Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08

that a wolf had been disturbed by the explosion,
and crouching low, was scurrying away from the
scene of danger, so snatchng up the gum he took
steady aim and fired. just as the animal disap-
peared into hole in the hillside.
A bunch of gray fur told that the shot had
taken effect, and leaving the unfinished WALL he
began digging for the animal The task was not
an easy one, and before it ended Harry knew this
was not the abode of wolf, but some other gray
animal, he knew not what-and he proceeded
more cautiously When at last he reached the
nest he sprang back in delight exclaiming "A
Badger!"
His pleasure was very soon changed to the deep
est sorrow, for when he fully uncovered the nest
he saw three little baby badgers trying vainly to
hide beneath the body of their mother. AS he
stopped to if the badger was indeed quite
dead, the little ones fled with frightened cries to
the farthest end of the nest.
For the first time, Harry regretted his good
Workmanship, and tenderly caressing the fine
coat of the dead animal, he said aloud, "I'm so
sorry; l wouldn't have done it for anything if |
had known. You poor thing! Hurrying home to
protect your little ones from danger and l had
to kill you It's shame, that's what it is" AL
most man, though he was-great tears welled
up into his eyes, and when one splashed
down onto his hand he was not ashamed
Speaking of the incident afterward to his
father he said, II tell you, pa, 1 just felt as if
wanted to fight some one, when found I'd killed
that poor mother badger"
Seeing the little badgers still endeavorng to
escape from their enemy, he covered up the nest
again, and hurrying to the house, returned with
two gunny sacks-into of which he placed the
three little ones-not, however, before receiving
several "nps' from their sharp little teeth After
carefully wrapping the old badger in the other
sack and throwing some earth over her until he
could come back to bury her properly Harry went
to the house to give the little animals some milk
That was difficult problem as they were too
young to know how to feed themselves but with
Jack and Beauty and the cat as interested spec
tators Harry worked with the little strangers
until he succeeded in feeding them from a spoon
enough milk, sweetened and warmed to nourish
them for while.
The greater part of the next two or three days
spent in much the same way although Harry
found time to bury the old badger near her former
home The stone wall, as may be imagined, pro-
gressed slowly, only the west and part of the
south sides being finished when letter came stat
ing that Mr. and Mrs. Wallace and Clara and
Bessie would arrive on the following day. Anxious
to have the "den' make neat an appearance as
possible, Harry covered the unfinished walls with
Sacks ripped open, and fastened up with wooden
pegs, intending to complete the other sides as
soon as possible.
Clara and Bessie were delighted with the baby
badgers, and at named them Chester Carl
and Tip. Under the skillful mnstrations of Mrs.
Wallace who fed them on a BOTTLE Chester and
Carl thrived and grew rapidly-but Tip who had
never seemed strong his brothers, was in a
few days buried in the same grave with his
mother.
AS the weeks passed Chester and Carl became
very tame, and were the friendliest terms with
the dogs and cat When Carl was three months
old, the wheels of wagon put end to his exist
ence, and only Chester remained The death of
Carl caused such deep grief among the children
that every precaution taken to prevent Ches-
che ipo fota