POAETQUISSINGS IN WINTER. 37 



There are several pin-oaks growing on the banks of 

 Poaetquissings, some of which were more than saplings 

 when Penn juggled the Delawares out of their lands. 

 The largest of them was fortunate enough to get an 

 ugly twist in its sapling days, and being too crooked for 

 timber, has been spared by the greedy wood-choppers 

 of the past century. This tree is on the decline now — 

 standing on a sloping bank, it always was — and only a 

 small portion of its branches now bear leaves. Better 

 than all, it has a great, cavernous interior ; a hollow that 

 one approaches with caution, as though it contained a 

 hibernating bear, or sheltered a crouching panther. The 

 happy days when such things were possible are gone 

 forever ; but during one winter ramble over the frozen 

 creek I stopped, as usual, to peep into the hollow tree 

 — I never before had seen so much as a mouse in it — 

 and in the uncertain light I caught a glimpse of two 

 bright eyes that glared most wildly at me. The sur- 

 prise was great, and the withdrawal of my head instan- 

 taneous. I doubt not, but wdiat little hair I have was 

 visibly affected, and I am sure my scalp wrinkled with 

 innumerable ridges. What could it be ? Opossum, 'coon, 

 cat, or my imagination ? I listened, but no sound could 

 be detected. I thumped upon the hollow trunk, but it 

 caused no commotion within. I thrust a long stick into 

 the tree and whirled it around as best I could. It dis- 

 turbed the mysterious creature, but did not bring him 

 out. Finally I tried smoke, and, in time, my efforts 

 were partially successful. With a faint squeak, out 

 sprang my neighbor's Maltese cat, and its rate of speed, 

 as it bounded homeward, was indeed astonishing. I 



