The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-02-05
saw HIS SHADOW
The Ground Hog RetiIes for Another Six
Weeks Nap.
The king OF WEATHER PROPHETS
viii Sleep SereneIy Underground
UnmlndfuI of the Cold Blasts
of Snow and SIeet.

The second day of February is the
day that Professor Stokey, the local
weather man, the government weather
bureau, the oose-bone man, the fell
low with the aching bunion and rheu-
matte joints, and indeed all other species
of weather prophet have to give way to
the grounding, or woodchuck, as he is
called in some sections.
On this day his hosship is the whole
thing. He is the forecaster, the prophet,
the prognosticator supreme. None other
need apply.
When the first blasts of winter sent
a chill down the groundhog's back last
fall, he retired to his hole in the ground
to hibernate until the backbone of win
ter should be broken. During all these
months. like a monk in his cell, he has
been losing flesh and acquiring meteor
illogical wisdom.
According to legend, on the morning
of Candlemas day, the grounding awak-
ems from his dormant condition and
re-appears above ground to take
weather observations and warn human
ty as to what it may expect in the way
of weather.
1t Ia said that the winds and clouds,
and even the sun itself, works the will
of this little quadruped on this particu-
lar day When the grounding appears,
or at any time during the day, If the
sun shines through the clouds suffi-
ciently bright for the grounding to see
his shadow, he Immediately goes back
into his burrow and resumes his inter
rupted nap. He sets his alarm clock
six weeks ahead, and sleeps serenely,
knowing that the mortals on the face of
the earth are wrestling with cold, snow,
sleet and other inclement weather con-
ditions, while in the bosom of mother
earth he slumbers snugly. Careless
alike to the sunshine and rain
On the other hand. should the day be
cloudy. the grounding arranges to be-
gin his vernal housecleaning, well know
ing that while there may be occasional
flurres, the weather will not be severe,
and it will only be a short time until
he can get 6. few succulent herbs to
break his long winter fast, for during
all the months of his retirement he has
not eaten bite. 1t Is said that some
times the groundhog becomes so thin
that even in a bright sunshine it is nee
essary for him to stan1 twice in the
same place in order to cast a shadow.
Saturday morning, those who have
faith in the grounding, and almost ev-
erybody has, watched the heavens with
more than usual interest, and when the
sun rose above the little ridge of clouds
that obscured the eastern horizon,
shedding it's bright light over the earth,
all hopes of an early spring vanished,
for there was not the slightest doubt
but that the grounding saw his shadow
and retired for his nap. Six weeks of
winter weather Is now assured. The ice
men, and they alone, smile. 1t Is said
the will furnish the rodent free ice dur
ing the heated term, as they now have
hopes of getting a supply of hard water
for next summers trade.
After seeing the omen, the farmer
went out to his bins and mows and took
an inventory. There is an old saying
as old as the day itself that
You should have. on Candlemas day
Half your fodder and half your hay"
and when the grounding adds his hoo
doc. the feed supply should be even
greater.
The sun shone brightly Saturday
morning The edict has gone forth, and
all that mortals can do Is to wait until
the prescribed time has passed before
donning their spring underwear or set
ting fire to the accumulated brush heaps
in the back yards.