The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-05-20
Children's Column.
WHAT TWO BOYS LEARNED I'M THE
WOODS.


try for a days outing. It was before
the summer vacation, but Mrs. Cot
tier had 60 attend TO some repairing
on their summer home, and she took
the two boys with her.
"What a fine time we'll have in
the woods |" Wilson said.
"The birds will be building their
nests, and maybe we can find a
young squirrel or rabbit. Hurrah /!
We'll bring back one pet at least"
When they arrived at the house,
there was a little fellow dressed in
overalls and slouch hat ready to
greet them.
"Hello, Jimmiel We've got a day
off, and we're going to explore the
woods. Know any birds nests or
squirrels holes round hereP"
Jimmie nodded his head. He was
their country playmate every sum-
mer, and the boy was as glad to see
the two visitors as they were to get
out into the country.
"All right, then. Come ahead !
We want 80 tramp all day in the
woods, Which way frstP"
cup by the cedars, and then round
by the lake." replied Jimmie.
In a few minutes the three boys
were plunging deep into the woods,
and, under the leadership of their
little country friend, they headed
straight for the oedars. When they
arrived there, Jimmie explained:
"There's a squirrels nest up that
tree, with three little ones In 1t. If
you want TO see EN-, climb up"
"Indeed we do" shouted both
city boys.
In a few minutes they we're gazing
at the tiny little squirrels, which
were almost too young to resent
their handling. Near by stood the
parent squirrels, chattering vigor-
o1sly at the intruders.
"Lend Us your hat, Jimmie, so we
can bring them down." called Will
son.
"What are you going to do with
themP" asked the country lad.
"Take them home with us, of
course. We want TO raise them as
pets"
"They wouldn't live. I tried some
one year, and they all died, and
and it's cruel to take them away
from their mother"
The two boys up the tree hest
tated, and Stanton, the youngest,
said, in disappointed voice:
II don't see why they wouldn't
live. I know dealers in the city who
have them to SELL"
"But they know more bout bring
ing EN- up than we do" answered
little jimmie. 81 know they'll die
If you take 'em, and it's cruel to do
it. Leave the poor things in their
nest, and they will grow up all right,
and you'll be glad of it next year"
Reluctantly the two boys returned
to the earth, but they soon lost their
disappointment in new discoveries.
"See here u cried Jimmie. "Here's
a toad and it's whole family under
this rock"
He moved aside the rock, and out
hoped a dozed toads no larger than
big bugs, while the mother toad
looked silently and solemnly at the
intruders.
81 hate toads," said Wilson.
He gave the old toad a contemptu-
Gus push with his foot as he spoke,
whereupon Jimmie demonstrated:
"They eat up the bugs and worms
that come on our crops of cabbage
and turnips. Don't hurt them. l
wouldn't have shown you their den
if I'd thought you would"
First time / ave knew toads
were any good the world" said
the boys skeptioally.
"Well, they are, and we won't
hurt them. l expect they'll eat up
hundreds of worms and bugs before
summer is over"
81 believe you will be telling me,
pretty soon, that snakes are good for
something" said Stanton.
"Some snakes are good snakes,
and some ain't," replied Jimmie
slowly. "There amt no poisonous
snakes round here, and SO we don't
have TO kill any. There are only
black snakes and ground snakes,
and they don't do any hurt, except