(En Recount )vxtS} (Uafvire 



The two chipmunks in the wall were now seven, 

 the young ones quite as large as their parents, and 

 both young and old on the best of terms with me. 



I had put a little stick beside each of the three 

 big berries that were reddening first (though I could 

 have walked from the house blindfolded and picked 

 them). I might have had the biggest of the three on 

 June 7th, but for the sake of the flavor I thought it 

 best to wait another day. On the 8th I went down 

 with a box to get it. The big berry was gone, and so 

 was one of the others, while only half of the third 

 was left on the vine ! 



Gardening has its disappointments, its seasons of 

 despair, — and wrath, too. Had a toad showed him- 

 self at that moment he would have fared badly. I 

 snatched a stone and let it go at a robin flying over, 

 for more than likely it was he who had stolen my 

 berries. On the garden wall sat a friendly chipmunk 

 eyeing me sympathetically. 



Three days later several fine berries were ripe. On 

 my way to the garden I passed the chipmunks in the 

 orchard. A shining red spot among the vine-covered 

 stones of their wall brought me to a stop, for I 

 thought, on the instant, that it was my rose-breasted 



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