ix A NATURAL NEW ENGLANDER 267 



shake their heads and remark that it is a " ground- 

 hog case," that is, a useless proceeding. 



When the meadows have been mowed, and from 

 the stubble springs up a magnificent crop of 

 clover, comes the heyday of the woodchuck's 

 year. His midsummer housework is done, his 

 mind is free from care, and he may eat all he 

 wants of this daintiest of food. There is nothing 

 he likes so well and nothing that does him so much 

 good. His cheeks widen, his ribs are distended, 

 and his loose skin is stretched out sleek with fat- 

 ness. At last the 'chucks can hold no more, and 

 need only loaf in the September warmth and doze 

 away the time until the sun crosses the equinoctial 

 line at the end of the month. This is the blessed 

 date when etiquette permits them to refuse longer 

 to tax themselves with social amenities, and to 

 begin their Lenten fast. 



One after another each pair of woodchucks 

 retreat dozily to their beds, curl up side by side 

 into two balls of warm fur, and fall fast asleep. A 

 week later the most diligent searcher will not once 

 hear the "chuckling diminuendo of the wood- 

 chuck's whistle" of which Mr. Robinson speaks, 

 for not a single siffleur is to be found on top of 

 the ground. Warm sunny days may succeed one 

 another, frost and snow may hold off for weeks, 

 but the woodchuck pays no heed. His rule en- 

 joins him to go to sleep by the first of October ; 

 therefore to sleep he goes, and stays there with 



