth
ing else at hand ragweed seed is mighty
| good food for winter birds
! Surely that evidence is enough to make
u-jfh ma uh soils
woolen underwear. But If it isn't there
| are more behind. Look at the corn husk.
| Corn husks grow thick and heavy when
the weather is going to be cold. Why,
the old patriarch hasn't just made up his
mind, but he knows that they do.
And this year he has observed that the
husks are thicker and heavier than he
| ever saw them before. That means that
it is going to be darned cold, and he's
going to-lay in a big supply of drift wood
for the old clay fireplace on one
| end of his log cabin, whether other folk
take advantage of his weather wisdom or
not
And he knows he's right for another
reason. The woodchuck. Did you ever
see a woodchuck? Don't suppose you did
but the old patriarch has; seen lots OF
| 'em. Every year about this time ne
catches two or three in a rabbit gum
! and examines tntlf luT- ne uotSH wan
to eat them. Nobody who knows as mucf
about nature as the old patriarch would
| eat woodchucks.
But he knows that by their fur he car
! tell how the Winter weather is going Il
be. If the fur is long and so thick thai
you can hardly part it enough TO see tbs
soft blue white skin of the wOodchuck
then the weather is going to be cold, ant
nature, again. has provided the anima
with an extra heavy coat in anticipation
And this year the woodchucks fur is a:
heavy as the old patriarch ever saw it.
Then too-but these are enough. The
old patriarch is willing to give all the rea
sons enumerated above, but when they
fail to convince he loses patience anC
shuts himself up in his log hut, where ht
contemplates the roaring fire he is going
| to have all Winter.
And rather than make the old patriarch
| angry, we won't give away any more OF
the secrets he has wrested from mother
nature unless he becomes especially desir-
Gus of seeing them in print which is
| doubtful