A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



While Bismarck reigned, the only squirrel 

 that gained a foothold in the dooryard with- 

 out his consent was his wife. He chased her 

 away time after time, but like some human 

 wives, she persisted, and won the day. Bis- 

 marck gave in when, instead of running away, 

 his wife adopted the plan of running spirally 

 up and down the tree-trunks. Mrs. Bis- 

 marck's favorite tree was a large hemlock, 

 which was about eighteen inches in diameter. 

 The trunk of the tree was very short, not 

 over eight feet in length from the ground to 

 the lower limbs. The squirrels made two turns 

 in either going up or down the tree, and their 

 speed was too swift for the human eye. A 

 brown band seemed for a moment wound about 

 the tree, shifting as the squirrels ascended or 

 descended. It was two weeks before Bismarck 

 would allow his mate to remain in the door- 

 yard. When peace was declared the two 

 would eat side by side, but with Bismarck 

 always scolding and growling, while his wife 

 discreetly remained silent. 



Bismarck was my schoolmaster. He taught 

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