Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-12
THE CIVILIZED SQUIRREL.

Whetner or not 1t will pres be
necessary to put steam heat into the
squirrel houses in the trees of Central
Park, New York, is an interesting
question. These popular little ami
mails are now SO thoroughly PAM
pered by the public that they nave
abandoned their old self-dependent
habits. They no longer sleep great
part of the winter away. as is nat
ural to them in this latitude AS their
usual partial dependence upon state
CT semi-torpor to protect them from
the effects of the cold is broken up,
it may be that they suffer a good
deal from the temperature of such
nights as these.
To determine whether all the pub
lie pampering of the park squirrels
is good for them, or whether they are
being cut On in their prime by not
sufficiently simple life, the park au-
thorities are going to take a census
of the little animals and keep track of
them. The squirrels are certainly
getting peanuts by the bushel. Some
OF them have grown so critical that
they refuse to accept single nuts, and
insist upon having access to the bag
in order that they may make their
choice. Others scorn peanuts alto
gether and search the pockets for
candy and ether dainties.
They have grown tame even beyond
squirrel precedent. Experience has
made some of them shy of children,
and especially of boys of about ~
age of twelve, but e,derly gentl len
of benevolent appearance have been
seen decorated with as many as five
squirrels at once. 1t will certainly
be surprising if the squirrel census
should indicate that present condi-
tons are unfavorable to them, for
they swarm in apparently increasing
numbers, and are all plump and lus-
trous.
=. That is Il. an impression that squirrels
structive to birds. In their wild state
they certainly are. for they nip on
buds in winter and ravage birds
nests in spring. But our park squir-
refs are so well fed that they have
little occasion to engage in either of
these forms of predation.-New
York Mail.
THE STORY OF THE RAG MAN.
Mother knew. because she was
smiling to herself though she turned
away to hide it, but | did not guess
bit. was feeling very sorrowful.
because | had been in bed whole
week with bad cold. and | felt sure
that | was well enough to have John
and Philly come in from the nursery
to play with me. Mother said: I'VE
shall see, and just then there came
great big knocking at the door.
Who can it be-" said mother.
The Rag Man, ma'am," somebody
answered in such a great deep voice
that felt a little frightened
Dear me?" said mother will you
come in. please? | should like to see
what rags you nave today"
The rag man was very tall, as tall
as father only al, bent over, and ne
came quite near my bed, which fright
eHeu NE niue. he nau an ola nat
on which covered all his face, and
he carried great big bag on his
shoulder, which. it seemed to me,
moved Il little; and | was frighten-
ed still more.
Perhaps you have some rags to
sell me- ma'am,' he said. in the same
great. big. growing voice. Only first
| should like to show this little gen.
tleman what | have inside my bag"
And then | said oh" quickly. IN i
loud squeak: | could nor help 1t, for
he had come close up 10 me. And
wat do you think. 1t was really
father himself, and in the bag were
John and Philly. and they tumbled
out, and everybody laughed together.
They all had supper around my bel,
father and mother. too, and we had
such fun. And the black bag was
only mothers shawl!-lndianapolis
News.