Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-03
The Ground
Hog And
Billy

This is ground hog day" Il was
Mrs. Heally who spoke, standing at the
Bakers backdoor. "And my children
are anxious to 90 to the country where
they can get Z peep at tho ground
hog-f he comes out to SEQ his
shadow"
II guess he'll SEQ his shadow -
laughed Mrs. Baker, wiping tho dust
from the kitchen window-ledge.
won't you come In, Mrs. Heally?"
mo, must got back, or those young
ones Of mine may run OIL to the woods
las they threatened to do. How's
Billy! Over his cold?"
Eyes, Billy's we'll again, thank'you, -
Aud Mrs. Baker turned to sec what
had become of her s-year-old son.
I'm here, mother" said Billy. He
was on q chair in the pantry, getting
some doushnuts and cookies. I'm
looking for something"
eyes, and I know what the some
thing u.s." said Mrs. Baker. you're
eating entirely too many douEhnuts,
my son. You shall not have another
one" And Mrs. Baker took hold of
Billy's coat and dragged him from the
chair.
,"Say mother, where does the ground
hog stay?" Billy's cheek was full of
doughnuts and his pockets bulged with
the same tasty sweets. Does he hide
in the woods-and could the Heally
kids find him by just going to the
woods?"
Nov, for 9-year-old boy, you show
a lack of knowledge Of natural his
tory" replied busy Mrs. Baker. Come,
never mind about the ground hog, for
it's only silly superstition. about his
shadow. want you to run down town
for me. Get your hat and overcoat."
But 1 mean the ground hog in
sisted Billy. ~ know all about the
common kind. It's the ground hog
what sees its shadow, you know"
That's silly superstition" repeat
ed Mrs. Baker. Nov run along and
get your things. want you to 90 to
rapa's store and order out some thinge
for me- I'll write the list"
"And may I stay away a little
while?" asked Billy eagerly. II haven't
been down town for sever so long--to
stay
Yes, after giving papa the note, you
may stay an hour. But you must be
home by four
Ten minutes later Billy was in his
fathers store, and was explaining to
his father that he-Billy-was to re-
main away from home for an hour.
''All right, sonny" said Mr.. Baker,
going behind the counter to wait on
q customer. "I'l send those things
out to mother right away"
Billy ran into the street. Then he
paused on the sidewalk and looked
around. He was wishing with all his
might see Tom Heally. He had Sc
cret plan in his head 1t was to 90 to
the woods and see If he might get
peep at the ground hog. He thought
that Tom Heally might know where to
look for the curious animal.
But no Tom was in sight, SO off went
Billy toward the woods which border
ed a creek some distance from town.
So Billy had hurried along as fast as
ever his two legs could carry him, and
he soon reached the woods. He sought
out a lonely place, for he knew the
ground hog would never prowl about
in the road, or near to it.; neither
would he seek the bridge, for wagon
ers and horemen were continually
passing there. The ground hog was,
Of course, a very smart fellow. He
knew where to come for safety. And
he must find a clearing in the woods
where the sun would cause his shad-
ow to show!
Billy knew where there was an open
space in the head of patch Of heavy
timber. 1t had been made there by
some early settler but the early
'settler's'' log hut had long ago been
torn down. The spot was lonely
enough, to be sure, for any ground
hog, and the hog would doubtless go
right there as soon as ever the sun
came out.
Billy looked up at the sky. Yes, the
clouds were breaking away and q
CLEAN of pale yellow light along the
lines between them. Billy sought out
the clearing which was we'll protect
ed from outside by heavy timber grow
ing round it like hedge. Billy ran
into the clearing, which covered only
a very small spot, and looked round.
OF course, the ground hog had not
yet made his appearance, and would
not so long as an intruder stood star
ing there. He must find q secure hid
ing place So he looked about in the
thick underbrush and found a shell
tered little nook where even in win
ter, with twigs and branches bare,
ones eye could scarcely penetrate.