The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-11
MOTHER Dor AND mER FAwNs.
A Pretty Picture of Animal Life IN
the Woods.

the Woods.
From the Forest and Stream.
Hark, whats that7 Looking intently
toward the point see two tiny spotted
toddiers wading out from the bushes Not
more than four or Eve feet. but there
they are as plain as life can make them.
They are certainly not over two or three
weeks old. spotted like two leopards. ears
90 large ana awkward looking. their knees
hardly seem able to support their uneainly
little bodies. but happy as the children OF
the forest only know how to be when 10
danger Is nigh and big mamma Is pres
ent to warn and watch over them
But where is mamma? All here comes
the stately old dame. First she puts only
her nose out Of the bushes. looks up and
down the stream. shifts the air. and. SEEM
ingly satisfied that ali Is wen. she slowly
and majestically walks ont In mldstresm
and takes drink. The little ones by this
time are eavorting like two kittens.
splashing the water and making a great
deal OF noise. Mamma IL afraid. evidently.
there f. too much noise for she backs
out OF the water. and the little ones
obey her Instructions and reluctantly fol-
J low.
Fortunately there is quite a clearing
along the left bank. and slowly and
steanhily backing about ten feet up the
nil. gain a position where ran plainly
see mama and the babies without being
seen or heard.
The old lady is quietly feeding. nipping
the tender branches with much relish.
The little ones think II Is time for their
breakfast, and 20 watch them as they
pull az their sources of nourishment re-
minds me OF a full-hlooded Jersey COW
with a calf. ! wonder If long years ago
there was any relationship existing BE-
tween the two.
The doe II a big female. She weighs
so pounds. She wears her spring and
summer garment-her red petticoat. The
duties OF maternity evidently agree with
her. fot she y sleek and fat. Now mann
ma compcls the tOddlerH 20 stop eating
ana even gives the largest OF tho fawns
a slight tap on the head 20 prevent his
rushes for moro sustenance This furry
thing promises to b. a buck. for he Is
determined 20 get what he wants but his
mother is too quick for him She leaps
from one side 70 the other with the agility
that only a deer possesses. and now both
little ones. entering into tho spirit OF the
play. run and jump In imitation Of their
mother. Now the dame runs twenty rods
up the hin and the little ones follow.
Now they all come hack pcil-rnell No
sooner have the little ones reached che
waters edge than they repeat the per-
Torrance again and again.
How proud mamma looksi Were there
ever two such lovely fawns7 Not to her
way OF thinking. After having run about
ten times. they evidently tire and come
no TO partake Of the maternal font. But
instinct teaches that Il r. not good 20 eat
when SO heated from violent exercise. 80
the mother leads them 10 water. lets them
drink. and then again tempts them 70 re-
peat their performance OF running and
rompins II strikes me the mother has an
object In view. Can II be to teach her
young 90 gain strength and eurefooted-
ness7 / think 50. Now the two urchius
come tumbling down the hillside with an
impetuosity that Is undeniable. The
smaller one Of the two Is enabled 20 stop
Just M the waters edge. but the baby
buck Is coming 50 quick and he has so
little control OF himself. he tumhles from
tho cnnbankment and falls with resound-
Ing splash into the water. and then begins
TO bleat exactly like calf, as much as
90 say; Mamma. mamma. sister push
ed me In the water. Come help me. l am
hurt"
And now make my mistake. The entire
affair Is 50 ludicrous. laugh, and that
very loud. and then you should see the
doe. one quick look in my direction. one
quicker jump into obscurity. "a call for
her offspring. and that settles II.