98 SCenants oC ttje 2Crers 



the full measure of his crime, for golden 

 and black and gray feathers were scat- 

 tered about freely, and the two pathetic 

 feet of the woodpecker told their sor- 

 rowful tale. 



Still more incriminating was bark, 

 torn from the tree, and claw marks 

 where the raccoon had climbed. Also 

 an occasional gray hair sticking in the 

 bark added its testimony to the guilt of 

 the accused. 



This is the evidence upon which I 

 charge Mr. Raccoon, living at the time 

 in the old birch stub, in a neighbouring 

 sugar orchard, of murdering Mrs. Golden 

 Woodpecker, a peaceful tenant of the 

 old apple-tree. 



If there be any defence for the culprit, 

 let us have it, that justice may be done. 



" He was hungry and merely obeying 

 a law of nature," you say. He considers 



