The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-06-11

c,ol IN the winter. Then. this ques-
ton might be asked. in reply 10 tha''
to-wit: Why did they not scratch thetn
IN and cat them during the winter
A. an answer to that. il might be
supposed tina the squirrels taat dld
the hiding. were either killed. or moN-
ed into other parts OF the city OF ny
might have forgotten where they az"
the hiding.
talked with a gentleman about the
mattsr who seemed to think that, In
forecastinC the condition OF things. IN
and around the city. the sources
came 10 the conclusion, thal' uhicN'
something were done TO increase the
supply OF food. Raleigh would soon
become a very p or place for squirrels
TO get a living; hence. for the past
two wears, the squirrels have spent
their spare time in planting walnutS.
If that is the correct theory, our RAJ
e,gh SQUIRRELS have certainly shown
more f~orethought than some people
who allow their expenses 70 run @head
Of their incomes; therefore, lay up no.
thing for the future.
II all have heard Of squirrels is
true they are certainly Nefy superior
animals. they can be found in almost
all parts of the world, and wherever
found they have the same general
characteristics; very active and lively
creatures. at times shy and pert, and
very adroit in hiding themselves on
H the "aDDeaIa1ce Oh DcOIlt Jul Ilp9-
sessed like monkeys of inquisitive cur
iosity. They inhabit woods, spending
most Of their time in trees, in which
they live.
Squirrels are easily tanned, and as
our people know they make amusing
and interesting pets. In other days,
before the forests had been cut down,
SQUIRRELS were very abundant and it
was no unusual thing for q farmer,
with his old flint and steel. single-bar-
rel shotgun to kill a half dozen
sometimes a dozen squirrels and
skin them before breakfast. All he
had to do was to load and shoot. |
have seen at least a dozen rows, next
to the fence, destroyed by squirrels. IN
Pennsylvania, an old law gave 4 re-
ward Of three pence for every SOUR
rel killed, so destructive were they to
the corn fields; and in 1149 no small
Ter an amount than $4,000 was paid
out of the treasury on this account. SO
that $40, 900 squirrels must have been
killed.
Squirrels sometimes migrate, in
great numbers. and, in this connection,
the old story of how they cross
streams, comes in appropriately Two
men (names rot known, who WIT
messed the crossing descripeu tne
scene thus: I'VE were fishing near
the bank, when ell OF a sudden, the
opposite bank was covered with thous-
ands of squirrels. Such chatterlnS
mortals. never heard. before or since.
The squirrels ran in every direction
and soon it became apparent to the
fishermen that the travellers were get
ting ready to cross. Here came
hundreds, leading the way to the wa
ter. each having a piece of plnebark
in his mouth which he launched, ana
then jumping on the bark, curled ms
tail over his back for a sail and here
be came. Soon the whole river was
covered with squirrels, so that, from
bank to bank there was a SOHO mass
of tails. Not an accident occurred,
though the fishermen allowed that
: many thousand sailed across the river.
What did they do with the bark
That was carefully stacked up TO be
ready for use should the colony decide
to return before winter set in. Where
were the squirrels going? They had
heard that some bottoms, just beyond,
were loaded with fine roasting ears,
and they were going over to help the
gather their crops.
The only drawback to the story IS.
it was tod by fishermen. But | make
this point, if back woods squirrels have
sense enough to ferry themselves over
a river. our Raleigh squirrels, which
come in touch, daily, with our biggest
politicians, ought to be credited with
enough wisdom and forethought to
set out Raleigh in walnut trees. Don't
that seem r~eaSOHablec
Soon after General Lee went to Lex
ington he was riding on horseback to
Goshen when he passed a blacksmith
shop. The smith came out and hailed,
asking in roper surprise: "Ain't that
Genera Leo" Yes" said the Cen
eral, as he refined in Traveller. The
old soldier stepped forward, grasped
the extended hand giving = a grip
which made the General vince. Then,
standing back a step, he cried out:
/ General I'm hound 70 hnllopf: snh
no. siad the General, Il wouldn't co
that" Yes, sir" said he, I'm
bound to hCUer or bust" And with
that he slung his hat around his head
ana gave three hearty cheers: while
the General, suffused with laughter,
heId his hat at a salute, then rode on.
When q fellow feels like hollering
let him holer. 1t does him good.
Mhen old Aunt Betsy Rhodes came to
the hollering point she went at ii. and
instead Of the preachers tryi.-g to sup
press her he helped her along, and, 50.
she soon got the shout all out, and
everything went along better, and
more smoothly because somehow had
praised the Lord.
beneral Lee was a modest, as we'll
a. great man, and the only reason
why ne suggested TO the man not to
holler, it looked too much like shout.
ing to his praise.
some preachers don't Xix for peonle
- shout when they are preaching
ihey think. l oppose, people ought
~ nave better sense than to shout un-
ue- thelr preaching; and, in most
that. 9Hl ABOUT
some years ago a revival was
lns on IN Edenton Street Church. ana
baht wire warming UP all over the
houI, Wnen all Of a sudden some lady
cfidehuy a stranger-beean tn
snoue IL SO greatly disconcertad tho
pIeacher that he asked the choir 70
s h!Fnn; during which time he
MIN. He did SO.
5rother' said he, 81 do wish
YOU'D make your way quietly. and a.
up~onse1tedly as You can, down to
mEee mat sister is shouting. and ask
her to hold up when the song is 60
IN 20 IL IN a gentle manner ana
tell her neither the preacher northa
neople are opposed to shouting: bnt
sermon was OVER the