be done. He called to me, and I
approached slowly. As the mother saw me closing in on her flank, she was
suddenly seized with a panic, and, dropping her young, she fled
precipitately for the cover of a large pile of grape-posts some ten or
twelve rods distant. We pursued hotly, and overhauled her as she was
within one jump of the house of refuge. Taking her by the tail, I
carried her back to her baby; but she heeded it not. It was only her own
bacon now that she was solicitous about. The young one remained where he
had been dropped, keeping up a brave, reassuring whistle that was in
ludicrous contrast to his exposed and helpless condition. He was the
smallest woodchuck I had ever seen, not much larger than a large rat.
His head and shoulders were so large in proportion to the body as to
give him a comical look. He could not walk about yet, and had never
before been above ground. Every moment or two he would whistle cheerily,
as the old one does when safe in his den with the farm-dog fiercely
baying outside.

We took the youngster home, and my little boy was delighted over the
prospect of a tame woodchuck. Not till the next day would he eat. Then,
getting a taste of the milk, he clutched the spoon that held it with
great eagerness, and sucked away like a little pig. We were all
immensely diverted by him. He ate eagerly, grew rapidly, and was soon
able to run about.

As the old one had been killed, we became curious as to the fate of the
rest of her family, for no doubt there were more. Had she moved them, or
had we intercepted her on her first trip? We knew where the old den was,
but not the new. So we would keep a lookout. Near the end of the week,
on passing by the old den, there were three young ones creeping about a
few feet from its mouth. They were starved out, and had come forth to
see what could be found. We captured them all, and the young family was
again united. How these poor, half-famished creatures did lay hold of
the spoon when they got a taste of the milk! One could not help
laughing. Their little shining black paws were so handy and so smooth;
they seemed as if encased in kid gloves. The captives throve well upon
milk, and then upon milk and clover.

But after the novelty of the thing had worn off, the boy found he had
incumbered himself with serious duties in assuming the position of
foster-mother to this large family; so he gave them all away but one,
the first one captured, which had outstripped al