80 A COUNTRY READER. 



beech masts or beech nuts, the acorns, so fatten- 

 ing to pigs, and all manner of tree fruits fall in 

 abundance, and then all around is an ample 

 supply of food. 



No longer is there any need for the wild pig 

 to work hard all day to search for, and snout up, 

 a scanty quantity of root food, because his food 

 lies on the surface of the ground, requiring little 

 or no effort to find. 



The pig therefore can now fill his stomach, 

 satisfy his appetite, lie down and sleep, wake 

 up, and eat of the beech nuts, acorns, and fruits 

 that had fallen during the night or during his 

 sleep. 



Therefore, during this time of plenty, the pig 

 not only keeps up his strength and health, but 

 stores up a reserve of fat over and above his 

 immediate requirements. 



We cannot think that the pig knew that he 

 was laying in this store of fat to draw upon, 

 against the time of the coming winter, when food 

 would be so scarce and difficult to obtain. He 

 only ate his hardest and fastest in obedience to 

 what his nature told him to do. The feeling 

 that he must eat all he could of the good 

 rich things around him was laid on him, and he 

 did his very best to be obedient to his feeling. 



During this time of plenty, his natural enemies, 

 and especially the bears, left him alone, because 



