The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-08-24


tcr.ng red squirrels set up housl keep
ing In our barn and soon became worry
friendly. on ilne winter days tley
would come into the yard to see II
Doctor Pug had left any thing Tor
them to eat. and as Doctor had
somewhat fastidious appetite. they
seldom found the basin empty.
We rarely saw them ON the grouni
except close by tree trunk. up watch
they would dart when In any way dis
turbed when going abroad they made
use OF the "air line" Coming out OF
the barn by a convenient hole under
the caves. they ran to the roof. and
from there made a dying leap to tho
nearest tree. tall.branching chestnut.
Running along on the slender branch-
es. they leaped to a mulberry troe.
then TO the swaylng branches OF a
grapevine. which chung to black
cherry tree. up which they would run
to the very top. From this dizzy
helglt they would leap and catch tle
1.-THE branches OF an elm, and from
there TO maple, then to an apple
tree; and so on around the orchard
and home again, without touching the
ground.
In the middle OF our orchard Ia an
old apple tree with the brancheI
spreading Wide from low. stocky
trunk In this tree. reached by a
short flight OF steps. we have n seat.
a cool and delightful retreat whom the
trees are in bloom. or later. when the
apples are turning rudy In the au-
tumn sun.
As we sit there quietly with our
books birds ny fearlessly among the
branches over our heads. and the
squirrels. with chatter and many
pranis. go over the air line with never
an accident. transacting what is evil
IDENTIFY very important business.
These squirrels come out for play
in the trees near the house Mt the same
hour every evening. and It has become
habit for us to sit on the piazza an
watch them. one evening there was
an unusual commoiiyn among them,
and with the aid Of an opera glass
we discovered that the baby squirrels
had grown big enough to leave the
nest. and were being conducted over
the aerial railway for the first time.
Such a chattering and chipping | never
heardl
The parents exhibited deep concern,
and besides vigorous scoldlng. an oc-
casional cum was administered. Final
~ start was made. Father SOUR. oil
lending the way from the roof to the
chestnut tree. followed by children.
mother and friends.
But the little legs had not strength
for long leaps. and now and then one
would hang for a moment by his claws,
seemingly about to drop. but cheered
on by the old squirrels, which hasten
ed 10 his relief. So they passed out
OF sight into the orchard. We heard
them returning as the stars were COM
ing out. and after this the airline was
in constant use.
As the nuts showed signs OF rlpen-
ing the squirrels were unusually busy,
Inspecting each tree, II not each nut,
many times daily. Tho chestnut burs
were so prlckly that they could not
omen them. but they made regular
business OF gathering the butternuis
before they were ripe enough to fall.
One squirrel would run up the tree,
and selecting n fine nut. would gnaw
the stem I'LL II fell to the ground.
whore his watchful mate would seize
a. and carry Il 10 the storehouse.
while willing that the squirrels
should have a share OF the nu9 Donna
wanted few for herself Those that
she gathered she spread to dry on a
table In the shed. Closely as she
watched and turned them she found
that they were fast disappearing no
one could tell how; but the mystery
was solved one day when Donna en-
tered the shed and saw Ave squirrels
disappearing through q broken pane,
each with q nut In Its mouth.
After this We saw them In the shed
every day, and nuts and apples dlsap-
nearing by wholesale. Though shy.
they were not afraid. and instead OF
running. would jump into some lum-
her stored overhead. and from there
chatter and seold and wait for US to
leave.
These squirrels stayed with US three
years and we enjoyed their merry
franks. and guarded them from harm
IN All possible ways In the lata s=---