Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-11-26

III tildllhi Ill tutft , SOlAt6 lOlkS StuSl-
BILE enough to 'preeiate good oil fashion
ed yarn mittens. she remarked as she
looped blue yarn on needle with her
finger Miller, down to the Holler,
says he en- sell ali en- Knit for d
month. an three pair d week amt no
great stint"
The bracing air, tempered by un-
clouded sunlight. stirred the blood of
the man and boy alike with healthful
vigor as they trudged across the fields
and entered the woods. Every brown
outstretched twig. every tiny. close
wrapped bud, had its coping and cap
of pearl cleaning in sunlight or blue in
shadow. and the ranks of corded wood
We're rooted with it.
The new covering WAS already ozark
ed with the tracks of scampering SPUR
rels. tine broad pads of hares. the
pronged print of the partridge's devil
Gus course. the dainty seam of wood
mouse paths.
Birds gave audible proof that they
were astir and alert now. A party Of
jays screamed in discordant unison,
chickadees and nuthatches called and
piped. a woodpecker hammered indus
triousiy for his hard earned breakfast
a partridge went booming away like a
gray rocket with trail Of snow cloud
sinking softly and silently behind his
noisy course, and a red squirrel jeered
at the two intruders.
The boys ears and eyes were alert
for all sounds and sights Before he
delivered the first AK stroke upon the
boil of great Eastwood his attention
was attracted by strange track that
ended at its foot.
.Oh. father he cried. what kind
Of a tracks this? 1t looks just like a
little boys bare foot
why, key, it's coon. an he's
laid up for the winter in this here
tree. See. it's boiler An there's the
hole up there at he went in Now
well jest have his pelt nailed up on
the wood shed door ! shouldn't Won
der if ii was pretty nigh prime. for it's
had three RS to get SO in They say
fur's good in ev'ry month that's got
an r. in it, but it ain't-not in Sep
TENDER nor sea 'sely in October--an' II
begins TO git faded in April, some
kinds does. But now it's most Deem
Der, an'-an' Wen jest go for the fell
half cord o wood at the same lick
Look out sharp at the hole when the
tree comes down, for likes not he'll
cut an run Well fall it right in here
where its all clear"
So saying, he drove his ak to the
eye in the soft wood. while Isaac with
right good will delivered his less eff
fective strokes on the other side.
When Jacob had driven his kerr a lit
tie beyond the decayed center and
paved the ground about him with
broad chips almost as white as the
snow he heaved restfui sigh and
went around to fiie etileF side.
.'Now, key. you just stan off out
there an keep your eye on the 'hola
the minute the tree falls. an if he
offers TO come out fore git there
whack him on the head
Jacob spat upon his hands and re
sumed his ehopping. expirating with
each blow a gasping "hah'' that seemed
to double its force. and Isaac took his
post with eyes fixed on the trunk where
the first branches stretched abroad
Now the great tree shivered at every
stroke. then tottered on it's sapped
foundations and went down with an
- .,ys s.,-,xs,, ,,.5 . e,I 5.,.s. y, ~
boom.
In the succeeding moment Of silence
the raccoon so suddenly awakened
from the comfortable winters nap into
which he had just fallen. protruded his
black and gray head from the hole
and, barely lodging the blow that
Isaac aimed at him. came scrambling
out with more speed than his short
legs would seem to warrant surer
blow from the more deliberate hand of
Jacob prevented his escape.
With a shout Of triumph at the I'M
expected sight. Isaac lifted the limp
form by the hind leg and heaved it
across the fallen trunk.
"Sakes alive. father, he's as heavy
as a pig. You just heft him"
We'll. he is good one fifteen
pounds or upward" said Jacob after
careful and deliberateahand weighing,
"An' just feel o the fur-as thick as
wool, / reckon his pelt II fetch half
dollar an you shall have it all. Now
let's skin him fore he gets cold
1T looks good enough to eat" said
the boy when the skinned carcass was
laid along the trunk. Amt coons good
to eat?"
Some folks does eat 'em an allows
they're as good as roast pig"
Say. father, why can't we have 1t
for Thanksgivin'
''Sho bub, your mother wouldn't
touch it. She spleens agin all Wild
meat ever sence your Uncle Isaac blow
ed off his fingers Dustin gun a-shoot-