The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-09-22

And mid His gems, who showers gifts
/ AS shining sands, 81 5@ n, 55S 5s$
Icount her days as pearls that fall ssz
From His kind hands. " n. , 2zs4s4, z.t@4
.s..'.' = Christian Register.
Squirrel Family. %@f#5 SEE
Several years ago a family Of chat
tering red squirrels set up housekeep-
ing in our barn and soon became very
friendly. On fine winter days they
would come into the yard to see if
Doctor Pug had left any thing for
them to eat, and as Doctor had - a
somewhat fastidious appetite, they
seldom found the basin empty. 80:
We rarely saw them on the ground
except close by a tree trunk, up which
they would dart when in any way dis
turbed. When going abroad they made
use of the ttair line Coming out of
the barn by convenient hole under
the caves, they ran to the roof, and
from there made flying leap to the
nearest tree, a tall branching chestnut,
Running along on the slender branch
es, they leaped to a mulberry tree,
then to the swaying branches OF, a
grapevine, which chung to black
cherry tree, up which they would run
to- the very top. From this dizzy
height they would leap and catch the
1.-THE branches of an elm, and from
there to a, 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 is an
old apple tree with the branches
spreading wide from a low, stocky
trunk In this tree, reached by a
short flight Of steps, we have seat,
a cool and delig htful retreat when the
trees are Id bloom, or later, when the
apples are turning ruddy in the au--
tumn sun. Sstf ~ z5s {5s . t III
AS we sit there quietly with our
books birds fly fearlessly among the
branches over our heads, and the
squirrels, with chatter and many
pranks, go over the air line with never
an accident, transacting WHAT'S evil
| IDENTIFY very important business. !.
These squirrels come out for play
| in the trees near the house at the same
hour every evening, and it has become
a habit for us to sit on the piazza and
| watch them. One evening there was
| an unusual commotion 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 chattering and chirping never
| heard! Ei.- X -[>5t@sz$sE Ii: 1. ~ y5#y
The parents exhibited deep concern,
and besides vigorous scolding, an oc-
casional cuff was administered. Final
ly a start was made, Father Squirrel
leading the way from Their root to the
chestnut tree, followed by children,
/ mother and friends. ~. : (. Fl S,%
/ But the little legs had not strength
for long leaps, and now and then one
would hang for a moment by his claws,
eemingly about to drop, but cheered
on by the old squirrels, which hasten
| ed to his relief. So they passed out
i of sight into the orchard. We heard
! them returning as the stars, were COM
7 ing out, and after this the airline was
! in constant use. IN y. 5s,s{sG<.5s.. 4 sE 3ss !.
i AS the nuts showed signs Of ripen-
i ing the squirrels were unusually busy,
! inspecting each tree, if not each nut
1 many times daily. The chestnut burs
were so prickly that they could not
open them, but they made a regular
business OF gathering the butternuts
before they were ripe enough to fall.
One squirrel would run up the tree.
/ and selecting a fine nut. would gnaW
the stem till 1T fell to the ground,
where his watchful mate would seize
1 it and carry it to the storehouse
while willing that the squirrels
should have "a sharesof the nuts Donna
1 wanted a 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 disapp No
i one could tell how: but the mystery
was solved one day when Donna en-
tered the shed and saw five squirrels
disapp earing through q broken pane.
each with a nut il its mouth
1 After this we saw them In the shed
8every day, and nuts and apples disap-
Ipearing by who lesale. Though shy,
they were not afraid, and instead 81
running would Jump into some lum-
sber stored overhead & and from there
chatter and sscold and wait for US 20
leave.
These squirrels stay ed# with us three
years, and we enjoyed their merry
pranks. and guarded them from harm
Tia all possible VA n the late sum