The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-23
The Ground Hog Appeared ON Time.

The real, genuine ground hog-the
one which holds in it's grip the des-
tiny of the winter seasOn-made its
appearance in Creston today. The lit
tie animal can right up on the
porch at the AL Bryan home, 915 w.
Mills street, ar ut clock this
morning after having been tucked
away in its winter quarters and not
seen by anyone since last fall.
This is not one of Grimms fairy
tales, nor a fable of any sort, but an
absolutely true story; and it also
seems that by this actual happening
the real merit of the ground hog ad-
age as to the little animals conduct
on Feb. 2, governing the length of
the winter season have at least been
firmly established. At any rates IL
would be a difficult and perhaps
useless effort to attempt to convince
the people living in the Bryan neigh
borhood that there was nothing in
the old aaage' after what TRANSFERRED
before their very eyes this morning.
The true story goes: A young man
by the name of Noel Exline, son Of
Deputy U. S. Marshal w. W. Exline,
who resides at 3O5 N. w. Chestnut
street, caugh; young ground hog
year ago this spring and to k it to
his home and made a pet Of it. 1t
remained in the neighborhood all
summer and fall and became as tame
as any dog or cat. Right after the
first cold snap it disappeared and al
though it's master thought that it had
likely burrowea into the ground
somewhere in the neighborhood and
| in,
he also felt that it might have gone
back to the country. But, neVerthe-
less, all hope of it showing up before
spring was abandoned.
On the first few day of February
the Bryan family were greatly annoy
ed by scratching sound which came
from the region OF the basement. The
occupants of the house felt contldent
it was a nest of rats, but were at
times uneasy when the noise became
so loud as to cause them to doubt
that it was rats. Mr.. Bryan said
that he would get some rat traps and
set them in the basement, but ne
elected to do it for a Gay or two when
the noise ceased, and was not heard
again until last Saturday. On that
day it started worse than ever ana in
creased in"intensity from day to day.
While Mr.. Bryan was away from
home the family at times became
greatly alarmed, and last night not
person in the house got much rest.
Finally this morning the whole
mystery was solved when the bushy
animal, now full grown and as fat as
butter despite it's long fasting, came
walking upon the porch and scratch
ed at the screen door. Mr.. Bryan,s
little daughter looked out of the win
dow and at once recognized the WISH
tor. She told her father and he open
ed the door and the animal started to
come in. However, Mr.. Bryan gave it
an apple to satisfy it's hunger and
then called up it's master. When the
Exline boy came within sight OF the
ground hog, he whistled and the ami
NAL at once ran toward him. Young
Exline picked it up in his arms and
took it home. He says that he will
keep it just as long as it will stay
with him.
Investigation showed that the ami
NAL had burrowed under the outside
foundation of the Bryan home and
through the unexcavated part and
sought coy spot right next to the
inner wall and within few feet OF
the furnace.
After the excitement had died down
and the crowd of people had returned
to their homes, Mr.. Bryan and DR..
Barber in talking of the incident con-
nected it with the old ground hog
story, and to their great surprise
found in figuring that it had come
out of it's winter home just six weeks
to the day and almost the hour from
the time of sunrise on the morning
of Feb. 2. Mr.. Bryan and his family
then recalled hearing the noise in
the basement the forepart OF Febru-
airy, and as nearly as he could figure
it agreed that it was about Feb. q
Creston Advertiser.