PRAIRIE POCKET-GOPHERS 



IT was before that part of the country was 

 settled by the white man, when the red 

 man of the plains roamed in happy freedom 

 over his rightful domain. He never molested 

 the gophers or even noticed their coming or 

 going, for they were neither of benefit nor hin- 

 drance to his happiness or manner of living. 



A young gopher left his parental burrow and 

 entered upon his career as a hermit and a 

 miner. He dug an avenue off from the old 

 home, but not finding many tubers or tender 

 roots he independently sought a new locality. 

 One evening at sundown he came above ground 

 and started across the meadow to the long hill- 

 side, where grew the bunch-grass and a goodly 

 number of tuberous sunflower plants. He 

 silently took up his claim near the foot of the 

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